What kind of treatment is available for P... - Cure Parkinson's
What kind of treatment is available for Parkinsons in the UK,only my husband only ever gets pills,is that it ?
Pills, various kinds, exercise, physical therapy, other therapies, voice, swallowing etc. and for some if they qualify Deep Brain Stimulation surgery, known as DBS.
One of the things you should seriously consider is to find whether there is a local support group for your area:
parkinsons.org.uk/content/s...
Enter your postcode on that web page to find your local support group.
These groups are not for just the afflicted person, but provide support for everyone involved - where questions such as the one you have raised can be discussed. Anyone can go along to the meetings that are held regularly by these groups, and there is no requirement for you to be a Parkinson's sufferer.
Don't be afraid to go along to find out more - you won't be pursued by a double-glazing salesman trying to sell you a product. It's a support group for you, and from the social activities you will get out of it more than you might feel.
Hi Crosshalls. The best treatment for Pd, in my opinion as a patient, is Exercise, an MAO-b inhibitor, getting rid of all harmful stress, adopting a positive attitude and, oh yes, EXERCISE. You need a doctor's prescription for the medication and you need to have a complete re-think on your lifestyle. I found walking to be the best exercise, for one hour, three times a week, with a day rest between walks. If your husband has not done any exercise for a long time then he would be best advised to do only a maximum of ten minutes per walk for the first two weeks and then add another five minutes every second week until he has reached the one hour mark. Try to walk as fast as he can, as that does the most good. He should get checked out by his doctor before embarking upon this program.
Stress makes Pd symptoms much worse. It is easy to think that you can't do anything about stress, but if you don't, would you feel that not getting rid of the stress will have done either party any good. Whether the stress is caused by your job or a member of your family or a friend, you should discuss your dilema with whoever is concerned and get rid of whatever it is that is stressing you. Easier said than done, but do you have a choice? Try and avoid dependng entirely on medication, it does nothing to slow the progress of the Pd, only exercise can do that.
For a lot more info, go to my website at reverseparkinsons.net. You are free to write to me at my email address, if you so wish.
Kind regards
John
I suppose it depends in the UK on the Doctor/Patient relationship and/or your post code.
Also the patients attitude to their condition, and how much they rely on faith in medicine or how much they rely on their own devices. I think PD is so individual to that person, and all the advice in the world is only valuble if it is suitable to your own requirements.
I do think keeping as active as possible with as many interests as you can pack into a day helps enormously.
Exercise on a regular basis. keep the mind active, and follow you own feelings and intuitions.
Although pills are undoubtedly the first line of treatment for most people with Parkinson's there is so much more that you can ask for and can do to help yourselves.
In the UK you should have a Parkinson's Specialist Nurse who will be available and informative and who may have more time to answer your questions and assess what other needs you might have.
You are entitled to assessment from a physiotherapist who will judge your husband's movement and set him a series of exercises to do regularly at home to improve his mobility and balance.
You are entitled to assessment by a speech therapist who will help, not only with the voice problems that people with Parkinson's can get, but will also ensure that his swallowing is improved if this is a problem.
You are entitled to a visit from an occupational therapist who will come and look at your home environment and suggest/provide changes which will help him regain or maintain his independent living and raise in this way may raise his and your mood by easing any daily struggles.
In many areas, Parkinson's UK can provide a visit from an Information and Support Worker who can come to the house to answer your questions and tell you where additional help can be accessed local to you.
But I agree with the other replies so far. Tablets can only do so much and if your husband is depressed that might need treating first before he will let anybody help with the other therapies available. Physiotherapy can only succeed if he does the exercise regularly at home. If he is feeling forgotten and isolated it might be his mood that needs lifting first. This is without mentioning that you must also feel pretty dismal about things too.
Finding a local support group will always be on my list of essentials. People there understand what PD really means and they are coming to terms with it also. You will find other caring members of the family who could chat with you and who will listen too.
The Parkinson's nurse and your GP should be able to refer you on to any of the therapists I mentioned and one of those could also assess your husband for the level of his depression if you think that might be a problem too. The treatment for the depression will depend on how long he has had it and how he is affected by it. I know how bad depression can be for those looking on too.
I have been supported by my Parkinsons nurse with physiotherapy. My symptoms are early stage and I do not feel the need for drugs. However, one of the most beneficial things that have worked for me is acupuncture which has helped with my tremor and energy levels. I have also found that Tai Chi, Qi gong and yoga to be extremely helpful. On the emotional side of things, I discovered a programme of self-empowerment in London called Landmark Worldwide. I attended a weekend course and a series of seminars and since then I have not looked back. I no longer feel unhappy with my life.
Parkinson's, as with all illnesses, is your body's way of telling you that your life is out of balance. Take heed and act now and your quality of life can improve greatly. Medication for me is a last resort measure as there are too many side effects.
My husband was on pd pills for nineteen years, after the horrid effects from them I made the decision no more MEDS, he had become intolerant to the drugs, he is on nothing for a year since December of 2012, thankful in making the change, what a difference it made for him. I give him supplements after being tested for deficiencies and he gets massage therapy which has proven to help him, exercise and for voice singing. I also massage his legs and arms every morning and evening. Just wanted to share our experience and our decision. My prayers go out to each and all with pd.
Hello Prayingforacure
How did you determine what nutrients your husband was deficient in? Apparently, there are some 90 nutrients we need to keep our bodies working optimally. When changing to supplements did your husband experience a reversal of some of his PD symptoms? If so, what were the symptoms that reversed?
Kind regards
Norton
Hi Crosshalls
There are various drugs to be used to combat "The Beast" and by doing my own research and being lucky enough to meet Roger Barker of Cambridge for a consultation, I am on a cocktail of drugs that suit me and my life style. So, you might want to consider whether you have exhausted the pill route?
I have been diagnosed 11 years but still lead an active life - I am 70 in July and have recently taken up boxing training which is proving remarkably effective on my mobility
That leads me on to the biggest benefit outside of medication and that is exercise - you cannot do too much and it is available whatever your condition. There are exercise classes usually provided by physiotherapists involved in Parkinson's but you can do them at home - sitting or standing.
I do Yoga but Tai Chi is also strongly recommended as is Salsa dancing. If you hear of classes on the Ronnie Gardiner Rhythm Method (RGRM) these are highly recommended
Avoiding stress is a key component but not always easy to achieve - that is where music comes in. Rock and Roll music stimulates me to dance or exercise whilst light classical soothes me
Drinking lots of water is key too
The main thing, however, is self empowerment - taking charge of your life and being positive
Good luck
Bob
