involuntary muscle movement when excited and sleepy

My daughter will be 3 in late April.  She has developed normally physically as well as mentally.  She is very intelligent and well behaved, as much as a two year old can be!!  She does an involuntary movement and has since she was very small.  I have had her to two different peds. and they both assured me that the movements with her hands and arms were completely normal if there was no delay in her devlopement in other areas.  She does this when excited and sleepy.  My concern is that it has gotten more intense.  She now not only flaps her arms but also hops and makes a face with her left eye crossed. I have no idea what it is, her doctors say that every thing is normal, family members keep naggin to take her to a specialist but I would rather her not be tested like a lab rat if at all possible.....Just would like an opinion or 2.  

Thanks, Mary


This discussion is related to Involuntary muscle movements when excited.

[judepants]

my son will be 3 oct 08 and has been doing the same movements for about a year.. movement excites him like automatic doors,lifts,dvd tray opening and closing and he will flap his hads and his bottom jaw drops down at the same time. I was getting concerned as when taking him to toddler groups he would sit at the top of the chute and do his excited movements watching all the kids going down, and I suppose it's 'mothers instinct' but I've never seen other kids doing this.He is the same as your daughter as in other development fine in fact he can read some words and knows his numbers and colours.
I had to convince his dad to let me take him to the doctors as he was of the opinion 'he will grow out of it' but I have been on mat leave for last year with our 2nd son and can see it getting worse.
I put in details on this web site in feb 08 because I read another posting frm 06 about a boy who does the same movements as my son when excited.. there was a response to this posting and the doctor said best to be refered to peds specialising in movement disorders.
I am waiting on a refferal at the moment and have been advised waiting list 6weeks (NHS scotland uk)
Have took my son to see a holistic practioner, I took footage of my son when he was doing his movements as it is quite hard to explain. The doctor did Cranial osteopathy on my son and gave him to herbal remedies..Apicerebrum and Nervoheel.. The difference has been amazing to say the least..my son was getting to the stage where we couldnt take him many places as we wouldnt get past the door!! he just wanted to go through it and watch it open and close..we can now visit childrens play areas with no tantrums.
I got loads of info looking up PNKD on google..apparently there is a neurological condition that is brought on when the person is excited ..I took everything I printed off the net about the condition with me when I took my son to the doctor.. I got the feeling I would have been dismissed had I not looked into it so much.

sorry this is a bit like a book... but I know how you feel..we just want to get straight to diagnosis without putting our kids through the stress of seeing endless doctors

let me know how you get on .. more than happy to chat about this with you

Regards

Kay