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Hello, I Recently Have Been Having Weird Neurological Symptoms. They
Question: Hello, I recently have been having weird neurological symptoms. They include: slight muscle jerking of head,shoulders and lower limbs, weakness and shakiness of pincher grasp and droppong items when grabbed. I have hx of cervical fusion of C 4 and 5 and 6,7. Breast cancer . Have also experienced trouble with recall and word formation. I am a 53 year old female. Please let me know your thoughts. previous tests for MS 10 years ago no lesions but did not do lumbar puncture. Coukd this be the beginning of MS or Parkinsons.? Advise greatly appreciated. Traci
Hello, I recently have been having weird neurological symptoms. They include: slight muscle jerking of head,shoulders and lower limbs, weakness and shakiness of pincher grasp and droppong items when grabbed. I have hx of cervical fusion of C 4 and 5 and 6,7. Breast cancer . Have also experienced trouble with recall and word formation. I am a 53 year old female. Please let me know your thoughts. previous tests for MS 10 years ago no lesions but did not do lumbar puncture. Coukd this be the beginning of MS or Parkinsons.? Advise greatly appreciated. Traci
Brief Answer:
Both Parkinson and MS may cause the muscular jerks but is not the typical way they generally start
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to "Ask a Doctor" service,
I carefully read your query and here is my advice:
The muscle jerking you are mentioning can be caused by both MS and Parkinson disease but are not the typical symptoms or how one would expect it to start.
MS is expected to be in episodes while Parkinson mostly has a tremor that the patient can suppress voluntarily. Parkinson is mostly a clinical diagnosis, which means that the doctor should be able to diagnose it or rule it out by examining you (tremor, rigidity, how you walk, the reflexes, the coordination of movements, the facial expression, etc).
Other causes of neurological disorders and some metabolic disorders are other diagnoses that need to be considered as well. For instance, brain or spine lesions should be ruled out and we need to make sure that the liver and the kidneys are functioning well. If you are taking any medications this is very important information as some medications may affect movement. Also if there are similar problems in your family does favor some genetic predisposition and may lead to certain diagnoses.
There was not much information provided on recent tests and examinations that you might have done so I am going to mention what is generally recommended when it comes to the evaluation of a patient with muscular jerks (myoclonus).
- the basic metabolic profile: sugar levels, lipids, liver function tests (ALT, AST, Bilirubin), kidney function tests (urea and creatinine and electrolytes)
- brain and spine imaging- CT or MRI of the brain and spine will help determine lesions that might lead to a diagnosis
A thorough history and neurological examination are crucial in determining the possible causes and the needed examinations.
I hope this is helpful and answers your query, but I remain at your disposition in case any further assistance is needed.
I wish you quick healing and take care,
Regards,
Dr. Antoneta Zotaj, General and Family Physician
Both Parkinson and MS may cause the muscular jerks but is not the typical way they generally start
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to "Ask a Doctor" service,
I carefully read your query and here is my advice:
The muscle jerking you are mentioning can be caused by both MS and Parkinson disease but are not the typical symptoms or how one would expect it to start.
MS is expected to be in episodes while Parkinson mostly has a tremor that the patient can suppress voluntarily. Parkinson is mostly a clinical diagnosis, which means that the doctor should be able to diagnose it or rule it out by examining you (tremor, rigidity, how you walk, the reflexes, the coordination of movements, the facial expression, etc).
Other causes of neurological disorders and some metabolic disorders are other diagnoses that need to be considered as well. For instance, brain or spine lesions should be ruled out and we need to make sure that the liver and the kidneys are functioning well. If you are taking any medications this is very important information as some medications may affect movement. Also if there are similar problems in your family does favor some genetic predisposition and may lead to certain diagnoses.
There was not much information provided on recent tests and examinations that you might have done so I am going to mention what is generally recommended when it comes to the evaluation of a patient with muscular jerks (myoclonus).
- the basic metabolic profile: sugar levels, lipids, liver function tests (ALT, AST, Bilirubin), kidney function tests (urea and creatinine and electrolytes)
- brain and spine imaging- CT or MRI of the brain and spine will help determine lesions that might lead to a diagnosis
A thorough history and neurological examination are crucial in determining the possible causes and the needed examinations.
I hope this is helpful and answers your query, but I remain at your disposition in case any further assistance is needed.
I wish you quick healing and take care,
Regards,
Dr. Antoneta Zotaj, General and Family Physician
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
Brief Answer:
Both Parkinson and MS may cause the muscular jerks but is not the typical way they generally start
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to "Ask a Doctor" service,
I carefully read your query and here is my advice:
The muscle jerking you are mentioning can be caused by both MS and Parkinson disease but are not the typical symptoms or how one would expect it to start.
MS is expected to be in episodes while Parkinson mostly has a tremor that the patient can suppress voluntarily. Parkinson is mostly a clinical diagnosis, which means that the doctor should be able to diagnose it or rule it out by examining you (tremor, rigidity, how you walk, the reflexes, the coordination of movements, the facial expression, etc).
