Recently diagnosed with Parkinson's syndrome.

I had Dte

In 2016 I fell backwards and hit my head on my street pretty hard. It was hard enough to cause u huge lump on the ack of my head. I also had passed out. I went to the ER, where they did an MRI and a CAT scan they found nothing. But now a little over a year I have had my left arm jerking, my fine motor skills are no longer working properly. I also have very minimal usage of my left hand. I finally went to a Neurologist he administered a nerve conduction test, which I passed. Then I had to walk toe to heel, which I failed. I almost fell over during the test. My doctor wanted me to have a test, but my insurance would not cover the radiation injection....that cost $2495. I have no idea much the rest of the test cost was going to cost. I was started on a Dopamine medication. I took a half pill 3 times a day for a month. But it did not help at all. It actually made it worse. My doctor took me off the medication. I am looking for a better way to take care of this. If you have any suggestions, please share them with me.

[M_rosew]

The PD diagnosis is usually made by physical examination and history. There is no blood test, scan etc to replace that.

Have a look at National Parkinson Foundation (parkinson.org) for list of the early warning signs of PD that Neuro would be looking for.

[Hidden in reply to M_rosew]

There is a way to diagnose PD. It is called a DatScan. Look it up to see what it does. But my health insurance does not cover it. I had the physical exam and a nerve conduction test..which I passed. But I do have rigidity issues with my left hand and fingers.

I did look at the National Parkinson Foundation. My doctor told me about it. I also found info on Facebook.

Thanks for your comments.

[koshca in reply to Hidden]

Yes, test Datscan is the way to diagnose PD. After almost two years of mixed diagnoses different neuros finally I had Datscan that showed PD.

[alexask]

Head trauma is very much associated with Parkinson's though not with dementia - so that is one positive I suppose (saving money on toilet paper is the only other positive of parkinson's I can think of).

So it is most likely you have this. Given the extortionate amount of money the US medical system likes extracting from its patients I wouldn't bother with a DAT scan.

However I am hoping someone from here may be able to give you some help - especially if their parkinson's was caused by head trauma. Mine was not, and is more tremor orientated, so I am somewhat hesitant to recommend what works for me.

For now - try and do as much exercise as possible.

[Hidden]

Thank you for your reply.