Parkinson’s and PMR

[Limes123]

hubby had trouble walking last few days so we went to see rheumy. She wondered if he had Parkinson’s and is referring him to a neurologist for a diagnosis . Anyone else had this experience ?

[PMRpro Ambassador]

A bit more information about the type of symptoms would be helpful - many PMR patients have difficulty walking too. What made her think it was Parkinson's rather than the PMR? Has he been reducing the dose of pred recently?

[Limes123 in reply to PMRpro]

his right leg drags he can’t lift it but on examination he could bend and lift when sitting . He has a slight tremor in one hand . He reduced pred from 15mg to 12.5 one week ago

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Limes123]

I'm pretty sure there are others with the dragging leg problem at times. The tremor is concerning of course but there are others causes of that too - and a lot of people have experienced tremor during PMR and on pred.

However, definitely preferable to be safe and check it out. Do keep us informed how he gets on.

[Limes123]

thanks so much

[MrsNails]

Hi Limes

I read an article yesterday about Jeremy Paxman (re the Program on earlier in the week) & was quite surprised at the list of symptoms - l can kinda see where the GP is coming from - l’ll see if l can find the article.

MrsN

mol.im/a/11278377

Sign & Symptoms

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to MrsNails]

Bit snide the DM there - the woman who "claims" to be able to smell Parkinson's can - and has worked with scientists to identify the molecules she can detect to make a test for Parkinson's!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Thanks for this MrsNails

JP has deteriorated quite a lot just recently - I have watched University Challenge for donkey's years ( don't say I get many of the answers 😏)>

My sister i law had it for years before it became a real problem...and like most things the earlier it's diagnosed, the sooner the treatment.

Hope your husband doesn't have it, but good on his GP for referring him to specialist.

[Pinkpepper]

My husband had PD fof 9 years before he passed away in May this year . Never had a tremor but did drag his right leg and his first symptom was not swinging his right arm when walking, hope everything works out well for him .

[Floridafan]

I watched the ITV programme “Paxman: Putting Up With Parkinson’s” recently purely out of interest (I don’t know anyone with Parkinson’s or have it myself). It was very interesting so might be worth watching it on Catch Up

[Pixix]

I have a bad tremor in left hand & arm…just started one day! Have bad days & good days. I’ve been diagnosed with Essential Tremor (yes, that’s really it’s name)…maybe look it up & see if it fits yourhubby’s symptoms? My tremor never happens with my hand & arm at rest. Just putting it here so you know there are other things out there…Parkinson’s was ruled out in my case…by the consultant. Good luck to him…& you!

[Limes123 in reply to Pixix]

thank you - is your walking affected ?

[Pixix in reply to Limes123]

So sorry, thought I’d replied, I’m sure I did, whoops! Yes, I have trouble walking, but I have other diseases like osteoarthritis in toes & hips, muscles that attach to hips are growing bone on them, I have fibromyalgia, too…so my leg issues are not connected to the tremor, I had them before it started, & have been well diagnosed, I have an excellent GP & have had x-rays & seen a rheumy who referred my to others in the hospital, too!

[pata63 in reply to Pixix]

I've also got Essential Tremor. My father had Parkinsons so any time I'm near a Doctor they have a close look for any Parkinsons symptoms. When I mentioned in a recent thread that the Neurologist was ruling out Rheumatoid Arthritis when PMR was diagnosed I forgot about Parkinsons, but of course it was in the differential list along with Rheumatoid Arthritis.

My father's Parkinsons probably came on in his early 60s but my mother and I were never sure because it was subtle and took years to be diagnosed. It was the less common rigid form so he never had any tremors. He was on Sinamet and gradually deteriorated ending up in a wheel chair. Prior to the wheel chair his walking was very slow and he had to concentrate. He would also "freeze" at doorways. If you asked him a question while he was walking he would sometimes lose concentration and either stop or occasionally fall over. 😱 I learned not to distract him while he was walking. 😀 From what my mother told me, the neurologist who made the diagnosis had a look at the bottoms of his shoes to spot the familiar pattern of foot dragging.

[Pixix in reply to pata63]

That’s interesting…I can see why they check you over with your history. Sorry about your father, though, that’s sad. Thanks for your reply, I think Limes123 will be interested, too, so I’ve copied her below in case she misses it!

[Karenjaninaz in reply to Pixix]

In the US there is a focused brain ultrasound treatment for essential tremor that is very helpful.

University of Maryland.

[Pixix in reply to Karenjaninaz]

I mentioned it. It would appear it’s not used here in the beginning, try other things first. I was lucky & saw the head consultant of a large hospital, & first try is to give up tranadol & amitryptylline, either of which could cause a tremor! Thanks!

[Limes123 in reply to Pixix]

thanks I’ll post any update !

[Pixix]

See new reply from pata63…you could miss it, & I think you find it interesting!

[Pixix]

Just a thought…my tremor was thought to be drug related by the consultant, either tranadol or amitryptylline, or both. First thing to do was to remove one, then the other, from use. You may want to ask if it could be drug related?

[pata63 in reply to Pixix]

Again that's interesting to compare with my history. There have been times over that past decade when I was on low dose Amitriptyline or Nortriptyline (30mg a day) for TGN. For some years I was off Amitriptyline entirely. My essential termors have been the same throughout. I went back on Amitriptyline fairly recenty so I remember the level of tremors, and it was unchanged. I was paying attention for a couple of reasons. The first is I also had a period of 5 months about 3 years ago when I cut out all coffee and tea from my diet and noticed that my tremors continued but were less extreme. I've just come off another 7 week period with no coffee or tea so I'm keeping track of what happens as I re-introduce introduce caffine at different doses. The second reason I've been interested is that I find the essential tremors are a big problem when using a mobile phone. I much prefer a desktop computer with a proper keyboard!

I've never been on Tramadol regulary, although I've had it prescibed very short term for acute pain. So my attention was not on tremors at the time. 😉

[Pixix in reply to pata63]

I’ve completed the weaning off amitryptylline and in my case it made no difference to the tremors…but all the leg muscle spasms came back, so it shows I need it! Can’t come off tramadol until I’ve seen a rheumy, & pain clinic & other things are considered. But the wait to see a rheumy is 11 months in our area. I’m allergic to caffeine so have none, easy to rule out for me!! Yes, worst time is when I pick something up with left hand, used to carry food & drink around, but don’t now!! Eating is not great sometimes, either!

[Limes123]

I don’t think so - only pred at the mo