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Questions posted in the
Neurology and Neurosurgery Forum have been answered by doctors from The Cleveland Clinic Foundation.
Question Title: COULD THIS BE PARKINSON'S DISEASE?Forum: Neurology Forum
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For about 5 years I have been suffering from symptoms which I have recently learned, "could" be consistent with symptoms of early stage Parkinson's Disease: Stiffness of my neck, back and shoulders, increasing balance difficulties, and most recently my toes and fingers (left side) have been moving (or twitching) on their own. I have also begun to have some actual muscle trembling, although it is infrequent at this point. My left arm does not swing when I walk, either, unless I am aware of it...then I can MAKE it swing. In addition, I also suffer from mild to moderate depression, constant fatigue and difficulty with sleep. I am 38 years old and recently have taken several bad falls. I made an appointment with a Neurologist in my area (he was NOT a Movement Disorder Specialist..and see's primarily older PD patients)..and the appointment did not go well. I believe it was due to my age, but the moment he heard me utter the word "depression", his eyebrow went up and he suggested I get a good Psychiatrist. I have suffered from depression for almost 10 years, but these other symptoms have troubled me for only about half that time (5 years). I feel that I am currently in LIMBO...and do not
Dear Scott: Sorry to hear about your symptoms. Early onset Parkinson disease is a rare finding, although Michael J. Fox has given us an example that it is possible. Actually, your symptoms have some of the flavor of Parkinson's but not the usual presentation. Usually, it begins with a resting tremor that has a characteristic rate and rhythm and describe as a "pill rolling" tremor. The tremor will vanish with action/movement. It is usually asymmetrical. There is also a facial "masking" that occurs early. The symptoms then become bilateral with the tremor, and a shuffling gait becomes prominent. At this point the postural reflexes are normal. The third stage of the disease is loss of postural reflexes. The disease progresses with the patient having difficulty getting out of chairs etc. One also sees a change in speech that is very striking as the disease progresses. There will be unnatural pauses, and decrease in modulation of emotion. Putting these symptoms together with your description would lead me to think that you do not have Parkinson's disease. I would try and figure out what the etiology of your problems might be. A good thorough examination by a neurologist would be a starting point. Good luck with finding the etiology of your illness. Sincerely, CCF Neuro[P]MD
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