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Neurology (Expert Forum)
So confused
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So confused
by Lyn2, May 08, 2001 12:00AM
Hi I have written before, and I am sorry to take up your time. But I am a bit confused. I am a 33 yr. old female. I went to see a neurologist the other day, due to hyperreflexia, trembling, jerking, and numbness.
He told me that my reflexes were very very hyper and I have significant tremor. He said it is caused by the zoloft (50mg) I have been taking since last summer. I only started with these symptoms this winter.
He also said that the nerves running over my elbows are loose and thick and that is why I have numbness in my pinky and ring fingers going up to my elbows. He is going to do nerve conduction tests.
I have a few questions that what be great if you could clarify for me.
1) I know zoloft can cause tremors, but can it also cause hyperactive reflexes and jerking? I have reduced my dose about 5 days ago and still have this.
2)When my arms get numb, so do my toes. How does that relate to my arms? My legs also fall asleep very easily.
3)What is the nerve problem in elbows and what do they do for it?
4)Can the nerve conduction studies reveal more than just the arm problem, like if it was something effecting my entire body?
Finally, do you think all these issues are separate or somehow related. It is odd that they all started at the same time.
Thankyou so very much!
He told me that my reflexes were very very hyper and I have significant tremor. He said it is caused by the zoloft (50mg) I have been taking since last summer. I only started with these symptoms this winter.
He also said that the nerves running over my elbows are loose and thick and that is why I have numbness in my pinky and ring fingers going up to my elbows. He is going to do nerve conduction tests.
I have a few questions that what be great if you could clarify for me.
1) I know zoloft can cause tremors, but can it also cause hyperactive reflexes and jerking? I have reduced my dose about 5 days ago and still have this.
2)When my arms get numb, so do my toes. How does that relate to my arms? My legs also fall asleep very easily.
3)What is the nerve problem in elbows and what do they do for it?
4)Can the nerve conduction studies reveal more than just the arm problem, like if it was something effecting my entire body?
Finally, do you think all these issues are separate or somehow related. It is odd that they all started at the same time.
Thankyou so very much!
Doctor's Answer
by CCF Neuro[P]-M.D.-RPS, May 08, 2001 12:00AM
Dear cn:
Although zolfot can cause some of the symptoms you describe, only by stopping the medication and trying another type or class of medication can one tell for sure. I am assuming that your MRI is completely normal, am I remembering correctly, and the vitamin B12 is normal. Whether the toes and arms are related can only be speculated given a normal cervical MRI. I think that the nerve conduction studies are a good idea and could help with diagnosis. I am not sure what "loose nerves" are.... however the distribution of your numbness in the hand suggests an ulnar nerve problem and this will be picked up on the EMG nerve conduction studies. I am sorry that I am not much help. Let us know what happens with the nerve conduction studies.
Sincerely,
CCF Neuro MD
Although zolfot can cause some of the symptoms you describe, only by stopping the medication and trying another type or class of medication can one tell for sure. I am assuming that your MRI is completely normal, am I remembering correctly, and the vitamin B12 is normal. Whether the toes and arms are related can only be speculated given a normal cervical MRI. I think that the nerve conduction studies are a good idea and could help with diagnosis. I am not sure what "loose nerves" are.... however the distribution of your numbness in the hand suggests an ulnar nerve problem and this will be picked up on the EMG nerve conduction studies. I am sorry that I am not much help. Let us know what happens with the nerve conduction studies.
Sincerely,
CCF Neuro MD
Member Comments (2)
by Lyn2, May 08, 2001 12:00AM
I am not sure that the doc. will get this comment but I will try anyway. I cannot have an MRI because I have a pacemaker. I have also not had any blood work for vitamen B12 definciency. My doctor has just decided it was the zoloft but is only confirming this by taking me off it.
