A newbie with some questions. - Parkinson's Disease Message Board

turry1955 · 07-11-2003, 05:58 PM

Hello all...just found this board for the first time. Pardon the length of this question/background info. I'm 47, and have just begun seeing a neurologist for some symptoms that include occasional twitching in one of my arms, some loss of fine(but not gross) motor skills in my fingers on the same arm/hand, and cramped handwriting. Shoulder is stiff. MRI's of brain and spine were negative. No pain at all. From talking to neurologist and doing some research I know these are/can be symptoms of PD. The weird part is that I only shake/twitch when I'm cold, when I'm nervous, or when I yawn or sneeze hard. (No joke!) For example when I get up in the morning and stretch/yawn...My arm will quiver for 10 seconds or so and then be fine. Sneezing will have a similar effect on the arm, as will drinking too many cups of caffeine. The final manifested symptom is that my arm "falls asleep" frequently. The neurologist said he was puzzled that these actions would bring on the twitching symptom. He put me on a dopamine antagonist about three weeeks ago and has been ramping up the dose weekly. Told me some of the symptoms were "Parkinesque". So far no effect at all. Assuming these are PD symptoms, has anyone else experienced the caffeine, chills, yawning, sneezing, or arm falling asleep connection to the onset of PD and or twitching of a limb. An inquiring mind wants to know

Googy · 07-12-2003, 11:33 PM

One thing if the PD meds help all this,It is PD.I always say,see a Movement Disorder Specialist.They are the best.

Good Luck,

Googy

Bruce · 07-14-2003, 05:03 PM

When i was still working and in the early stages of pd, i went to a funeral and it was in the 30s or 40s degrees and their was a cold wind blowing. I began shaking violently even though i thought i was dressed for the cold. I never experienced that again.

Their are numerous causes of tremor from Essential tremor to alcoholism and it takes an experienced physician to come up with the correct diagnosis.

Your neurologist is starting you out on sub theraputic doses to prevent side effects. You may not be taking a dose high enough to relieve your symptoms, Googy is right in saying if the agonists are not effective, you are not likely to have pd.

Bruce