Jerking and shocking sensations

[jan]

Dear Dr.,



I'm soon to be 50, I haven't exercised in awhile, I'm of a good wt.  I do have many things wrong with me.  I have indeterminate colitis, inappro. sinus tach, neurocardio'syncope,intersti. cystitis,sleep apnea,poss. narcolepsy. C-spine sponyloarthropathy, 1 lg brain lesion (3 in 1)that was '98, hasn't changed.  I have myoclonus L. leg and clonus (sometimes R ft, sometimes L.  



In July I had episodes of involuntary jerking on my L. side.  1st I was reaching for something and my arm stopped midway and started jerking.  A couple of days later my leg started was wobbly/jerky, I couldn't put wt. on it or I would've fallen.  The next day my foot jerked while sewing, then I had a feeling on the full L. side of it being weak and strained.  I had mild shaking of my foot the next day, sewing.  I haven't had this repeated since.



I went to the ER thinking TIA and they did tests for that and all was normal.  I had an EEG done at a later date and it was normal.  Neuro thought seizures, epi doesn't.



At around the same time I woke one morn'g with pins and needles in my L. palm under thumb, some really hurt.  It lasted a long time, esp. the hurting ones.  Then I got it in sm. areas at different pts. of my body (not all at once).  One day it was intense and felt like shocks.  Bloodwork came back normal and EMG/NCV came back normal.  I still get this from time to time with varying intensities.



Do you have any thoughts as to what this might be (mainly jerking and shock'g sensations)? I really would like to know why all this and the diag.



Thanks in advance.

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

First of all, keep in mind that I am unable to diagnose you because I am unable to examine you, this forum is for educational purposes.

  The symptoms you describe of resting Leg myoclonus and clonus, with new jerking type movements and sensory complaints are non-specific, but sound the most like spasticity of the leg to me.  It is unlear to me what you mean by 1 large brain lesion.  If this is refering to possible demyelinating disease (as I would suspect) then your story of spastic complications as the initial presentation of MS (multiple sclerosis) should be considered.  But just the statement of "1 large brain lesion" could mean anything from tumor, to vascular malformation, old stroke etc, etc.  

  Another possibility is that your jerking and shock like pain is being caused by cord compression in the cervical spine.

   From your description, seizures seem less likely, but I would recommend a 2 hour sleep deprived EEG and of course if you are able to catch (or reproduce) one of the spells which attached to the EEG leads, that would help answer the question.

  I would recommend a recent (with in the last month/ or a new one) MRI with contrast of the brain and cervical spine.  I would also recommend a lumbar puncture for inflammation of the spinal fluid (torelottes, IgG index and oligoclonal bands).  If concern for seizure still persists despite a longer EEG with sleep, then I would suggest a therapeutic trial with an antiepileptic drug to see if if affects that outcome of the events.  

I hope this has been helpful.

[jan]

I don't know if this is important, but it just came to mind.  I was told I have temporal lobe dysfunction.  I guess that is because I had slowing on several EEG's, that was on the L. TL.



That it is from an accident in my teens and I was told I suffered a CPS.  I don't know if I did, what I experienced was as I was trying to get sis out of the car I fell, the next thing I knew someone was holding me on the ground telling the paramedics that I was found walking around.  I couldn't remember anybody's phone number.  But I was still having problems with names of things for a couple of days(ie fire hydrant, I knew what it was for though.) Couldn't that just be shock?

[jan]

I was at one time misdiagnosed with MS and yesterday a friend sent me to Lyme sites.  I found one that mentioned several of my diagnoses and then took the symptoms test.  I had 38 out of 75.  



I have been tested 3 or 4 times for Lyme, Elisa and Western Blot, always neg.  I did have the rash in the mid or late 90's, but back then they always described it as a bull's eye.  Now, I see they are describing what I had, a rash as it expands it gets clear in the center.  I kept saying I should go to the drs., but never did.



What is it with the Igenex lab?  Why are they the ones that people insist you need to be tested?



Sorry for all the add ons, but hope you read them.  



Thank you.

[burningpains]

LYME LYME LYME!  I have these symptoms and I am being treated for Lyme (finally)...took 6 months to get a diagnosed.  I probably have had it for 10 years without knowing it. It can lie dormant in your system for more than a decade before causing symptoms.  It may need to be treated with long-term antibiotics, although many doctors, unfortunately, don't realize this. Most people don't get the rash nor remember seeing a tick. Please see a Lyme Literate MD ASAP!  Good luck!

[jan]

I have said Lyme all along.  I actually had the rash in mid or late 90's, but then they always described it as a bull's eye.  Now I see they describe it like mine, rash that gets bigger and as it does the center clears.  If only I had known!  I kept telling myself I should go to the drs., but I never did.  



I went to canlyme.com and I have 5 of the diagnoses listed and was misdiag. with another.  It said if you have any to go to the questions on symptoms and if you had 20 it was a serious potential.  I had 39.



I took this to my neuro yesterday, but she only treats acute, not chronic.  I am going to take it to my PCP and hope he takes me seriously and knows a Lyme literate dr.



I have been tested 3 or 4 times with the Western Blot and ELISA, but it always came back negative.  On the Lyme site I mentioned there are many articles, one is by a dr. explaining how each and every Lyme test falls short.  *sigh*



Here is my whole list of ailments (some are just symptoms):  Inappropriate Sinus Tachycardia, Neurocardiogenic Syncope, IBS, Raynaud’s, costochondritis, Narcolepsy,  cervical spondyloarthropathy (herniated disks and all the stuff that goes with it), radiculopathy, arthritis, TMJ, granuloma annulare, skin