Discoloration In Left Arm?
 

Diagnosed in 2008. Taking Sinemet 3X daily. I have always had a very
noticeable 'dark' discoloration in my left arm (the one most impacted by PD),
and the left arm as well as the left hand is noticeably colder to the touch
than the right side.

My Doc as well as other specialists have never been able to adequately
explain this. It almost looks like some kind of circulatory issue. Have
had 3 different Movement Disorder physicians give me a generic PD
diagnosis.

Has anyone else experienced 'discoloration' in the arm on the weak side?


Thanks, David

It could be non related to PD..

Do you have pain & swelling?
How about when you raise your hands like stick em up- do they turn white and get heavy/weaker?
Can you even hold arms above head for more than a few minutes?

Any repetitive or long time desk work?
any previous whiplash or head/neck injury?

If some of these fit I suggest reading on our thoracic outlet syndrome forum- (TOS) the useful sticky threads there are like a crash course of info.
Look or search for VTOS = vascular tos..

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread84.html
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread125577.html
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread135.html

[QUOTE=Jo*mar;1110573]It could be non related to PD..

Do you have pain & swelling? Yes, predominantly with the left arm/hand.
BTW - I can 'join' my hands over my head for a few seconds for pain relief.

How about when you raise your hands like stick em up- do they turn white and get heavy/weaker? Yes, splotches of white.

Can you even hold arms above head for more than a few minutes? No

Any repetitive or long time desk work? Yes, computers.

any previous whiplash or head/neck injury? Not that I'm aware of.

If some of these fit I suggest reading on our thoracic outlet syndrome forum- (TOS) the useful sticky threads there are like a crash course of info.
Look or search for VTOS = vascular tos..

Thanks! I do seemingly have most of the classic PD symptoms
(e.g. tremor in both hands) and receive 2-2.5 hours of benefit from
Sinemet. Does that in itself rule out TOS?


David

I meant you could have both PD & TOS..

How is your upper body posture?
*head/neck/shoulders (hunched or rolled) forward of the body when viewed from the side? you can ask a friend to observe it might be easier to tell.

If so that posture can close the area in the neck/chest impinging on the blood flow and nerves. so a simple plan would be to work on posture to see if that helps after a while.
videos on you tube show many ways to do this.
or some simple things that I used- -
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/album.php?albumid=422

David,

I don't have discolouration that I have noticed but I do have marked temperature differences between right and left side.
I was diagnosed in 2008, right side affected and tremor dominant PD. I noticed my right hand much colder than left about 1-2 years after diagnosis. It is particularly marked after a time of inactivity and improves with use. Much worse in cold weather.
I am sure this is PD related for me and I think the circulation is different on my right and left side. i have read a few other people comment on noticing this but not many.

My one hand is colder than the other also, but do not know if it has anything to do with PD

[QUOTE=Jo*mar;1110750]I meant you could have both PD & TOS..

How is your upper body posture?
*head/neck/shoulders (hunched or rolled) forward of the body when viewed from the side? you can ask a friend to observe it might be easier to tell.

If so that posture can close the area in the neck/chest impinging on the blood flow and nerves. so a simple plan would be to work on posture to see if that helps after a while.
videos on you tube show many ways to do this.
or some simple things that I used- -

Hunched shoulders, head, and neck? Definitely. I just assumed it was
part of PD. And, just like the post above, the tremor dominant left hand
is noticeably colder than the right side.