Parkinson's Disease Support Group
Parkinson's disease is a movement disorder often characterized by muscle rigidity, tremor, a slowing of physical movement, and in extreme cases, a loss of physical movement. The primary symptoms of Parkinsons are due to excessive muscle contraction, normally caused by the insufficient formation and action of dopamine, which is produced in the dopaminergic neurons of the...
So, I have been watching my father for progressing signs and I think have seen more than my share (what symptoms wouldn't be, right?).
I noticed last night that when he was standing, he was holding on to either the table or pool table. The untrained eye says he's just leaning on something, I'm thinking he's having trouble with his balance. So, boldly I ask, "Dad, you having trouble with your balance?" He replies, "Yes but don't tell your mother because she coddles me enough." And while the strong iron-man of the family sees it as coddling, the rest of us see it as being on top of things. SO...here's my first question: Is the balance problem a symptom of PD or his medication (Mirapex .5mg/3X a day).
The second question is: have any of you noticed that your symptoms progressed quickly AFTER you were put on meds? Part of me thinks that before his dx, no one noticed ANYTHING and he was able to hide it extremely well. I think he went something like 6 months before it got noticed by my mother (I mean the tremors--the other stuff is a little harder to catch if you don't know what you're looking at) and NOW we're noticing it all the time. I guess I am wondering if he wasn't put on meds, would his symptoms have progressed MORE slowly.
Sorry this is so long, I am just trying to make sense of it all. ;)
Hope you are all having a good day! Hugs
I noticed last night that when he was standing, he was holding on to either the table or pool table. The untrained eye says he's just leaning on something, I'm thinking he's having trouble with his balance. So, boldly I ask, "Dad, you having trouble with your balance?" He replies, "Yes but don't tell your mother because she coddles me enough." And while the strong iron-man of the family sees it as coddling, the rest of us see it as being on top of things. SO...here's my first question: Is the balance problem a symptom of PD or his medication (Mirapex .5mg/3X a day).
The second question is: have any of you noticed that your symptoms progressed quickly AFTER you were put on meds? Part of me thinks that before his dx, no one noticed ANYTHING and he was able to hide it extremely well. I think he went something like 6 months before it got noticed by my mother (I mean the tremors--the other stuff is a little harder to catch if you don't know what you're looking at) and NOW we're noticing it all the time. I guess I am wondering if he wasn't put on meds, would his symptoms have progressed MORE slowly.
Sorry this is so long, I am just trying to make sense of it all. ;)
Hope you are all having a good day! Hugs
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theatre and I are there already. I'm having a very berry tea with crackers, cheese and cherry tomatoes and she's having a joint with some beer and we're both on really comfy recliners on thick pile carpet. we need some help with the decor if anyone is around??
BUT IF ITS THE MED IT IS MORE OF A ALL OVER SHAKEOR MORE MOVEMENTS. THIS IS HARD TO EXPLAIN BUT I HOPE YOU UNDERSTAND. IF YOU WANT TO ASK ME SOMETHING ELSE LET ME KNOW. I WILL TRY TO HELP. I HAVE HAD PARKINSON ALMOST 7YRS.
Love and Light
Richard
In my husbands case, he used to have what is called diskynesias (splg?). These are big flayling movements different from his tremor. He was taking too much sinemet. Once his sinemet was reduced, these movements stopped. Now he just has tremors when his medication wears out, which is his left side only and smaller movements.
I hope this makes some kind of sense.
From our personal experience, and knowing others with PD, there seems to be 3 main symptoms of PD. 1) Tremors, 2) walking gate, and 3) balance.
In my wifes case, walking gait was the first symptom of PD to show, with balance (falling forward) quickly following. Tremors for her are very minor and only show up on occasion for a brief period of time. A close friend of ours experienced the tremors first, followed much later by the walking gait, and then balance problems.
To close, depending on the person, the PD symptoms seem to appear differently.
But, balance is a strong symptom.
Caring1
responds a little to Botox. Balance responded a little to amantidine and anticholinergics but too many SEs. Balance is major problem; HOWEVER, physical therapy helps. He can improve ways of sensing when he's moving forward or back, possibly by being more aware of input from
his joints? I don't know but it works for me. As for mirapex causing worse symptoms
I know nothing. I take Requip (same general
family) and noticed nothing except drowsiness and nausea in the beginning.
There was no difference in balance.