Thank You Gloria and 2 Doctors

[thedon]

This is my first entry into the Forum. I have been a “closet viewer” in numerous other Forums for years. This is the first time I ever registered and submitted a topic. If you have any experiences that relate to this illness, I encourage you to register and share them with the rest of us. In addition to having OT, I am afflicted with a severe case of procrastination. I should have written this months ago.
The first person I would like to thank is my family physician. She admitted she did not know what was causing my legs to shake, but felt it had something to do with muscles, and she set up an appointment for me to see a neurologist. During that time frame, I searched Google looking for muscle problems. There I found the OT Forum by Gloria, and am so grateful to her for all the information I gained from it; to the level I was able to diagnose my own problem. I was “armed” before my first visit to the neurologist on February 22, 2007. He deserves my third thank you. He studied, and subjected me to many questions, and physical tests for a long time and I began wondering if he was on the right track. At the end he said “You have “Shaking Leg Syndrome.” I was immediately disappointed with that diagnosis. However, in the same breath, he said, “Also called Orthostatic Tremors.” After reading so many missed diagnoses in the Forum, I was grateful that I was directed to this neurologist.
My visit was followed by an MRI and an EMG. I told him about the results of the Forum and that the MRI probably would show nothing. He agreed, but being a very conservative doctor, he wanted to eliminate any other possible problems.
I watched the EMG test while laying horizontal. I saw a couple “spikes”on the display as he manipulated my legs in numerous positions and pressures to aggravate the problem. He said he saw enough to be satisfied that he had diagnosed my problem correctly. I then suggested he test me while I was standing, which he readily agreed to. It was then that the display went wild with voltage spikes. That was the end of any further diagnosing and testing.
He first prescribed Clonazepan and recently switched me to Primidone. I cannot say with any certainty that either has done me any good, but at least I don’t feel I am getting worse.
I am 80 years old, and a Navy Veteran of WW II. My first awareness of shaking legs was back on June 12, 2004 when I volunteered to be part of the American Legion Firing Squad. Naturally I was nervous for my first practice, and as you all know what stress can do to the legs. When I was standing at Attention, my legs started to shake beyond control, and I had to sit down. Since that time I had been unconsciously supporting myself by leaning against the bathroom sink counter top as I washed and shaved etc., not aware of my condition. The last straw came when I noticed I was so unsteady when weighing myself on a digital scales that I would get the Error message.
I have had most of the occurrences as discussed in the Forum, like using shopping carts for support, leaning against the wall during showers etc. When in public where the surroundings are unknown, I use a cane. When watering the garden, for support I use an old inverted golf club with the club head as a grip.
After reading the severe status of some of you in our OT community, I thank God that my condition is comparatively as mild as it is. And, certainly I am grateful that I don’t have Parkinson. I live in Clayton, N.C., just outside of Raleigh, and would enjoy hearing from anyone in this area.
In closing, a very special Thank You to Gloria for this Excellent Forum.
Don