Whole body spasm/freezing, especially in the mornings

[Poppypup]

I am new here, trying to get information for my partner who was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease early last year, at the age of 71. Does any PD sufferer find their whole body spasms/goes rigid when trying to get out of bed? It can take minutes to get to a sitting position, and it's slow going there on too. If he pushes through the freeze he is left exhausted, and feels very floppy afterwards. His PD nurse suggested taking his meds 3/4 of an hour before he wants to get up. So far that's not really doing it for Chris.

[honeycombe3]

Hi there, I chew one Madopar with water on waking. Within twenty minutes I can move quite freely. I am a 72 yr old UK female diagnosed 16 yrs now. Some similar basic info and a list of PD meds is useful in trying to help.

[Hikoi]

Hi Poppypup

Its hard to know exactly what ‘spasm’ is in this context. I originally thought it was dystonia, a cramp likepain. But now I wonder if he is experiencing the stiffness and rigidity which many of us experience when unmedicated. It makes it very difficult to turn over in bed and i use an aid, an upright metal bar that i can pull myself up with. Without this i take an age to move. If movement in bed is his problem then look for movement aids.

Dont know if this helps but it is common to feel weak in the morning until your meds kick in. When you say taking the meds 45 mins before getting up isnt working Im not sure what that means.

[Mackainkal]

It’s important to have a large drink of water to flush medication through the stomach and into the duodenum where it’s absorbed. I use Madopar dispersible and Stalevo to get me moving. I’m58 and was diagnosed 8 years ago