What was the symptom you were most worrie... - Cure Parkinson's
What was the symptom you were most worried about that prompted you to go to the doctor, leading to your diagnosis of Parkinson's
I could in fact have checked the whole list as in the 2 years prior to diagnosis I had been to my GP about all of the main symptoms on the chart - I was starting to feel that I had a Degree in Hypochondria as I was in and out of the surgery so much - it was almost a relief to have something to pin the Problems on
Yes, that is just like you say. from 1999 I was kept being told it is all in the mind. In the end I got so scared of going to see the doctor in case he thought I was a Hypochondriac.(He probably did) Those many years I just put up with the problems until 2010. I had to go see the nurse for my BP check. I was so ill I could hardly walk into the surgery. If she had not suggested I see the doctor, I probably would not have. He then referred me right away to a neurologist.
The rest is history.
Only when I started to shuffle, did my doctor realize that I had Pd.
I was dragging my foot.
Yes I was dragging my foot, but it still took a couple of years to get a diagnoses
Torn rotator cuff surgery in June 2007, with pain that would not go away (and still hasn't!) as well as increased tremor was the definitive for me. Also an essential tremor patient.
My ankle was very weak and inverted, still is even when I'm 'on'. Never met anyone with PD with the same problem.
Hi Trixiedee, What do you mean by inverted? My ankle is also very weak, painful & a lot of times swollen. My toes curl in like my hand when "off" so I have a claw hand & foot. I limp a lot & it feels like I have a sprained ankle just on my right sie or my Parkie side. If you mean turned in I don't have that unless in pain & "off". I call it turning into a pumpkin (off) or my Magic hours (on). LLWWD
I have very weak ankles now, four years after dx, but years of searching for answer. Weak ankles, my therapist now tells me, are result of weak upper legs, etc., etc. It all connects. Yuck.
Trioxide I was just going post something about my ankle when I saw your comments. When I'm resting with my feet up, the ankle with the tremor flops inwards and in fact is more comfortable for me like that as trying to straighten it brings on the shakes in my lower right leg.
I had symptoms in my right foot and leg for over a decade, but thought it was restless leg syndrome. It was only when i noticed that my arm wasn't swinging when I walked that I went to the hospital. It took the doc just 30 seconds to make the diagnosis.
I had symptoms in my right foot and leg for over a decade, but thought it was restless leg syndrome. It was only when i noticed that my arm wasn't swinging when I walked that I went to the hospital. It took the doc just 30 seconds to make the diagnosis.
I had symptoms in my right foot and leg for over a decade, but thought it was restless leg syndrome. It was only when i noticed that my arm wasn't swinging when I walked that I went to the hospital. It took the doc just 30 seconds to make the diagnosis.
Pain in my left leg, which is my Parkinson's affected side. Dr. noticed tremor in left hand. Less then a minute later I was diagnosed.
Frozen shoulder and a tremor for me. Took over a year for the doctors. to finally diagnose me.
Hi I initially went to GP around Easter time 2011 with fluttering in my left ankle and tremor in left hand My father had PD so I was suspicious). GP didn't think that this was PD as symptoms were very subtle referred me to a neurologist and I waited quite some time for appointment. My hand tremor was a little more obvious however the neurologist wasn't certain so he organised a DAT scan and PD was confirmed in October 2011.
Went to a back surgeon, the best in town for what I thought was a pinched nerve around the neck and shoulder area and after a scan he could not find reason for my discomfort, A new GP sent me to a PD specialist who took one look and as most everyone says ''The rest is history'' The surgeon dropped dead a month after I saw him….Weird
The reason I went to the neurologist was because of increasing problems with balance.
when i was driving from the [volunteer] nursing home and my hands shook so bad, that it was difficult
to keep my hands on the steering wheel.
For me it was right sided weakness, I thought I had a stroke
Like others, I had various symptoms that in retrospect were PD related. Shoulder issues with surgery years before diagnosis, sleep issues forever. I first told my primary care I felt like I was "shaking inside" a full 10 years before diagnosis, was told it was "anxiety". The tremor was slight at that time but became at times uncontrollable about 2 years before diagnosis...Finally, when I could not walk without falling, I was diagnosed. Amazes me now that it took so long to diagnose.
Hi very interested to read about your 'shaking inside'. I have FM and have mentioned my inner shaking, as well as other symptons, to a couple of GP's. Only this morning I was told by one to buy a book written by Ruby Welsh, comediene. He obviously thinks it's all in my head.
I could have checked everything off myself . I was told all my aches were from my profession . I was a Barber for 30 years. Well, after 6 months of not working,I asked to see a specialist and they referred me to a neurologist . After 1 1/2 hours with the doctor, I was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease.
Trembling right hand mostly, extreme fatigue, uncontrollable anxiety, stiff shoulders & neck, unbalance with walking, dragging right foot, stooped shoulders, "blank" expressions, aversion to crowds, difficulty focusing, soft voice .. First two years after diagnosis were very difficult, but a wonderful neurologist & medications, and four years after diagnosis, my life is almost my own again!
