RICHARD , Florida

My introduction to OT began in July '02. I was standing on the patio watching some men working on electrical wires. I watched them for about 10 minutes and when I turned to walk to the house my legs did not cooperate. It was only for a few seconds and then I was able to walk normally. The next episode occured at my doctor's office where I stood in the doorway of the examining room for several minutes, and when I turned to walk the same thing happened again. There were four more occurences one of which happened while I was walking and I had to hold on to a wall for support.
On my October 9th visit with my doctor I gave him a written history of what had been happening. He then had me stand in front of him, and in about seven minutes he witnessed the leg tremors. He immediately sent me for an MRI as a follow up to one I had done a year earlier. He then arranged an appointment with a neurologist for the following day. The neurologist, Dr. Shawn Shea examined me, gave me various tests and then had me stand for several minutes and he too witnessed the tremors in my legs. He diagnosed the condition as OT and read me a description of OT from a medical book.
So that is the background and where I am at now. One thing I want to mention is that when I am standing I feel heat rising from my ankles half way up my lower legs and that is a warning sign that the tremor is starting. Another thing, when the tremor in my legs starts and I try to walk I feel as if I am walking on coil springs. The treatments that Dr. Shea is trying now is a medication Primidone. He started me on 50 mg's, and I am now taking 250mg's. So far the results have not been promising. I cannot stand for several minutes without tremors, nor can I walk a block without tremors.
I have been reading the 'case histories' on your website with great interest and commend you for the fine work you are doing. I hope something in my case history will be of use to someone

UPDATE-

I last wrote in November 2002. It is still shown in the case studies. Here is the latest on my condition which I think is quite miraculous. From November 2002 through 2003 my orthostatic tremor condition did not improve. I took primidone, neurontin and one other medication prescribed by my neurologist, Dr. Sean Shea, a kind and caring physician. The medications were not effective. In late March 2004 I noticed that my tremors while standing were not so pronounced. Not only that, but I was able to walk without tremors occurring. It seems that for now at least the tremors have ceased. I believe in the power of prayer, and I am convinced that it had a great deal to do with this. So that is the story. This condition started suddenly and has stopped just as suddenly. I just hope it doesn't return.


Richard