Can I get a witness?

[jdc3]

I just bought John Pepper's book and have just started reading it.

I have a question for this group because Mr. Pepper spends a lot of time here sharing his story.

My question is, have any others (who have followed Mr. Pepper's method) experienced similar long-term results (Most PD symptoms vanish while not taking medication)?

[Madzy]

I am not yet able to try his method due to several operations on my leg. But there in more evidence that intense exercise helps to let synptoms disappear temperorily. Look also at Jay Alberts research on forced exercise.

[racerCP]

The book is rather vague about his symptoms although the symptoms are enumerated many, many times but he indicates many periods of remission and return of symptoms which sounds a lot like MS because remission per se is not a PD blueprint. There is no doubt that exercise, use of your body and mind to the most of your abilities is urgent, especially for people afflicted with a movement disorder. I have been diagnosed with PD but not prescribed medications yet because of my stage. I exercise about two to four hours of every day and find it is my medication. I think reading the Doidge book on how the brain heals itself explains more scientifically why exercise and how exercise is used by the brain.

Short answer: Do as much as you can of whatever you an do.

[grower in reply to racerCP]

Regarding the neuroplasticity that Doidge studies, we are about to start the LSVT BIG program of exercises, I have high hopes for it. Retrain that brain to remember old complete motions.

[JohnPepper]

Hi Idc3. If you contact me at [e-mail] I will give you email addresses of people who have done well following my lead.

John

[fluteman in reply to JohnPepper]

Hi John. My father has Parkinson's disease. My email is [e-mail].

[JohnPepper in reply to fluteman]

H Fluteman. I have emailed you already.

Kind regards

John

[hanifab23 in reply to JohnPepper]

my email is [e-mail]

[jdc3]

There are many people on the internet that claim incredible results by doing this & that. Some directly contradict each other. Some intuitively seem to make more sense than others. One can't follow them all!

I live in Bangkok, and nearby is a Chinese healer who claims she can cure my PD through some special massage for which she charges $100/hour (a lot for Thailand). She is very charismatic, and almost had me convinced until I started thinking - if she really had such a cure, she could be charging $10,000/hour and would still have a 3 year long waiting list!

[racerCP in reply to jdc3]

Unfortunately there is no "cure" for PD like there is no "cure" for aging. However, each person has to take their health in their own hands and exercise, eat healthy and stay away from stress. Medications are for specific symptom alleviation when you run out of your own resources of exercise, rest, good habits. Oddly enough the incidents of PD are lower for people who smoke and drink coffee but cancer and heart disease prevail for that group. So take care of the body you have!

[Hikoi in reply to racerCP]

RacerCP

Good analogy - no cure for ageing . When I want a quick explanation I often find it helpful to describe PD as like accelerated ageing.

It certainly is interesting that there is something in cigarettes and coffee that is neuroprotective. Not sure if it stops or delays onset, probably both.

That leads to another question in my mind. I think Exercise is now universally accepted as a good and necessary PD treatment and the research is supporting that it has a neuroprotective role. I'm in full agreement with that but why do athletes get PD and some so young too so doesn't seem to delay onset either. Perhaps their is a simple answer but I haven't seen it yet. I'd be interested in your take on it all.

[racerCP]

Hikoi, Nicotine and caffiene do not delay but among general population people who smoke or have a history of smoking are 40% or so less likely to get PD. Exercise does not guarantee not aging or getting PD but it is a good way to manage both conditions. Let's face it, all the studies indicate the more you exercise the fewer diseases and complaints. Genetics has a lot to do with everything, even how much good exercise does for us.

[Hikoi in reply to racerCP]

So smoking and coffee have neuroprotctive properties and it seems exercise also has or at least can treat symptoms and may delay progression.

I am still wondering why are smokers and coffee drinkers less likely to get PD but not athletes? Seems a bit unfair!

[Hikoi]

Jdc3

Can you tell us what you have discovered regarding your original question?

[racerCP]

Hikoi, smokers are prone to much more devastating conditions than PD so we wouldn't want to trade.

[Ray_rich44]

Although I have not read the book just recently I have read most of the postings on John's web site. I first noticed symptoms 5/6 years ago and was diagnosed a year ago. To my surprise while reading on his web site I found he included postings by my neurologist.

After several months of working out every morning I was continually sore, so I changed my routine to: 5-6 mornings a week I fast walk about a mile and a half, I turn my iPhone on and play very upbeat Christian praise music. I find it very easy to concentrate on positive thoughts like retraining my gait, etc. while walking.

I only take azilect in the generic form

Take a 20 min nap in the afternoon

Take 8 tablespoons of coconut oil a day

Have a healthy diet , lots of colors in vegetables and fish

Am 71 and still work 15-20 hrs a week

Bowl once a week and play at least 9 holes of golf a week

Yes, i have minor tremors, freezing in confining spaces, and minor balance problems

But I'm convinced that John's approach is the answer, and I for one am going to stick with the program, it's simple to understand but takes discipline to execute.

I feel better now than when I was diagnosed.

I live in Colorado,it's Saturday morning, and it's time to go for a walk.

May God bless each of you that have PD in this part of life's journey