Freeze of gait

[Alanjohn]

I'm 73 and have had Parkinson's 10 years my biggest problem is freeze of gait I've tried all the usual stuff but nothing seems to work cos there's no recamended treatment for it

[laglag]

Hi. What meds are you on? Do you exercise? How long have you been diagnosed? Sorry for all the questions, but others will be interested in these things also so they can try to help you. Some don't like to hear this but Exercise and very little sitting is very important in keeping you moving. Here is a list of things that may help you with your freezing, maybe there are some that you haven't tried. Good luck & keep fighting and keep moving!

WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU "FREEZE"

About one third of people with Parkinson's disease experience freezing episodes. Freezing episodes are sudden, short, transient blocks of movement that occur primarily with initiating walking, turning, navigating through narrow spaces or approaching obstacles. Freezing can last just a few seconds or up to several minutes.

Tips to put the Freeze on Freezing!

Try another movement – raise an arm, touch your head, point to the ceiling; then re-start

Try stepping over an imaginary line in front of you

Wear a metronome on your belt or carry a small one in your pocket – turn it on and the external beat can help you re-start.

Try humming a song and time your re-start with the beat of the music

Count "1-2-3-go" and then step forward

Weight shift side to side to help initiate taking a step

March in place a few times and then step forward

Don't fight the freeze by trying harder to step forward – shift your attention from moving the legs to moving the arms back and forth. Swing them in big exaggerated movements – then resume walking forward

[donjuan61 in reply to laglag]

My neurologist told me that the DBS surgery would not help gait freezing.But since my surgery in 2013 I have had gait freezing only once!So maybe see if you qualify for the DBS surgery.

[Motherfather]

hi alan im 70 and have had it for 5 or 6 years not really sure as you never really know how long you have had it,,what do you do and what do you take..

[JohnPepper]

There is no medication that I know of on the market that does anything to slow down or stop the progression of Pd, but there is something YOU CAN DO to overcome your freezing. It costs nothing and is easy to do, if you take the trouble to learn how to take conscious control of your walking.

Walking, writing and bringing food to our mouths are all movements we do subconsciously. We don't have to think about what our legs and arms are doing, but Pd stops that from working properly. Pd DOES NOT AFFECT OUR CONSCIOUS BRAIN! It is very easy to learn how to walk consciously. I have been going all over the English speaking world since September 2015, showing Pd patients how to use their conscious brain. I have spoken to over 10 000 people, who have seen me show hundreds of Pd patients how to walk properly, within 2 minutes of speaking to them.

My biggest problem in getting this message across is that neurologists, who have never met me or examined me, tell their patients not to listen to me because I DON'T HAVE PD! I don't look as if I have Pd, but 2 neurologists have examined me since I wrote my book, "Reverse Parkinson's Disease" in 2003, and they confirm that I do still have Pd, although it is at a much lower level than it was in 1992, when I was diagnosed. I can understand this, because it is not in the medical books in universities. But neuroplasticity is now an established fact and it is becoming better known every day. Read Dr Norman Doidge's book, "The Brain's W ay of Healing" and you will see my story in chapter 2.

I can understand the drug companies not wanting me to succeed, but I am not worried about them, I am on the side of Pd patients!

[Hidden]

FREEZING TOO

I try to not look concerned, or upset. Look at the trees or clouds like that is why you stopped. The last thing you want is somebody trying to help you. Large trucks used to have signs on the back "DO NOT BUMP " and "DO NOT PUSH " . The biggest problem with freezing is a lack of balance and that is why I use a walker or a cane. Do not worry that it will put you in peril , because it will not. if an emergency situation arose you would break the freeze with out thinking.

[Hikoi]

Parkinsons at a lower level, never heard any neuro describe pd like that John but I do know that you told us the last neuro you saw said you do not have idiopathic pd which is what most on here have. If you have medication induced pd that can reverse when you go off meds.

What success have you had with freezing? Has anyone reversed their freezing episodes through walking John?

As for drug companies, one always gets support by mentioning them but I dont imagine you are much of a threat to their business , you havent followers who have permanently stoppped meds have you?