An Interesting Case....Could Be Parkinsons? MS?

[margs81]

Hey All....

I won't bore you with all the details, but I think I have an interesting case.  Had two neurological episodes ten years ago.  They were about a year apart.  Then basically nothing for ten years, except some little symptoms here and there.  I was diagnosed with MS ten years ago, despite having a normal MRI--with just one marginally suspicious lesion on my spine that wasn't even really indicative of MS.

Last month, I am sitting on my couch and my index finger in one hand starts twitching by itself.  Within a month, both sets of fingers have slight tremors.  Legs are spastic and uncoordinated.  Fingers stiff.  I've had some dizzy spells on and off all summer, and stiffness and fatigue and muscle aches.  Had an MRI this morning which was fine--no lesions.  Sounds a lot like Parkinsons, which scares me to death. I'd rather have MS, to tell you the truth.

Am seeing a neuro tomorrow.  What's weird is this:  The neurological attacks ten years ago were not at all like Parkinsons.  This one is.  Could I have had MS and then developed Parkinson's too?  Obviously, it wasn't Parkinsons ten years ago because it would have progressed.  Or is this all some still undefined neurological illness that has come back again?  Is it still MS?  Mystery..... Some of my symptoms now are the same as they were ten years ago, except for the hands shaking.

Any feedback would be helpful.

[COBOB]

If you have early tremors due to Primary PD, a trial on L-DOPA should reduce the tremors.  PD is not all that easy to diagnose.  Again, the only sure diagnosis is at autopsy.  CT, and MRI are not very useful is diagnosing PD.  Single photon emission computed tomography and positron emission tomography can be useful in detecting dopamine depletion in the midbrain of patients with PD.

Bob

[supermum_ms]

Tremors are often a big part of MS, there is also something called parkinsonia (sp) that is secondary parkinson's, not true parkinsons but the tremor issues are very similar. 10 years ago you would of been in your 30's so parkisons at that age would be exstreemly rare, and you are right if it was parkinson's you would of continued to progress in that time.

It sounds to me like you have had a relapse, old sx returned with an additional new sx, more than 30 days inbetween and lasting more than 24-48 hours, which is what your saying would in fact be consistent with RRMS. Between replases can last years, though thats not usual, but thats what MSers hope to get with their DMD. I wonder if you have been on DMD's during the last 10 years, or changed or not ever been on DMD's.

I think you would benefit from reading our health pages, see top right of your screen, yellow icon. If you look at the mcdonald criteria for dx of MS you will see that one lesion in your spine is not inconsistent with a dx of MS.

Cheers........JJ

[sadfacepanda]

Did they do a full MRI? or just look at one part of your body?

[jensequitur]

A lesion on your spine is indicative of MS, mainly because it's a sign of disease activity within your CNS.  As far as I know, there's no other disease that attacks the spine.  Usually with a lesion on the spine and neurological symptoms disseminated in time, they'll call that MS.  

I experienced tremor and shakiness in my hands and legs, because of a lesion in the cerebellum.  

What was the strength of the MRI?