In no stranger to pain having been run over by a drunk driver in 1959 ( I shouldn't even be here ). Have had PD for about. 12 years and have existed on the usuall mess ......also have a back with Sciatica , Scolioses , curvature , herniated discs and severe arthuritas ! No surgeons will touch it ! My problem is no pain pills are able to relieve the pain ! I hurt so bad I'm afraid to fall asleep for fear of not waking ! Any suggestions ???
micrographia
ditto - micrographia
for me but my wife said at night in bed just as I fell asleep my leg would jerk This occurred years earlier. Maybe PD cause.
I had tremors slow movement but always thought it was the all the mind altering drugs I had experienced in the early 70's and continued for 25 yrs quit all the hard drugs but still like 4:20 everyday it's as effective as the poison they want me to take. Feel better have a good appetite helps me exercise more . This is a disease I feel that is very individualized and do whatever it takes to feel good for you there is no magic pill !
I am a brisk walker ; when I noticed my left hand swing slowed down , it worried me . went to couple of doctors ; each one telling differently , no one told me it is PD. someone spine, cervical , lever etc etc. it took almost over 2 yrs , one of the neurologist told me it is PD. even now some one new , experienced neurologist checks me up, he will tell me something else.... MS , Demyelinating brain cells ,... . I hv no tremor, walk slowly, no fatigue, no sleep problem ...
Dystonia in left foot
My tremor was an intention tremor, so the pd dx shocked me
I thought I had a stroke. My left side is partially paralyzed. It's hard to explain. The out side of my left side has a different sensation. I still have it, but now my left shoulder is not only stiff but I have pain in my socket and shoulder blade.
My right leg was shaking but I was being treated for over active thryriod and pudendul nerve I fell down and broke my hip. In 2012 and while I was in hospital they diagonosed parkinsons .
I was falling a lot and my rheumatologist sent me to a neurologist to find out why.
He said it was PD.
I could have chosen many of the reason for seeking diagnosis. But, after almost 2 years of nagging discomfort of constipation, with lower back pain, unsteady gait, a mask face, reduced dexterity and unable to sit comfortably it was constipation that moved me to go to the GP again. The Dr saw me walking down the corridor - on reaching the consultation room asked me to walk the corridor again. Dr's mother had had PD for 10+ years. That was it - refer to consultant - confirm with scan - medication - Here I am 8 years later still with constipation and PD ! But as determined as ever to keep PD at bay.
For me, it was the inability to write (by hand). My handwriting got smaller and smaller, and, no matter how hard I tried, I could no longer write legibly.
My arm didn't swing when walking and my writing became very small. My right hand also would not make a fist.
Difficulty standing, could not walk but a few steps, slowness, slept most of time . . .
about six years ago I found that I had difficulty in swimming, I think it was a co-ordination problem, Since then various problems arose like micrographia and freezing of gait, problems with my speech. I did have a positive DATscan 3yrs ago which gave me a diagnosis of atypical parkinson's, I am not on any medication as none seem to work and I still can't swim although I still try
specifically failure of left arm to swing whilst walking
Draging my foot and no swing of arms should be at the top I would think but really it was all there at the beginning just not as noticeable.
Shouldn't 'balance problems' be on this list of options?
Hi, I have problems with my left foot, I have been diagnosed with Parkinson's secondary dystonia, I wouldn't wish it on anyone as it's the most uncomfortable feeling ever, my foot goes numb, my toes claw, then my foot turns sideways, then pain sets in, no matter how hard I try, I just cannot flatten my foot to the floor, I take madopar dispersible tablets for this, they no longer work for me, I get Botox in my foot every three months, sometimes this helps, when I have a good day it would be impossible for anyone to guess I sometimes have problems walking, I would appreciate if anyone who knows what the dystonia is like are able to advise anything I should do to help me, ie are there any kind of foot exercises I should do
Actually, I went for a routine check-up and the DR asked me to walk down the hall, I did and he said I'm going to make an appt. with a neuro Doc for a check. OK fine, I went and the doc had me walk as well and then he told me I had PD because I did not swing my right arm. I wasn't aware of this because I don't pay attention to a lot of things. I was getting pretty proficient with my left hand and thought that was great. lol Anyway, that was in 2009, he put me on Ropinirole and "voilla" I started swinging my right arm after a few days. I am still on the same dose, same drug and if I didn't tell you I had PD you wouldn't know it. So far so good, thank GOD.
Amazing! After fourteen years, is your only symptom still just a lack of arm swing on the right arm?
What brought me to a movement specialist was a resting tremor of my right hand and a deep, silent tremor in my right foot. I had been experiencing lack of arm swing and slight foot drop for about ten years before that but did not associate it with anything specific until the tremor came along. Then I researched the internet and voila, fit like a glove. I'm 10 mos. post dx and feeling fine except for the above which don't really bother me. However, sleep difficulties are my biggest problems. My doctor says no specific PD remedy for that, suggested Melatonin which does nothing.
What was the symptom you were most worried about that prompted you to go to the doctor, leading to your diagnosis of Parkinson's?
It'd be hard to pick just one symptom, but since that's the question I'd say the one that worried me the most would be speech problems (soft voice, slow speech).
Other concerns included tremor in hands and arms, mostly left side and decreased fine motor skills (again mostly in left arm, hand).
Inability to write a sentence with a pen or pencil
