Are seizures ever associated with Parkinson's Disease? Seizures, tremor and clean MRI, what could it be?

Question

I suffer from extremity tremor, occasional muscle jerking, deteriorating short and long term memory, inability to concentrate or organize my thoughts, frequent falls, speach problems (occasional inability to form or find the words I want). That is what comes to mind right now. MRI is clean (no lesions), EEG shows "abnormal EEG revealing a photic convulsive response at 3-12 Hz photic stimulation."

My neurologist is at a loss as to what is my problem.

Answer 1

Sometimes you can have a clear MRI and still be developing MS. The best thing to do is have a repeat MRI in six months. Did they do a lumbar puncture to check your spinal fluid? That can also be diagnostic for MS or another disease that may be affecting your brain.

Did they to a TSH on you (check your thyroid)?

How about an ANA (check for lupus)?

These things can effect brain activity.

It must be scary for you. Don't automatically think the worst. It might be something simple.

Answer 2

Parkinson's Seizures

Answer 3

My dad has Parkinson's (for about 4 years now), he has never had seizures, and from my own experience patients I have looked after have never had seizures either.
You'd kind of think of epilepsy- have they suggested trying any epilepsy drugs to try and treat the seizures? Are they big seizures (grand mal) or smaller ones?
What about a possibility of infection? have you been abroad recently?
Have they done all possible tests? Muscle biopsy? Lumbar puncture? At least MRI is clear- did they do just MRI of the brain, or also the whole spinal column?
I've not been working in neurology for some time now (I am a cardiac nurse) so there may be someone here who knows more than I do. Good luck, and please do contact me if I can do anything to help. I know nothing at all about EEG's so hopefully someone else can explain what these findings mean- your neurologist should explain it to you as well.

Answer 4

Tremor is an unintentional (involuntary), rhythmical alternating movement that may affect the muscles of any part of the body. Tremor is caused by the rapid alternating contraction and relaxation of muscles and is a common symptom of diseases of the nervous system (neurologic disease).
Occasional tremor is felt by almost everyone, usually as a result of fear or excitement. However, uncontrollable tremor or shaking is a common symptom of disorders that destroy nerve tissue such as Parkinson’s disease or multiple sclerosis. Tremor may also occur after stroke or head injury. Other tremor appears without any underlying illness. Tremor may be a symptom of an underlying disease or it may be caused by drugs. It may also exist as the only symptom (essential tremor).
Some types of tremor are signs of an underlying condition. About 1.5 million Americans have Parkinson’s disease, a disease that destroys nerve cells. Severe shaking is the most apparent symptom of Parkinson’s disease. This coarse tremor features four to five muscle movements per second. These movements are evident at rest but decline or disappear during movement. Other disorders that cause tremor are multiple sclerosis, Wilson’s disease, mercury poisoning, thyrotoxicosis, and liver encephalopathy.

Answer 5

Dan,

This is very difficult stuff to have happen in your life. It is also difficult for neurologists to diagnose a lot of neurological conditions. The brain has a lot of undiscovered territory.

Seizures are not so common in PD, especially early on. My suggestion is to see a "movement disorder specialist," if your current neurologist is not one. This is a neurologist that has completed a fellowship, usually for two years after residency, in movement disorders like Parkinson's.

If this is elementary for you, I'm sorry. A am assuming that this is a new part of your life. I wonder if the second opinion might help you out.

Answer 6

I am a Caregiver trained in Alzheimer's Disease. One of my patients was admitted into the Alzheimer's Facility for Memory Deficit, and behavior problems. In my opinion, having read his medical history, and observing him after administering his medications, and working closely with him, I believe it was a side effect of one of his medications to control the Parkinson Symptoms.
Against the advice of my current Alzheimers clients Neurologist, (and his support), I let her have a wash-out of Aricept, and Namenda for six weeks. Scarry. We had been on a simple Nutritional Diet that I had worked up for her over a period of one year. All geared toward neurologica health. All of her Chem. Panels were excellent. We supported the washout with Herbs and nutrients for the brain. Beta Amylod Plaquing Modulators (kind of a referee for the brain). And with the help of Dr. Dharma Singh Khalsa, MD (The Book), I felt I had good back-up, and five of her children cheering me on. At this point she was putting her sox on her arms, and panties around her neck. She at one time was an English teacher, and could not make a sentence.
She had been spiraling downhill. It's that "What have you got to lose question at this point" We then, re-introduced the Namenda, and scaled down on supplements. She is now back on just one Medication, and able to speak paragraphs She does not show many improved skills, however has plateaued.
I think a time with your doctors support, of limiting some of your meds. would be helpful, if you are currently taking any..
Also, any long term low-grade infections such as UTI (Urinary tract infections), can create an assault to the Neurological system by passing the barrier to the brain. One of the biggest assaults I have seen was a non-Parkinson patient with classic symptoms identical to True Parkinson, and a rapid onset of symptoms. She however acquired this after a hip -fracture. Hospital food was not agreeable to her and she was prescribed "Reglin", for acid reflux. She was not allowed into a class action suit against the Pharmaceutical Co. One month on the medication did not qualify her. Lots of info. here. Hope it sparks something. I wish you health and peace somehow.
Love, Gypsyworks
I wonder if you were in the war?
Another question for you...I am wondering if you live near any sizeable electro-magnetic sources. Watch the movie "Phildelphia Experiment". By the way, sea salt is neutralizing.
Swim in the ocean. Rotation Diet, many ways to help. Back away from your T.V., and wear very dark glasses. I wouldn't use my Prescription glasses, and would get a massage around your atlas /axis, (Cervical spine where the spinal cord meets the Brain stem.


P.S Alcohol and Medications can be a lethal mix.

Answer 7

The Parkinson's Reversing Breakthrough?

Answer 8

In his way Stalin was another Hitler, and Stalin lasted longer in power, and died of old age, still in power. Stalin was in charge of Soviet Russia, a very powerful nation. Since that time there have been several dictators in charge of nations which have had wide influence, e.g.Ghaddafi in Libya (small nation by population, but big influence because of oil), Mao Tse Tung in China and Saddam Hussein in Iraq (oil, again, and look at the chaos in Iraq since he was deposed). Nobody can predict the future, but I would not be surprised to find a dictator in a similar position to Hitler at some time.