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Baldwin, I am not the one with PD - it's my mother Joyce (68/6 months). Anyway, I read your (and other) posts to her today on the phone and she agrees that this is what it feels like. I don't think she has pain. She now remembers that the internal nervousness predates the diagnosis. Interesting that so many doctors insist it's not a symptom. Anyway, at my mother's request I am sending her copies of all the posting that relate to this subject and she's bringing them with her to her next appointment. Stay well. Debbie White [log in to unmask] ---------- > From: Baldwin Robertson <[log in to unmask]> > To: [log in to unmask] > Cc: [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask] > Subject: RE: Internal shakiness > Date: Saturday, September 13, 1997 8:17 AM > > Debbie and Mary, > > Is your internal shakiness something like mine? > > When I was diagnosed with PD four years ago, I felt an internal tremor or > shakiness, or nervousness or tenseness. It was a strong pulsing at a > frequency of 5 to 20 cycles per second that I felt throughout my body---in > my abdomen, legs, arms, and extremities. It was painful. > > My neurologist, who specializes in PD, said it was not one of the symptoms > of PD. Evidently he based his diagnosis of my PD on my other symptoms: > slowness, poor balance, stiffness and poor posture when I walked, cogwheel > effect in my arms, inability to touch my thumb to my fingers repetitively, > etc. I had no visible tremor. I was not taking medication. > > He prescribed 5 mg Eldepryl (deprenyl or selegeline) 2 times per day. It > took nearly 1 month for the Eldepryl to have any effect, and about 2 months > to have its full effect. The Eldepryl increases the level of dopamine in > the brain because it inhibits one of the pathways of degradation of the > dopamine. It caused the internal shakiness to go away along with most of > the other symptoms, at least for a while. > > About a year later my neurologist, who had a temporary appointment at a > local university, left town to accept a permanent position elsewhere. I > found a new neurologist, who also specializes in PD, and he also diagnosed > my condition as PD. I still had no visible tremor, but I felt a tenseness > or tingle inside that comes and goes, mostly in my extremities. I > described it to him, and he also said it was not a symptom of PD. > > Since my PD had progressed, he prescribed Sinemet in addition to the > Eldepryl. When I took the Sinemet, the internal tingle went away within an > hour or so. > > I now take a larger dose of Sinemet (six 25/100 per day) in addition to two > 2.5 mg Parlodel per day. When the medication is working well, I feel no > tingle, but when it wears off, the internal tenseness or tingle often comes > back along with the PD symptoms. Evidently the tingle that I feel in my > extremities is associated with insufficient dopamine in my brain. > > Baldwin Robertson, 62/4 [log in to unmask] > > ---------- > From: Mary Legan > Sent: Friday, September 12, 1997 9:46 PM > To: Multiple recipients of list PARKINSN > Subject: Internal shakiness > > I'm glad this topic has been brought up, as I too have very much wanted an > explanation of this phenomenon. I experienced this before my PD diagnosis, > when I described it to my neuro (who was treating me for migraines & > insomnia) as an "internal revving motor..........at that time I was taking > a > low dose of Sinequon with Xanax......then the Xanax was replaced with > Buspar > (needless to say, my "anxiety" didn't improve). At that same time, I was > experiencing hot flashes, etc. because of menopausal hormonal fluctuations, > which may or may not be relevant. When I then received the pd dx, I was > started on Sinemet, Paxil, & Trazadone (for sleep). No further problems > with > internal shakiness until several months ago. At the time I was taking > estrogen & progesterone, & having severe daily migraines. Also, the > internal > revving was happening again, & a difficulty which I don't remember having > before - the need to breathe deliberately & deeply. After some ado, I > discontinued the hormones ~6 wks ago. The migraines have shown moderate > improvement, but the other symptoms remain. I'm hoping that soon whatever > confounding effects the hormones have contributed will be out of the > picture. > It will make things much easier if whatever symptoms remain can clearly be > tied to the pd. Perhaps one or more of our list members can at least > explain > the internal shakiness, for my benefit & for the others who experience > this. > Explanations of the other issues I mentioned are also most welcome! > Mary > Legan 55/5+ > > <My mother Joyce (68/6 months) changed doctors recently. She was taking > 25/100 Sinemet 4.5x/day, .25 Permax 5x/day, 10 mg. Paxil 1x/day. Her new > doctor wanted to reduce the Sinemet a bit and start her on Eldepryl. This > required her getting off the Paxil. About 4 days ago, she stopped the Paxil > and started feeling shaky inside -- a nervousness that wouldn't quit. She > decided today to continue the Paxil again (she hadn't started the Eldepryl) > and felt better. She suspects this internal shakiness/nervousness is a side > effect of the Permax. Any thoughts on this? Has anyone had a similar > sensation? Was it related to a particular drug. Thanks. > > > Debbie White > [log in to unmask]