Weird things prior to diagnosis that were early clues of PD

[swva]

Many of us likely went to the doctor when we first noticed that finger that wiggled everytime we stopped moving our hand. Just one finger at first, then two, then the thumb joined in on the dance. After many tests and examinations, we were diagnosed with PD. Looking back, I can think of several early clues that something was amiss. I always had very tight leg and back muscles that I wrote off to having a bad back. When I would get cold, every muscle in my body felt like tight to the point of being painful. When I would get chilled after getting out of the shower, my hands and arms would shake uncontrollably. When working on my knees, the bottom of my foot would cramp severely. I would often say the wrong word and not realize it until someone questioned me. Many of these unexplainable things disappeared after starting levodopa. Did anyone else have these issues prior to diagnosis? Especially the bottom of foot cramping.

[sarasummer]

Yes re: the foot cramping. I had everything you described leading up to my diagnosis as well.

[WinnieThePoo]

Yup. I started karate training with my son for divorced Dad reasons and struggled with kneeling postures due to foot cramping

[Nitro53]

Loss of smell which I attributed to sinus operations, stiff back which I attributed to back problems, shuffling that I didn’t realize I was doing, left leg hit the ground differently than the right when walking, people telling me that I was moving slow. Lots of things looking back.

[MarionP]

Did anyone else have these issues prior to diagnosis? Especially the bottom of foot cramping.

Yep. Exactly as you described in fact. But a good existentialist figures it was going to happen anyway so why fret about it?

[Farooqji]

Excessive sweating

[lenamm]

I had zero signs until the day my disease started and then over about 30 minutes I went from normal to about the level of PD most people experience about 5 years after diagnosis. I know that is super unusual though.