| I have suffered from leg tremors for 13 years now and no one has been able to diagnose anything. I have had 4 MRI's, evoked potentials (to R/O MS) and just general neurologic exam and was told I had essential tremor. However, when I researched essential tremor it made it clear that it rarely effects the legs. Today I was doing more research on tremor and found your web site and feel that I have finally discovered what it is I have been suffering from. I have an appointment with my GP tomorrow and plan to bring in all the information I printed from your web site. I am just thrilled about this because I am so limited in what I can do. I am only 45 years old and can't even clean my house without sitting down or leaning. I bought myself a stool for the kitchen so I can use it to cook and do dishes. When I shop I need a carriage to hang on to. I want to take my daughter to Disney this fall and I am notsure how I am suppose to do it - being on my legs for 4 days straight. I just wanted to say thanks so much for your website and all the information it contains. I am not happy about my disease but I am really excited about finally determining what it is. I have no doubt in my mind that it is OT - it describes me perfectly. Wish me luck with my appointment tomorrow!! Update: I went to my doctor who listened intently to my concerns and she reviewed the info that I brought to her from your web site. She wrote down the diagnosis of OT on my chart and she has started me on Klonopin , titrating up. Living with this has been the most frustrating thing I have ever had to deal with. I plan to go see a neurologist just so they can do the testing on me to confirm this diagnosis, though I am convinced that it is definitely the disease I suffer from. Update: Well, after a neuro exam, the doctor determined that my symptoms indeed resemble OT and he is obtaining my medical records for the past 12years. He cut my dose of Klonopin back and told me to up it very slowly to see if it will minimize the side effects. He told me we would try other options if the side effects don't subside. I have a chronic headache and am drowsy on the med and I just don't feel that well, but it is helping the tremor somewhat. I will see him again in 6 weeks once he receives and reviews my records. He says he may have had 1 or 2 otherpatients with the same symptoms, but he doesn't really know a lot about it. Says it is a very difficult disease to treat and the symptoms won't go away completely with any of the medications. At least Iknow what I am dealing with now - thanks to YOU. I am sure you know the frustration I have been going through for the past 12 years. I'm 45 and feel like 80 at times. Update: Not having much luck with medications, although the Klonopin actually was helping more than I knew. When I went off of the Klonopin and tried the Clonidine I was a real mess. My legs shook so bad I couldn't stand it. My heart was beating out of my chest, and I was only on 1/2 pill a day. I couldn't sleep either. I actually was down to less than 3 hours sleep anight. So, I went off the Clonidine and have just gone back on the Klonopin. I will see thedoctor next Tuesday again. I just couldn't stand it without taking something and the Klonopin makes me somewhat sleepy, but I would rather be sleepy and have my tremors under some control,even though not a lot. It takes the edge off of them anyway. My MRI was fine - so I guess we are dealing strictly with orthostatic tremor. I just wish there was a cure!!! I really hate this disease a lot. Kay, New Hampshire, USA |