strange movements

[jennm]

Hello, I am a 33 year old female who has been experience chronic pain in the left cervial/tapezius/shoulder area for about four years.  Initially, the pain would just flare up every couple of months of so, and at the time i was fairly active and just thought I had strained my mucsles a little.  In the past year, the pain has become more chronic and severe.  My question is this - during this the past four years I have an "inclination" to "jerk" or shrug my left shoulder and neck to "pop" them.  There is a lot of cracking and the popping seems to releive presure in the area and make it feel better for a few seconds. The jerking is only with the left shoulder and my neck, always to the left - and it has been getting worse the past few months. (not sure which came first - pain or movement) My family doctor had cervical Mri done -normal.  He then sent me to an orthopedic doctor who said my shoulder was fine and that I have fibromyalgia.  ( I don't have pain anywhere else in my body?!)  He is sending me to a physical medicine doctor.  Will this doctor be able to tell if I have some sort of movement disorder, and is a jerking motion consistent with any type of dystonia?  Each doctor I have been to has noticed this "motion" and asked about it - but then just said to quit doing it.  I've tried - but that just to make me do it more.

[CCF-Neuro-M.D.-JT]

Would have to personally see the movement to make an accurate comment. But it sounds like the movement is voluntary and more in response to the chronic pain, rather than a primary movement disorder.  However, there is a small possibility that it may represent some sort of tic.  Tics are movements that you can voluntarily suppress, but the urge to make the movement builds and you feel a release when you do it. Consider seeing a movement disorders specialist (neurologist) at a major academic center for further evaluation. Good luck.

[jennm]

Also forgot to mention that I do have some problems with numbness and occasional shock like sensations in the same area and the left side of my face and throat, as well as occasional left-sided migraines, but these seem to coincide with the amount of cracking and jerking that I've done that day.