The "stored dopamine" is an interesting point - I was also diag based on lack of arm swing and neuro responses but an MRI found spinal stenosis and I had surgery for that first but then they said "I have two problems" -- the surgery fixed some neuro issues but I still don't have right side arm swing and right side walking issues - the "finger tapping" I can do a lot better now. I take .5mg of azilect 1/d and 1mg Requip 3x/d

Did you have MRI's and other tests? Have you been tested for Lyme? I see my primary this week and want to get her opinion of what the neuro has been saying.

-Sunshine

i appreciate the technical info. Yes I have spinal stenosis - a constriction in the central spinal cord. It was C4-c7 but after surgery there is still some C5-C6 - many symptoms from this are similar to PD. I somewhat think I was misdiagnosed because I was on a med (baclofin) when I met the current neurologist. the baclofin was for muscle spacticity and it slowed my body to a crawl. Huge improvement when I got off of it but he still felt I have PD. I have a very slight tremor and lack of arm swing along with some right side weakness. I take .5mg azilect 1/day and 1mg requip 3x/d but the main problem I have is a gait issue which is not a "shuffle". Bottom line is that this doc - who is a chief of neurology at a teaching hospital say that he's not sure I have PD or not but its possible and only time will tell.