Questions posted in the
Neurology and Neurosurgery Forum have been answered by doctors from The Cleveland Clinic Foundation.
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Subject: Re: Essential Tremor or Lyme? Topic Area: LymePosted by Lala Chambers on August 06, 1999 at 10:03:30My son took a trip out west last August. In September or October he complained of joint pain in a knee. That subsided. Next, he complained of tremors, went to doctor, was diagnosed as essential tremor. He had an MRI which showed a small cyst on his brain, but the neurologist said it did not cause the symptoms. He subsequently developed muscle spasms and cramps, had an EMG which did not show ALS. Now he has stiff neck, tremors, spasms and cramps which keep him awake at night. He also has fatigue, floaters in his eyes, dizziness, some unsteadiness, etc. I am concerned that he has something more than essential tremor. I was reading a site on the internet that made his symptoms sound like Lyme disease. Does this sound like Lyme disease, and can you recommend some more neurologists, and or any other specialists that might be in our area of Jackson, Mississippi? Thank you very much for your help.
Posted by CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS on August 06, 1999 at 12:50:31 Dear Lala: I am sorry to hear about your son. How old is your son? Where did he go camping? Depending on the area, the probability of having Lyme disease would depend. The endemic areas are upper midwest and east coast. If he went camping outside these areas then it would unlikely that he has lyme. If you are still worried about the possibility of Lyme then have him checked for the antibody. I think that your son should see a pediatric neurologist (or adult neurologist if he is older) and get a work up. It may be just essential tremor but there seems to be other symptoms that would not be likely to be present with only essential tremor. From his symptoms, it might be a wide range of diseases that your son has and only a thorough history and physical exam will begin to uncover the possibilities. Any large medical center or medical school will have good neurologists and pediatric neurologists. I hope that you find the correct diagnosis, whatever that may be. Sincerely, CCF Neuro MD
Posted by Lala Chambers on August 06, 1999 at 22:47:53 Dr. CCF, Thank you for responding. My son is 27. He went on a rafting trip down the Colorado, slept out under the stars, no tent. He also has overall twitches, worse at night. He has tingling sensations in both hands and feet and some numbness in his left hand. He has been worried about ALS, MS, Parkinsons, etc. I had found all his symptoms under the heading of Lyme, but that must not be it. Thank you for all your help. He is going to another neurologist in two and a half weeks. Can you give us some idea of what possible diseases he should search for?
Posted by CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS on August 07, 1999 at 15:46:07 Dear Ms. Chambers: I don't think that Colorado is a lyme prone state. So, it is very unlikely that he has lyme. Fasciculations (muscle twitching) without muscle weakness is very unlikely ALS. MS is something we always think about but usually in the lower latitudes it is reduced in frequency. He really needs an overall physical neurological exam and someone to sit down with him and get a good medical history. To give you thoughts with such a sparse history would not serve him well. Let us know what happens. Sincerely, CCF Neuro MD
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