possible misdiagnosis

I have many of the symtoms (symptoms) related to PD but do not respond at all to PD meds. Have had many MRI's all negative. What else could this be?

[Godofredo MD]

Hi.

It would be better if you provided more information on your symptoms, especially the type and duration. Symptoms related to PD can also occur in some other neurologic diseases and any information you provide could probably help in determining what other conditions may be possible in your case.

[sid360]

It all started about 15 yrs ago as a urinary tract irritation.
Then my skin couldn't take the sun anymore especially on my face.
Then my right arm started shaking and I had trouble with fine motor skills.
My problems with my arm has worsened until I can barely use it.
My right leg also shakes and drags as I walk.
These problems are also showing up in my left side now.
My eyes burn and are matted in the mornings.
My cognitive skills have diminished and I experience chronic fatique.
My voioce is weak and I get chocked often and I slober some.


Any help would be greatly appreciated,

sid360

[Godofredo MD]

Hi.

Can I assume that your initial treatment included levodopa? Wasn't there any therapeutic response to this drug?

There is such a condition known as parkinsonism which refers to any condition that causes movement abnormalities seen in Parkinson's disease (tremors, slow movement or bradykinesia, impaired speech, muscle stiffness) resulting from the loss of dopamine-containing nerve cells.

Although Parkinson's disease is the most common cause of this, there are other conditions that could present with parkinsonism and would be differentiated from PD by little or no response to levodopa, thus indicating that the striatal nerve cells are also damaged. Such conditions include progressive supranuclear palsy, multisystem atrophy, alzheimer with extrapyramidal features, adverse reactions of some neuroleptic medications, postencephalitis disorder, toxins, and Wilson disease.

You should talk to your neurologist about this.

Hope this helps.

[sid360]

I tried cabadopa and it did not help.

Could this be some kind of systemic infection? eg fungal, bacterial, or microbrial

And how could this be determined?

Thanks again,

sid360

[Godofredo MD]

Hi.

As carbidopa did not help resolve the condition, there is a possibility that it may not be Parkinson's disease. It would be more likely that the symptoms are related to other conditions causing parkinsonism, than a systemic infectious process.

It would be advisable to sit down and talk to your neurologist about the possibility of other disorders causing parkinsonism.

Good luck.

[patsy10]

Get tested for lyme if you haven't already.