Dear Andins:
Usually the presence of clonus indicates that there is abnormal upper motor neuron damage (CNS damage to the motor areas of the cortex). In an otherwise perfectly normal developing child, this may just be a finding, and not a sign of CNS abnormality. However, if your child has any features that are not normal, such as developmental delay, spasticity, etc. this may be a sign of the group of abnormalities associated with various disease. This is the same for the blue sclera. There are several entities that might be associated with both disorders but not with a perfectly normal 3 year old daughter.
Sincerely,
CCF Neuro MD
My 3 year old daughter has just been referred to a Neurologist. The Orthopedic doctor who recently examined her said he noticed clonus. She also has a bluish tint to the whites of her eyes. Can the two things be related to each other? What is clonus linked with in children? Will Physical Therapy help or make the problem worse? Thank you!
Dear Joe:
I can't find the medication in any of my drug information books.
CCF Neuro MD
I really don't know much other than it is a transdermal patch. If you go to www.hotbot.com and search on procarin, there are a few links that appear.... including www.msviews.com/rene/renp47.htm
there is another that gives much better information but the link is far too long to list here.
A friend saw a nurse on some talk show discussing it. It may be nothing more than a "miracle" tonic....
Dear Joe:
Is there another name for Procarin?
CCF Neuro MD
I saw some info on this medication/therapy. Any information available from a scientific (unbiased) perspective?
Dear Joe:
The clonus from MS is due to increased muscle tone (spasticity) and upper or central nervous system demyelination. So, medication can help with the increased muscle tone which will initially help with the clonic movements, but there is no real relief from the clonus.
Sincerely,
CCF Neuro MD
What about clonus in the legs? Is there a medication that will relieve the clonus? Is there a chance with MS the clonus will subside and the reverberations (sp?) will diminish or will it only get worse?
Dear Thelma:
The clonus that you might experience in a joint, might be transit in nature if you had an insult to a particular part of the brain, for instance a metabolic insult. As the insult resolved and the brain began to heal it would go away. Most of the time it is there and will not go away. Usually, it is from a stroke, degenerative disease, etc. Cogwheel rigidity is usually from basal ganglion problems such as in Parkinson's. This would too not go away, in fact most of the time this gets worse. What you describe might be a dystonic movement. This is a movement disorder that is the result from metabolic, genetic, stroke, etc etiologies.
I would seek a good neurological exam to see if this is what is occuring with you.
Sincerely,
CCF Neuro MD