Other causes of neurological disorders and some metabolic disorders are other diagnoses that need to be considered as well. For instance, brain or spine lesions should be ruled out and we need to make sure that the liver and the kidneys are functioning well. If you are taking any medications this is very important information as some medications may affect movement. Also if there are similar problems in your family does favor some genetic predisposition and may lead to certain diagnoses.
There was not much information provided on recent tests and examinations that you might have done so I am going to mention what is generally recommended when it comes to the evaluation of a patient with muscular jerks (myoclonus).
- the basic metabolic profile: sugar levels, lipids, liver function tests (ALT, AST, Bilirubin), kidney function tests (urea and creatinine and electrolytes)
- brain and spine imaging- CT or MRI of the brain and spine will help determine lesions that might lead to a diagnosis
A thorough history and neurological examination are crucial in determining the possible causes and the needed examinations.
I hope this is helpful and answers your query, but I remain at your disposition in case any further assistance is needed.
I wish you quick healing and take care,
Regards,
Dr. Antoneta Zotaj, General and Family Physician
Both Parkinson and MS may cause the muscular jerks but is not the typical way they generally start
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to "Ask a Doctor" service,
I carefully read your query and here is my advice:
The muscle jerking you are mentioning can be caused by both MS and Parkinson disease but are not the typical symptoms or how one would expect it to start.
MS is expected to be in episodes while Parkinson mostly has a tremor that the patient can suppress voluntarily. Parkinson is mostly a clinical diagnosis, which means that the doctor should be able to diagnose it or rule it out by examining you (tremor, rigidity, how you walk, the reflexes, the coordination of movements, the facial expression, etc).
Other causes of neurological disorders and some metabolic disorders are other diagnoses that need to be considered as well. For instance, brain or spine lesions should be ruled out and we need to make sure that the liver and the kidneys are functioning well. If you are taking any medications this is very important information as some medications may affect movement. Also if there are similar problems in your family does favor some genetic predisposition and may lead to certain diagnoses.
There was not much information provided on recent tests and examinations that you might have done so I am going to mention what is generally recommended when it comes to the evaluation of a patient with muscular jerks (myoclonus).
- the basic metabolic profile: sugar levels, lipids, liver function tests (ALT, AST, Bilirubin), kidney function tests (urea and creatinine and electrolytes)
- brain and spine imaging- CT or MRI of the brain and spine will help determine lesions that might lead to a diagnosis
A thorough history and neurological examination are crucial in determining the possible causes and the needed examinations.
I hope this is helpful and answers your query, but I remain at your disposition in case any further assistance is needed.
I wish you quick healing and take care,
Regards,
Dr. Antoneta Zotaj, General and Family Physician
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
Thank you. I am awaiting an evaluation by a neurosurgeon. any test/ questions I shoukd ask? What medications might cause these symptoms?
Thank you. I am awaiting an evaluation by a neurosurgeon. any test/ questions I shoukd ask? What medications might cause these symptoms?
Brief Answer:
Detailed answer below
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome back,
Firstly, the diagnosis of the cause of the myoclonus might not be a straight forward thing and the doctor may not have the answer within the first visit. Thus, it needs some patience and to openly talk with the doctor about the findings in each visit and what is the clinical importance of them.
As for the medications that may cause muscular jerks (myoclonus) can be several, from those used often (antibiotics) to those used in very specific conditions like opiate (during their withdrawal), medications for depression or psychosis.
I hope this answers your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Kind regards,
Dr. Antoneta Zotaj, General and Family Physician
Detailed answer below
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome back,
Firstly, the diagnosis of the cause of the myoclonus might not be a straight forward thing and the doctor may not have the answer within the first visit. Thus, it needs some patience and to openly talk with the doctor about the findings in each visit and what is the clinical importance of them.
As for the medications that may cause muscular jerks (myoclonus) can be several, from those used often (antibiotics) to those used in very specific conditions like opiate (during their withdrawal), medications for depression or psychosis.
I hope this answers your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Kind regards,
Dr. Antoneta Zotaj, General and Family Physician
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
Brief Answer:
Detailed answer below
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome back,
Firstly, the diagnosis of the cause of the myoclonus might not be a straight forward thing and the doctor may not have the answer within the first visit. Thus, it needs some patience and to openly talk with the doctor about the findings in each visit and what is the clinical importance of them.
As for the medications that may cause muscular jerks (myoclonus) can be several, from those used often (antibiotics) to those used in very specific conditions like opiate (during their withdrawal), medications for depression or psychosis.
I hope this answers your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Kind regards,
Dr. Antoneta Zotaj, General and Family Physician
Detailed answer below
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome back,
Firstly, the diagnosis of the cause of the myoclonus might not be a straight forward thing and the doctor may not have the answer within the first visit. Thus, it needs some patience and to openly talk with the doctor about the findings in each visit and what is the clinical importance of them.
As for the medications that may cause muscular jerks (myoclonus) can be several, from those used often (antibiotics) to those used in very specific conditions like opiate (during their withdrawal), medications for depression or psychosis.
I hope this answers your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Kind regards,
Dr. Antoneta Zotaj, General and Family Physician
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
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