Question Title: Questions and wondering what I have

Forum: Neurology Forum
Topic: Dystonia

Here is my story:

On 12/31 I woke up with flu-like symptoms. That morning I had one of
these attacks. Basically, for 20 secondes or so the muscles on my left
side tighten up. I don't go into any strange postures, but my thumb
does seem to want to straighten into my hand. If I try I can move my left
side -- none of my joints want to do anything in particular. If I am
standing then my leg tends to straighten if I am sitting it just stays
there.

I continued to have them, usually getting them when I get up from sitting
down or laying down. They would come about 8-10 times a day.

The strange thing is that about three months prior to that I had a flu shot
on my left side and my arm hurt for quite some time afterwards. This may
be just coincedence.

My general doctor originally thought they were siezures, but after a
normal ct scan and eeg, my neurologist thinks they maybe parxysmal
kinesigenic choreothetosis. He feels they may just go away. He just
put me clonazepam and after the couple of days it seems to help. I am
taking .5 mg a day and they seem to go away until the evening.

He then want to wait a couple of weeks and gradually take me off of the
medication to see if they have gone away.

I am a 26 year old male in good health and scared of the chance of such
a chronic condition.

I am searching for answers to the following. Any information/support would help:

1. Can this be temporary?
2. Why this sudden onset?
3. Can it be caused by a virus?
4. Can it be anything else?
5. Any other insights?

Thank you very much,

Christopher

=

The first thing that must be done is to establish that this is indeed dystonia. You increase your chances of recognition if a movement disorders specialist has a chance to evaluate you.

PKC (paroxysmal kinesigenic choreoathetosis) usually has a hereditary component, so that's not necessarily the first thing that comes to mind.

Hard to tell the relationship between the viral syndrome and the motor symptoms. It is not impossible but there isn't enough information.

If you are interested in evaluation by a movement disorders specialist, you are welcome to call 800 223-2273 and ask for ext 4-5559 (neurology appointments). I hope this helps. CCF MD mdf.

[Neurology Forum]      [Neurology Forum Archives]