Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Neurology (Expert Forum)
Questions and wondering what I have
This forum is for questions and support regarding neurology issues such as: Alzheimer's Disease, ALS, Autism, Brain Cancer, Cerebral Palsy, Chronic Pain, Epilepsy, Fibromyalgia, Headaches, MS, Neuralgia, Neuropathy, Parkinson's Disease, RSD, Sleep Disorders, Stroke, Traumatic Brain Injury.
Questions and wondering what I have
by Christopher-Knitel, Jan 18, 1999 12:00AM
Hello,
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.
