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...

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AV91 07/19/2016

Hello everyone!

I'm a student from the University of Minnesota and I'm looking to learn more about anyone's experience with gait freezing, or if their feet feel like they are stuck to the floor or glued to the floor. I'd like to know what day-to-day activities you go through, what you're doing to help with your situation, what are some difficulties that you experience, etc. If you are willing to share some of your own experiences with me, please add me as a friend and message me so that we can have a conversation! Thank you very much!

aliveo 01/01/2017

I WAS DIAGNOSED EIGHTEEN YEAR AGO. I AM WELL EXPERIENCED WITH THAT DREAFULL SYMPTOM OF FREEZING. WHEN FREEZING OCCURS, ONE MUST BE AWARE THAT THE AUTOMATIC SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK WITH PARKINSON'S CONDITION. IT IS THEREFORE NECCESSARY TO RISE TO A HIGHER LEVEL OF THINKING AND LITERALLY TELL YOUSELF WHICH LEG YOU ARE TRYING, OR INTENDING TO MOVE.
IF YOU DON'T TELL YOUTSELF WHICH LEG TO MOVE, YOU EITHER MOVE NO LEGS, IN WHICH CASE YOU DON'T MOVE AT ALL, OR YOU TRY TO MOVE BOTH LEGS ON WHICH CASE THIS GUARATEES FALLING DOWN.

Markthegreat1 04/29/2017

hi, I am 65 yrs old and have been dealing with pd for about 5 years. but I knew way earlier that I had it. my grandfather had it and I watched him become a statue. it was very hard to understand. I was in my first 15 years and I just watched. my tremors are under control but I am having issues with my eyes and tight jaw. last sunday I was standing in a line at the grocery store. I am not kidding, my feet starting shuffling forward and I was helpless to stop from falling face first to the ground. luckily the guy in front of me grabbed me and got me settled and rebalanced. I called my neurologist and she immediately prescribed a 4 footed cane and a script for requip. I have fallen down several times in the past month. always head first. usually into a wall. most of the scrapes were on my legs and shoulder. I must turn my head before impact.well that's my story and because of my bad luck I am sticking to it........email me if you want to chat

Blueblur 09/15/2017

I am new to this group but one of my first questions was if anyone was diagnosed originally due to only freezing gait. I'd been falling and breaking a bone a year for 5 yrs. until I finally saw a neurologist. After tests and a few appts. he diagnosed me with PD. It's a long story, but I finally was started on mirapex and I could walk again without a walker or cane. I think I've since built up a tolerance and I'm back to using a cane....I see him again in 2 weeks.
So my guess you folks are saying that your experience was the same? I'm developing other symptoms now but for about 8 yrs, I've been trying to live with freezing gait.
For me that is feet feeling like they are getting stuck, esp. when starting to walk or stopping, turning is also dangerous. Even when I get going, if there is a tiny irregularity in the sidewalk, i'll trip on it and fall....evidently I don't pick my feet up or shuffle. When I DO fall it's like my body is paralyzed and I don't use my arms to break the fall.
My biggest problem with this the fact that I don't have tremors so everyone says I can't have PD. Have you experienced that as well?

Blueblur 09/15/2017

AV...I didn't answer your questions, I'm sorry.
I have to keep my walkways open or I may get stuck..
I feel fairly sure that seeing an object in the way exacerbates the problem so I try to keep my eyes up (though that can be dangerous itself.
The use a 4 footed cane most of the time.
My feet stick worse when I'm carrying things, so I will usually ask for help.
And I walk slowly for safety.
Hope that answers some of your questions.

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