Involuntary Foot Stomping

[capot1948]

I'm 68yrs old, 69 next week. Since Feb of this year I've been involuntarily stomping my feet for no reason - https://youtu.be/Q8kQLcymZhc usually it will last no more than 30-45 seconds but has progressed to where it's at least 4-5 minutes. The video I posted about 1/2 of an episode because my wife had to find my tablet and start recording. My neurologist at the VA I go to gave up on me last December because of my un-diagnosed balance loss. He said about this he's totally confused. I went to a movement disorder specialist in Sept of this year who said I 'may' have possible Orthostatic Myoclonus or Orthostatic Tremor. Either way he said I have Abnormal Involuntary Movement. Since there was no real diagnosis I had him give me a referral to the Baylor College of Medicine Parkinson's/Movement Disorder clinic in Houston. I went there last week for an appointment. I was in her office for over 3hrs talking to her or her assistant and going through the usual tests (walking up and down, finger touching, standing with eyes closed and so on). I had mentioned on my paperwork that way, way back between 45-50yrs ago I was a heavy beer drinker but nothing since around 1973. Her conclusions then were based on that and she said:

"The cerebellum is the balance center of the brain (located at the back of the head) and affected by heavy alcohol use (both acutely and on a chronic basis). Therefore, there is likely an association between the heavy use and your imbalance. Your understanding is correct. If you foot stomp in order to help your balance then it may be a compensatory mechanism you have developed.


The damage from heavy alcohol use can be compensated for earlier on. However, over time and probably through many factors such as age or the action of other illnesses, the compensatory mechanisms become less effective and symptoms start to show. This may account for the imbalance. The stomping and the urge you may feel to do it was thought to be a potential variant of restless leg syndrome."

My wife and I both consider that to be bogus and even then it's not a diagnosis, just an observation. I had my VA neurologist put in an inter-facility referral to the Parkinson’s Disease Research, Education and Clinical Centers at the Houston VA and am waiting for an appointment with them. I also asked the Movement Disorder specialist who sent me to Baylor to give me a referral to the Movement Disorder specialist at the University of Texas, Medical Branch in Galveston.

Has anyone ever seen or experienced anything like what I've shown in the video?

Thank you
Chris