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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claw hands

PSullivan
PSullivan
I've had this claw hand problem for a while now but usually when i'm asleep i wake up then have to peel my fingers open... Now the last few times i've been out in the garden pulling weeds at least 2 or three times my left hand stays closed around the weeds and i have to peel them open.... anyone else have this... did it get worse after increase in sinemet (cause that's what i'm thinking is happening to me) ...

Hope you all are doing well... hugs.. paula
deleted_user
deleted_user
Hi,

When I wake up, I have limited movement of my right hand (right side rigidity). It's like stretching my hand ou t to get more flexibility. I only get this a little on my left side.

All the best,

Fred
deleted_user
deleted_user
Hello P sullivan. I have the claw on right hand and found this from the young onset PD foundation web chat.......

("I'm wondering whether PD (or any of the PD meds) has caused anyone else to experience physical effects similar to what I describe: My left hand now seems always to be clenched, not necessarily tight, but not relaxed either -- I call it "the claw". )"

The replies were overwhelming that the claw began pre meds as result of PD and even led to diagnosis in many cases. Mine is worse with stress and at next dose time.

peace

bp
deleted_user
deleted_user
Hi Paula, my L hand gets like that before the neds are do . Then after I take my mds in abt 20 min the rigidity is gone and I feel better.
hisknobs
hisknobs
Hi Paula, I get the claw hand espcially when driving in my left hand. I guess it goes with left side rigidity. In bed i flatten it out under my pillow. I find this helps. See you at the next Parkinsons Unity walk Fund raiser. best regards Alex
CMstanding
CMstanding
Another yes from me. sigh!!!!

Don't know about the meds. Guess I will find out soon enough.

Do the agonists help with this kind of "stuff" for awhile?
Joanee63
Joanee63
Yes, Paula, I also have the claw hand. My middle finger, ring finger and little finger on my right hand. In the mornings I have to pry each one open. Very unpleasant and hurts like crazy.. I have had this for quite awhile now and it gets worse all the time. I use to tape my fingers at bed time and I think I am going to go back to doing it. It helped quite a bit.
I have no idea if there is any connection with the change in your dosage of sinemet or not.
Here lately I have noticed that my little finger sticks out and down. I try to get it to go straight, but it is next to impossible any more.
Looks like there is a lot of us with this problem. Would be nice to find a way to stop it or cure it. You are certainly not alone in this deal. Hugs Joanee
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