Hi
I’ve had PPMS for some years now, but a friend of a friend got me worried; He got diagnosed with Parkinsons recently (he’s 46, I’m 44), after having been led to believe he had PPMS.
I’ve checked the reputable NHS and Parkinsons sites, and out of the 10 early signs of Parkinsons I tick 8. They suggest that if you have more than 3 then you make an urgent medical appointment.
Not sure if any of you (particularly those of you aged over 40) have experience similar.
Can you have both? Scary…
You have got me seriously worried now. I also have a lot of parkinsons symptoms… Not the tremor but stooped over at times and stiffness everywhere.
You can figure that MS and Parkinsons have about 80-85% os symptoms in common.
MS is diagnosed after a series of tests, which may include a physical exam, LP, MRI, VEP, for example, on top of the symptoms you present with.
Parkinsons Dx can follow some tests (MRI, nerve conduction) but is then based on your response to a drug (Sinemet or Madopar).
Either way, the process is directed at excluding possibilities, until all that remains is almost certainty.
My wife comes under one hospital for her Parkinsons, while I attend another for MS; we live with the similarity of symptoms every day.
Geoff
Hi Clucker Pigeon!
Whilst for some of us there may be some similarities in Parkinsons and MS symptoms, there would be no mistaking the brain’s appearance on an MRI scan of an MS patient.
Multiple Sclerosis has a very typical distribution of WMLs (white matter lesions) on MRI scan, of which there is no mistaking. Conversely, both MRI and CAT scans of a Parkinson brain will appear normal. This is because the neurodegenerative changes are microscopic and not detectable on scan.
I agree with DrGeoff that a patient’s rapid response to a neurotransmitter drug is a very reliable diagnostic tool for Parkinsons.
I’ve not read anywhere of someone so unfortunate that they have succumbed to both MS and Parkinsons.
Surely not?
Best wishes
Tracyann x