Freezing

[Alleymay1957]

I am having a lot of freezing. Does anyone know what I can do to lessen it?

[Hidden]

what meds are you on and how much do you take

[Alleymay1957 in reply to Hidden]

I am taking 3 amanadine per day

3 Mirapex

1 azelict

8 sinemet

[FlicEden]

my partner injects himself with a pen called apo-go this contains Apomorphine hydrochloride it gets him moving for an hour or so when he is frozen up

we live in the uk

[Alleymay1957 in reply to FlicEden]

Thank you!

[honeycombe3]

Alleymay1957,

Assuming 1957 indicates your year of birth & that your personal organisation skills (short-term memory, ability to take meds on time etc) have not been too badly affected by PD then it may be that like FlicEden's partner & me ApoGo injections would help.

I started them last October & they have been a lifesaver for me

BUT

as with all PD symptoms & treatments each person will have their own response to different meds & this does not suit some people at all.

I am UK based so not sure if this is available in Canada.

[Alleymay1957 in reply to honeycombe3]

Thanks!

[superjanet]

I started giving my husband Vitamin K when he was suffering badly from freezing a few years ago. He does not suffer from it now. With a try.

[Alleymay1957 in reply to superjanet]

Interesting ! Thanks!

[PUTLAND]

If this is happening when you are out walking. Here are a few tips I get my husband to do. Make sure you have a clear path in front of you if possible. Stand and start to count l 2 3 ..... I also hold him and get him to bend backwards and tap his walking stick. Eventually he can move off at a very quick pace. Best of luck xxx

[Alleymay1957 in reply to PUTLAND]

Thanks!

[Pete-1]

I freeze regularly if I haven't had Any PD drug with Levodopa for, a while. Freezing is more of a problem in confined spaces. A walk out in the wilderness of the New Forest is usually not much of a problem though.

And it has been established that taking Levodopa early in the progression of your Parlinson's disease does NOT result in early onset of side effects such as dyskinesia and hallucinations. Problems that do occur do so as PD progresses and the brain becomes unable to store Dopamine. I think, need to do more reading on the subject.

[Alleymay1957 in reply to Pete-1]

Thank you!

[JohnPepper]

Hi Alleymay. Yes! I can tell you how to overcome it. Very simply, all you have to do is to stand still, when it happens and try to relax. Then stand as upright as you are able and place your weight on your left leg. Then lift the right leg up off the ground and CONSCIOUSLY PLACE YOU RIGHT FOOT AS FAR FORWARD AS YOU CAN IN FRONT OF YOU AND LAND IT FIRMLY ON THE GROUND.

You may be thinking that I am mad telling a Pd. patient to do such a thing. But I am not mad, not even close to it.

Many years ago, I was able to take control of my walking by using my conscious brain to control the actual action of walking instead of willing myself to walk as I had always done in the past. I used to shuffle way back in 1992, when I was diagnosed with Pd. When I had time to have a close look at why I was shuffling I found that I could physically stick both legs out in front to me, not at the same time, much further than I was doing when walking. I also was able to stand up on my toes as high as I have ever done in the past. I was also able to swing my arms high up in the air in front of me, but not very far behind me. But I was not doing any of these things when I walked (shuffled). Why would that have been? If I could do it all consciously but was not doing any of it when shuffling, what was different about the way I walked?

I am not a doctor but I do have a modicum of common sense.

I realised that If I thought about the actual movement of lifting my foot off the ground and sticking it out in front of me, while moving my body forwards, then placing the heel firmly onto the ground with the toes pointing up in the air, it all worked perfectly. What was I doing differently? I was using my conscious brain to move my legs and arms.

Since we were tiny we have never had to think about how we walk, it is all handled very well by the subconscious brain. but our subconscious brain is no longer able to perform various tasks, such as writing, bringing food to our mouth or many other skills.

So if you are no longer able to do some of these things then take control of them consciously.

Okay, maybe you have been taking medication that temporarily takes away some of your symptoms but they never take away this one. If you want to learn more about this and lots more then go to my website - reverseparkinsons.net and see over 400 articles that will give you lots of ways to overcome most of the Pd. problems.

Good luck!

John

[Alleymay1957 in reply to JohnPepper]

Hi John,

Thanks so much for your reply! much appreciated!

No I don't think you are mad, you make so much sense to me. I read your book and from there on I am always interested in what you have to say.

I have parkinsons now for 18 years and if I didn't use my commom sense I wouldn't be like I am today. I take medication but what doesn't make any sense to me is that when I take my meds then I really shut down. No matter what I have to go through those shut downs. I keep very active and my music is my best therapy. my voice is well up there, unlike before.

My freezing is embarrassing at time especially in line ups when it's my turn to move and I'm stuck there. I will practise what you told me to do.

Thanks so much

Alice (Alleymay1957)

[JohnPepper in reply to Alleymay1957]

Hi Alice. Thanks for your kind words. Stress plays funny games with us Pd. sufferers. When we are stressed our symptoms seem to be that much worse. I know what it is like to audition and sing in front of an audience. If I had tried to do an audition, since diagnosis I would never have managed. I know the fear that rushes through my mind when the curtain goes up and I suddenly can't remember the opening words.

If you try to remain calm, which I could never do, you will find that you don't freeze. But if you do, just relax, as you have no choice. Then consciously move as explained.

Otherwise, do what I did, I packed it in!

Good luck!

John

[Beemacs]

I have a lot of freezing also. Unlike John, I haven't found my conscious brain! Sometimes, my feet are glued or nailed to the floor & I can't lift my legs. I tried stepping over things on the floor, singing a song, counting--all the hints you read about. The thing that helped the most is the laser light but it didn't work for very long. Good luck in finding something that does work for you!

[jmtolani]

Exercise and improve your posture , I have found that to be very helpful.

[Alleymay1957]

Thank you!

[Alleymay1957]

Happy Birthday John!!!!! Your an inspiration to us all

[steph02]

I too freeze a lot in busy places. I think its the anxiety and time pressures which causes the freezing,i find i can walk for about a mile in normal stress free places with no incidence of freezing. things that instantly de-freeze me are stairs, having to step over and object like someones foot, getting on my bicycle or sitting in a car. but the freezing is so bad that I need a wheelchair in airports and in a shopping mall it can take me and hour. to move a few hundred yards. I do not take any medication because they do not work on me. I also tend to fall over when I am in this stuck state though thankfully never badly and usually controlled.