New Here..could it be? - Parkinson's Disease Message Board

Tina81980 · 12-28-2006, 12:14 PM

Hi..I'm am writing in reguards to my husband. Everything started about 3 years ago after his return from Iraq. He had routine bloodwork that came back with underactive thyroid, and high liver enzymes, he was told he had a fatty liver. A few months later, out of no where my husband started having full body severe muscle cramps. They where in his stomach, sides, back, & legs. He was just twisting & turning from the contractions. He saw his Dr. and was told it was due to the heat. Well, nearly every month since then he has these full body cramps sometimes 3-4 times a month. He has no weakness. A few weeks ago in his sleep his legs started twitching and jerking beyond his control. The Dr. said it was restless leg syndrome, did more bloodwork, his blood was fine except for the liver enzymes were high. He was told the muscle cramps could be due to the liver but to be safe he wanted him to see a neurologist to rule out things such as MS & Parkinsons. Does his symptoms look anything like these? Any information would be greatly appricated. Thanks
Tina

Willapp · 01-02-2007, 07:18 AM

I'm no expert, but those things don't sound like PD (Parkinson's Disease) to me. I believe the 3 main symptoms of PD are muscle stiffness, slow/difficult movement and resting tremor.

Stiffness and difficult movement obviously go together - one example is stiff arms that do not swing 'normally' when walking. Also walking can become more like shuffling - taking smaller steps and dragging feet rather than picking them up, making it common to trip over things easily. Tremor is most often visible in the hands, with fingers shaking at rest (e.g. when hand is laid down on a table, not held in the air).

It doesn't sound like your husband has these symptoms, although obviously a specialist will be able to give a proper diagnosis.

jmorris · 02-14-2007, 04:17 PM

Hey, I was in Iraq in 04-05. I have frequent leg jerks at night along with some lower back pains. I am in the process of seeing a neurologist about parkinson's disease. I also have hand tremors and balance problems.

d444 · 02-23-2007, 10:16 AM

if you said your husband has a thyroid problem id say its most likly due to that. i have a hypoactive thyroid and its causeing all kinds of wired symptoms, my arms and legs jerk when falling asleep, headaches, fatigue, body aches. ive been told the thyroid can cause all kinds of strange symptoms.

my jerks at night got me worried tho, i have a gradfather with parkinsons and really hoping its the thyroid and not parkinsons.