Posted by anne on April 24, 1999, at 1:29:15
In reply to chronic pain, insomnia - advice?, posted by Elizabeth on April 23, 1999, at 23:30:01
Elizabeth,
I've been following your posts and it seems to me you are struggling more with your problems and solutions are elusive. Your mention of chronic neck and upper back pain AND essential tremor make me suggest you consider another "zebra." Try the dystonia website http://www.dystonia-foundation.org/ to learn about a most mis-diagnosed disorder (and yes I have it). It requires a neurological exam for diagnosis and most neurologist aren't even good at diagnosing it. Movement disorder specialists are often more knowlegable. About 1/3 of dystonia patients have tremor, mine is postural, not resting like Parkinson's and much worse with stress. A painful neck is the most common type of dystonia. Usually the head will turn or pull in some direction as well. It is a neurotransmitter problem in the brain which is not well understood and most cases are genetic. At any rate, neurologists specialize in pain and it might be enlightening to see one. Most people with dystonia are misdiagnosed for years and considered "psychogenic" which is really frustrating when you have peculiar symptoms which wax and wane. And a lot of us stuggle with depression; not surprising considering our brain chemicals are out of whack.
Warmest regards,
anne
poster:anne
thread:5249
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/19990501/msgs/5259.html