PARKINSONS DISEASE, DECADES BEFORE IT'S OBVIOUS

The earliest symptoms of parkinsons disease may be aches and pains.

One has to think of this, as the tremor is not very obvious now.

It is really worth finding out early. I have seen people apparently recover completely from this stage of parkinsonism with naturopathic treatment.

A number of toxins can contribute to this problem, including carbon monoxide, organophosphates, carbon disulfide, manganese, paraquat, hexane, rotenone and toluene (from wikipedia).

The critical clue to this condition is finding cog wheel rigidity.

This is a type of rigidity in which, when a patient's limb is moved by the examiner, it resists and gives way in small, step-like movements as though moving over the cogs of a cog wheel.

The arm is bent up and down repeatedly and the cog wheel effect is felt on the tendon.

You can test yourself the same way, thumb on the tendon and just fairly rapidly bend and straighten your elbow.

Conventional Parkinsons medication is useful for pain control now. I've used this temporarily for this purpose, until naturopathic treatment has had time to work.

The damage from this disease starts in the olfactory bulb of our brain, and loss of the sense of smell has been seen even a decade before the diagnosis.

Two years before the diagnosis, low back pain and frozen shoulder, depression and lack of energy, double vision and swallowing difficulty are seen in a proportion of people.

Sleep disorders which may occur now, include people kicking or calling out during dreams (in REM sleep, when there is normally no movement.)

Parkinsons disease is usually first diagnosed in the fifth and sixth decades, as when loss of the normal swinging of one arm when walking, becomes evident.

Shaking, stiff muscles, slow movement and balance problems may occur.

Self help for Parkinsons disease

It's better however, not to rely on other people entirely, but to be actively involved in looking after oneself.

As in just about every illness, regular exercise is valuable. Walking is fine, even pumping iron.
Attempting to make large amplitude movements is valuable.

Be proactive in avoiding constipation, by having plenty of water and vegetable fibre. Psyllium (Ispaghula) is a good fibre supplement.

To help get a good night's sleep, try to avoid daytime naps. Lavender aromatherapy, Chamomile tea etc can all be useful.

Tricks like pressing your shaking arm against your body or moving your shaking arm to a different position, may help control the unwanted movements.

Have the floor uncluttered, to avoid tripping over things.

Ensure your medications are taken on time, every time.

Other things wich give a clue to this problem

No longer being able to play the piano.

Unable to walk as fast, apparently due to dragging an arthritic knee.

An annoying feeling of internal shaking in one limb, even if no resting tremor can be seen.

From parkinsons disease back to home pain page.