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Suggest Treatment For Weakness, Muscle Pain And Cramps

Posted on Thu, 20 Jul 2017

Question: My uncle is 85 years old. He is a former Marine so he has always been very fit. About 2 years ago, his health began to decline. He began to experience weakness, muscle pain and cramps,. difficulty walking,. some cognitive impairment and an intermittent stutter in his speech. He has been to many doctors but no one has been able to give him a clear diagnosis. They say that he has symptoms of Parkinson's disease and put him on L-Dopa. He is also taking hydrocodone for pain. The pain can be excruciating at times and makes it difficult for him to sleep. Does this sound like Parkinson's disease or could it be something else? Is there anything that he can take to help with the pain? Thanks.

Answered by Dr. Ajay Panwar (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Parkinson's disease is usually diagnosed on physical examination.

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for being on healthcaremagic.com.
I am Dr.Ajay Panwar, a neurologist, here to answer your query.

Weakness,muscle cramps,cognitive impairment and stutter in speech do not point towards Parkinson's, neither these symptoms can deny the diagnosis of Parkinson's.
There are some cardinal signs of Parkinson's like cog-wheeling, tremors and bradykinesia, which are best assessed on examination, though history may point towards the diagnosis at times.Skeletal muscle relaxants(like Flupirtine) or Non steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines can be given for pain, however, for appropriate treatment the cause of pain needs to be diagnosed.

Please upload the clinical documents of your uncle, so that I can answer this query well further.

Hope that helps.I shall be glad to have you in follow-up.

Regards
Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad

Follow up: Dr. Ajay Panwar (7 hours later)

I can try to get the clinical documents. Can you tell me what information you need. Thanks.

Answered by Dr. Ajay Panwar (58 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Physical examination sheets?

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for being in follow-up.

Actually, history is not pointing much towards Parkinson's disease.I want to know the findings which the neurologist observed on physical examination.So, the clinical case sheets may help.

Regards
Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D

Follow up: Dr. Ajay Panwar (2 days later)

I haven't been able to get the reports yet. My uncle was admitted to the hospital with fluid in his lungs. They are trying to get rid of the fluid but they said that his heart sounds good. He will be in the hospital for a few days.

Answered by Dr. Ajay Panwar (3 hours later)

Brief Answer:
He is likely to stay for few days.

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for being in follow-up.

With your description, I think he has developed a pleural effusion. He may stay there for several days because of the same.
No worries, if you have not received any documents till now.Please continue in the same question, whenever you get those documents..so that I can give some conclusive answers regarding his prognosis.

Hope that helps.If you have any further questions for now,I shall be glad to have you in follow-up.

Regards
Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar