Is it normal to find difficulty in relaxing the muscles on your weakened side?

[hilarypeta]

[Court]

I was taught how to relax by my physiotherapist. An achievement in itself as I have never been able to relax. I find, that if I am quiet after a time I can relax and my tremor will disappear. The effects do not always last when I am interrupted.

My tremor is on my right hand side and I can control this if I am able to relax completely.

[hilarypeta]

Like me..but it feels as if there is always a tingle there..sometimes i forget it...

[honeycombe3]

My PD is left side only (dx 8 yrs) & like Court I can control tremor to a degree using a variety of techniques. However this control is very short-lived because it is exhausting to concentrate so intensively even if one can manage to do so untinterrupted. For me it has proved much more difficult to try to control rigor (also called stiffness or spasiticity).The pain caused by the muscles tightening & causing my left arm & hand/leg & foot to 'claw' is almost unbearable. My spine has also contorted over time causing lower back pain & the feeling that the world is falling away. Hypnotherapy has helped enormously with easing tremor. Did you know that tremor stops during sleep? My therapist knows when I'm 'under' as my tremor ceases. He has taught me self-hypnosis & other relaxation techniques but I could not manage without my meds.The answer to your question is YES it is normal.

[hilarypeta]

Thanks thats an enormous help to know. Horrid to think of it always getting worse but good to know it has stayed in one side of the body. It has put me off taking meds reading on this site as disadvantages seem to outweigh any gain. I only have resting tremor on few fingers of my rught hand which is trying to claw. If i move position it goes. I never was any good at being hypnotised. I do the tapping sometimes which helps. EFT. My cramps are in my right leg mainly at night or while doing exercises,swimming..

Can you drive? I sem to have lost confidence..ok but gettting in and out hard on a sloping road and putting seat belt on. I think i,ve lost a lot of confidence as i feel like astring puppet all disconnected!

[gazelleuk]

Hi guys

I will have been diagnosed 10 yr this valentines day and I know what your talking about when you say you have difficulties relaxing your muscles.Every minute of every day I try to correct my posture with a positive attitude. I know it is wearing but hey it's the only body I got so I got to remind it how to behave properly so it stops causing me pain. I may be knackered going to work full time but hey I wake up with the amount of work, humour, human traffic. Yes I know it is tiring but it does get the message eventually and I woke with relative ease after that.

Yes it has been difficult especially since I was bullied for a few year but stuck to my guns and truth and honesty. I maintained my integrity resulting in me working for some outstanding people who helped me trust again. 2 yrs on I'm like a dog with 2 tails I'm so happy. I work full time and work off the lack of mobility by stretching off. The best way is before i get out of bed, drawing my legs one by one to my chin. ha ha it isn't pretty but it works for me. I really stretch off so that I can at least bend down to put me socks on.

Well i gotta get going cos there is no rest for the wicked.

[hilarypeta]

Thanks thats cheering to know you are so mobile...how do you stop becoming stiffer. I try to do exercises. Do you swim?

[gazelleuk in reply to hilarypeta]

Hi yes now I swim , I didn't swim for 7yrs thinking I couldn't manage it but its great now cos I try. Its amazing how your muscles have memory to react instinctively instead of waiting for a signal. My muscke tine is back big time and I can flex my muscles now too !

[hilarypeta in reply to gazelleuk]

Well done you! it makes me tired with concentrating to go in a straight line..does it get easier the more you try?

[gazelleuk in reply to hilarypeta]

Yes if I do something with my good side I do the next thing with my right side. It gets easier I promise

[PatV]

Yes very hard to relax that side. In Alexander Technique (for PWPs) we work on relaxing (as well as balancing, etc) Pat

[gazelleuk in reply to PatV]

Good on you patv It takes a trier to get to the point your at so well done you girl. You are trying and that is worth it's weight in Gold

[PatV in reply to gazelleuk]

Thanks! Learned in class Monday (teacher also has PD) that getting a bear hug from someone can control a tremor (internal or external). Now to get up the nerve to ask for one

[gazelleuk in reply to PatV]

Big Cyber Bear hug from me my friend.