what can my husband do to help with freezing?

[Frida12]

my husband is suddenly having major freezing episodes where he can't move or get out of a chair. These symptoms came on really fast and it is overwhelming!

What can he do about this terrible situation?

[2Bertie]

How long has your husband had P.D. and what is he taking for meds. I have freezing all of the time but it is when I go through doorways , get on elevators, turn or stop and then try to go again. But it doesn't always happen so it is very frustrating. I use a cane a lot and kick it when I stop or I stand on one foot when I am in line so my other foot is ready to go. Or I use a cane with a laser to step over, anything to jump start my brain!

[RickyTikki]

Is it jump starting the brain or relaxing the brain? Are we apathetic because we can't start the brain or to much work to slow it down?

[OTEB]

Hi Frida. Has he seen an OT or physio? Cuing techniques can help- counting, marching on the spot, visualising lines/steps etc. a few sessions with a therapist specializing in PD should be able to work through these with him. Programmes like LSVT Big and PD Warrior have shown to help greatly with overcoming freezing (I am an OT and seen this first hand myself). People learn the levels of effort / amplitude of movement required to move more ‘normally’. Hope that’s useful. Good luck!

[OTEB in reply to OTEB]

This is a helpful article parkinson.org/blog/research...

[Frida12 in reply to OTEB]

yes he has seen an OT so he has a list of things to try but he can't seem to think about that at the time because he is so afraid he will fall down.....his brain is frozen too.

I haven't heard of PD Warrior but I will look that up to see if there are other options.

Thanks for the info!

[OTEB in reply to Frida12]

Yes do. By the sounds of it he needs more than just tips/advice. Some intensive therapy would be highly beneficial and worth paying for if needed in my opinion. Hope you find something that works soon!

[BUZZ1397]

Please post the medications your husband is using

[Frida12 in reply to BUZZ1397]

he only takes sinemet...25/100... 2 1/2 pills every 2 1/2 hours.

[BUZZ1397 in reply to Frida12]

Thanks Frida

[Bolero]

I have freezing issues myself and it is often like my brain is saying to me that I can't do this or that and it is almost useless trying to argue with it. So what I try to do is take the following steps. 1. Don't fight it. 2. Relax progressively all the way through the body from the top of the head to the tips of the toes and fingers. 3. Breathe deeply through the nose into the diaphragm 2 or 3 times. 4. Stand up or step forward with a large emphatic movement. Freezing is a disturbing part of PD and I hope your husband can find a way to cope with it. That's quite a useful article provided by OTEB btw.

[JohnPepper]

Pd affects all movements we make for which we don't have to concentrate. We don;t think what our legs are doing when we walk, we just will them to walk!

With Pd we have to now CONCENTRATE ON EACH MOVEMENT! This may sound very difficult but it isn't.

If you look at my website - reverseparkinsons.net and contact me I will send you the videos and instructions on how to do it, at NO CHARGE