Thoughts About the Quality of Parkinson’s Care

[kind2animals]

I have a friend who has early onset Parkinson’s. He continued to be treated by his family physician well into the progression of his illness. This was a tragic mistake.At the age of 40 he would freeze and lose his balance falling forward to the ground, breaking his fall with his hands. Finally he got into a movement disorders clinic at a respectable hospital, got proper medication. It really was a miraculous turnaround. After years of falling all the time, he was able to stand and that symptom disappeared.

I got my original diagnosis from a neurologist at a second or third tier hospital in my rural community. I was also improperly medicated. Fortunately I had been working to get myself into one of the top movement disorders clinic’s in the state. When I first saw the neurologist at the movement disorders clinic, he expressed puzzlement at the prescription that I had been given.

It is amazing to me that the quality of care can vary so widely, however the more contact I have with the medical system, The more I see that this is the norm..

Anybody else have these kind of experiences?

[Hidden]

The disparity in healthcare and neurology specifically has come as a shock to me.

[wifeofparky]

My husband was initially treated by a general neurologist. We received no direction or education on PD. He was simply handed a prescription and told to stay active. After researching PD on my own and attending a Support Group, I encouraged him to see an MDS that I met at a PD Symposium in my community. He changed his meds and the difference was astounding. The general neuro worked in a highly rated Neuro practice but had no real understanding of my husband's disease.