Originally Posted by Evonne

It has been awhile since I last posted on this forum. Not much has changed since I last posted, but things have gotten worse as far as my upper body stiffness and tremor. I have had a horrible stiff neck for the last week. My upper body from my bra strap up is completely hard like a rock. It is so sore and it aches and burns. I went to Urgent Care and saw a different doctor. He explained that my muscles were in a state of constant spasm. He prescribed 10 mg. Valium 3 times a day. I asked if he had some time to go over some of my symptoms, mainly the tremor that I have. After examination, he stated that my tremor is NOT related to Fibro like my MDS suggested. He said he suspects essential tremor, intention tremor, or PD because of the stiffness and cogwheel rigidity. Cogwheel rigidity is pretty specific to PD, although some people with MS have it as well. He told me that if it is essential tremor or intention tremor the Valium will reduce the tremor. The Valium will do nothing for PD. He said that he isn't a specialist and he couldn't put a label on it for me. He asked me when I would be seeing the new Neuro. I told him that my appointment is November 13th. Just to remind you, I had been treated by the first Neuro that I saw for PD. He felt there was a 50% chance that I had it, but if I was helped by the medication, he would be more like 90% certain. I was on the meds for six months. My Neuro didn't feel that he was seeing enough of a benefit from me being on the medication and felt that there was more to what was going on. He suggested that I go to the University of WA and see Dr. Samii. I opted to see a MDS that was closer to my home. He is the one that determined that the tremor was caused by the muscle weakness that is associated with Fibro and he said that it was exacerbated by stress and anxiety. My MDS office closed in July and now I have an appointment with Neurolofist number three. This is all so confusing and frustrating! I can surely tell you that a lot of this stiffness improved while I was on the PD meds. The tremor reduced, but never completely went away. I am not sure what to think about all of this. Any thoughts???