Erratic shakes, falls, dizziness and exhaustion

[janieg14216]

Some days are better than others because of weakness, shakes and sudden falls.  It's difficult to get around open spaces or long corridors unless I can touch something as I move in order to know where my feet are.  If I look down too long, I feel dizzy; if I keep looking down, my legs tremble and I fall.  Then I have to crawl to a place where I can pull myself up into a soft reclining chair.  After a rest of an hour or more, my level of energy is better (though not what it used to be) and I can be active again for short periods of time.

I had an under-active thyroid which blood tests now indicate is under control.  Some doctors felt that should have taken care of other symptoms.  It didn't help.  I've had two MRI's, two CatScans and an ultrasound.  So far the doctors have seen nothing obvious such as MS, Muscular Dystrophy, or signs of a stroke.  I retired early because I would no longer drive feeling I was a danger to others.  Bottom line is: I want to know what's going on treat it if possible, so I can feel confident again in my ability to move around..

[caregiver222]

You also need an evaluation for Parkinson's disease, whioch also must be ruled out.

You have my sympathies.

[Dr Sharma]

Hi there. You need to be investigated in detail by a neurologist for multiple sclerosis where the disease phase is characterized by active phase and remissions. It has multiple symptoms and signs and is a diagnosis of exclusion. The symptoms of multiple sclerosis are loss of balance, muscle spasms, numbness in any area, problems with walking and coordination, tremors in one or more arms and legs. Bowel and bladder symptoms include frequency of micturition, urine leakage, eye symptoms like double vision uncontrollable rapid eye movements, facial pain, painful muscle spasms, tingling, burning in arms or legs, depression, dizziness, hearing loss, fatigue etc. The treatment is essentially limited to symptomatic therapy so the course of action would not change much whether MS has been diagnosed or not. Apart from clinical neurological examination, MRI shows MS as paler areas of demyelination, two different episodes of demyelination separated by one month in at least two different brain locations. Spinal tap is done and CSF electrophoresis reveals oligoclonal bands suggestive of immune activity, which is suggestive but not diagnostic of MS. Demyelinating neurons, transmit nerve signals slower than non-demyelinated ones and can be detected with EP tests. These are visual evoked potentials, brain stem auditory evoked response, and somatosensory evoked potential. Slower nerve responses in any one of these is not confirmatory of MS but can be used to complement diagnosis along with a neurological examination, medical history and an MRI in addition, a spinal tap. Therefore, it would be prudent to consult your neurologist with these concerns. Hope this helps. Take care

[SamPCS]

I have mostly the same symptoms and mine happened after a head injury.  So far no help from any doctors and seen very many (Neurologists, ENTs etc.,)  They might call this as anxiety order if nothing else was found.  Mine is also very unpredictable.  Xanax helps a little bit with symptoms but only for a short while since body gets used to it and need more.