walking

[brettnmi]

My Parkinson’s is progressing and I’m losing the ability to walk. I freeze a llot and I I seem to have a limited number of steps per day. Is there anything I can do to keep walking?

Thanks for any help you can give me

[johntPM]

Try to understand your situation: is your walking better at some times than another? If your walking is better at a time when your drugs are at their highest - about a hour after you take a dose of levodopa - I would talk to your doctor about an increase in dose.

[brettnmi in reply to johntPM]

That’s a great idea. I never thought of that.

My walking is very good mornings but I can’t walk too far before I run out of dopamine. By evening I can’t walk at all. I’ll ask about increasing my dopamine during the day

[KERRINGTON]

Have you looked into vitamin B1 therapy ? If not do so, If it were not for B1 I wouldn't

be walking, or probably even standing !

[park_bear in reply to KERRINGTON]

High-dose thiamine /vitamin B1 . Dosing instructions and other information at the links. Many people with Parkinson's have benefited from this treatment. Allow four months for full effect:

healthunlocked.com/cure-par...

healthunlocked.com/cure-par...

facebook.com/groups/parkins...

[brettnmi in reply to KERRINGTON]

Thanks! I’ll try it right away.

[JeanieBeanie in reply to brettnmi]

The Face Book B1 group ( link above) is really helpful but you really must read Daphne's book first.

[brettnmi in reply to KERRINGTON]

Wow I never knew about B1. Im glad it works so well for you. Thanks for suggesting it.

[JohnPepper]

Do you consciously move each leg and arm every time you walk? If not, then that is what you should be doing. Then you should be consciously forcing your legs to move faster, and you start the reversal procedure. contact me to learn more about it.

[brettnmi in reply to JohnPepper]

I’ll try this and I’d no like to learn more

[JohnPepper in reply to brettnmi]

Contact me at my email address and learn more

[JohnPepper in reply to brettnmi]

I don't know if I am allowed to give you my email address on this site but, here we [e-mail]

[NuroMod]

Hi , Assumption : when you have FOG - you can still use your hands . Re your FOG ( freezing of gait ) may I suggest that you buy a mini massager – as per the image or similar – there are many types in the market. When you encounter a FOG episode, apply the massager on your inner wrist ( where your wear a watch ) , or along the arm / neck – experiment to find a spot that DEFOGS you ….This strategy is “ similar but not the same “ to the widely publicized “ PD Glove” by Dr. Tass of Stanford University over the past weeks. Like meds, they work for some people but not for others. Treat this suggestion as another option to try to unlock the brain messages to your leg muscles ( efferent messages ) – that are temporary blocked. Let me know how you go. Good luck.

mini massager

[JeanieBeanie in reply to NuroMod]

Where do you buy this?

[HeartSong in reply to JeanieBeanie]

I've bought one in the past similar to this from Amazon.

[brettnmi in reply to JeanieBeanie]

I found it on Amazon for about $10.00

[brettnmi in reply to NuroMod]

I ordered this. It sounds like just what I need for FOG.

[ddmagee1]

Hello! When I was having that problem, and went to the neurologist, he upped my dose, and that helped me to be able to walk better! Also, when I have rigidity stiffness in my legs, and arms, I do range of motion stretching exercises, and that helps somewhat.I force myself to walk, even though I feel very stiff, especially after getting up, from a sitting position, and it’s hard to take the first few steps! Having a lift chair helps me get started to be able to walk when I start out!

[brettnmi in reply to ddmagee1]

I tried this sequence this morning. It helped.

[NuroMod]

Hi ..To cover the extreme end of the spectrum of FOG - i.e. if the PWP has FOG and is UNABLE to use the hands then this special prototype DEFOG device is being trialed.

proto DEFOG device

[brettnmi in reply to NuroMod]

this looks probably

[kaypeeoh]

Can you run instead of walking? Stupid question but I saw a video of PD patents with freezing. When slapped on the shoulder by the doctor the frozen PD patients took off at a run.

[brettnmi in reply to kaypeeoh]

Maybe. I can March in place and climb stairs easily. I’ll try.

[Manypony in reply to brettnmi]

i definitely hike better than walk, dry sand works too

[GLEEG in reply to kaypeeoh]

I have had the same experience. Running is sometimes easier.

[brettnmi in reply to GLEEG]

I believe it

Do you know why!

[NuroMod]

Hi , Member 'kaypeeoh' mentioned that by tapping on the shoulder - the person was DEFOGed. This similar in essence to what the massager is doing. The brain walk message via the upper and lower motor neurons are " confused' - and an external interruption is all is needed to reset the neural "walk" message network. Music , tap, arm swinging, etc also work for some PWP with FOG challenges.

[brettnmi in reply to NuroMod]

I

I ordered the mini-masssager,!but I’ll remember these too. I feel hopeful for the first time in a while.

[NuroMod in reply to brettnmi]

May I ask - which country are your from ? ( you do not have to respond and I respect ) Reason - I do research in Rare Movement Disorders and I'm in Australia and if you are here - we 'could explore more avenues " for DEFOG .

[brettnmi in reply to NuroMod]

I know music will

Help me

[NuroMod in reply to brettnmi]

Hi , Not stating the obvious, please do NOT wear earphones in BOTH ears when walking - as it can be dangerous since you can't hear traffic around you. FYI - I am testing a wearable DEFOG which emits tone every 15 mins to keep the brain " active" proactively and thus avoid/prevent FOG in the first place and not try to fix AFTER it has occurred And the tone can be heard via wired earphones or Bluetooth in ONE ear - for safety.

[brettnmi]

I’m in Washington DC

[NuroMod]

Hi .....FYI .. As a matter of interest and to illustrate there is no “ one size fits all “ answer. One has to find what works best for you and this implies experimentation and trials. A couple I work with has the wife with severe FOG and the husband was at a lost on how to help her. I suggested he “ startle “ her e.g. by calling “ Hey !! Loudly ..and it works !! It DEFOGs her. Why ? This option is indirectly using the auditory comms channel to the brain. Be thankful nature/God made us with multi pathways to the brain and not a single route. So we can capitalise on this principle. The massager / tap etc is using the sense of haptics to the somatosensory region of the brain – to try to disrupt the blocked “ walk message = action potentials “ to your leg muscle motor neurons. Again we are using our inherent senses that have a communication channel to the brain – this is a unique feature cos it is non invasive !!! – merely leveraging on “what we are born with “.

[brettnmi in reply to NuroMod]

I got the mini massager. Do I use it on my leg?

[NuroMod in reply to brettnmi]

Hi , Extract from previous message...

When you encounter a FOG episode, apply the massager on your inner wrist ( where your wear a watch ) , or along the arm / neck – experiment to find a spot that DEFOGS you ….This strategy is “ similar but not the same “ to the widely publicized “ PD Glove” by Dr. Tass of Stanford University over the past weeks. Like meds, they work for some people but not for others. Treat this suggestion as another option to try to unlock the brain messages to your leg muscles ( efferent messages ) – that are temporary blocked. Let me know how you go. Good luck.

[brettnmi in reply to NuroMod]

thanks. Sorry I

Missed this

[Gymsack]

Use a wheeled walker, sized correctly for you

get a MP3 player or other recording device with small ear-plugs that fit in your ears

Record various kind of music on to it with different beats,

play the music while you walk. Your legs will move in time with the music and you will not have to think about moving each leg. You will find yourself walking farther and faster but do not overdo right away . Eventually you will find the beat that best suits you. Rock and roll, marching band, bagpipes , heavy metal, whatever.

The wheeled walker is very important to avoid falls and a place to sit to rest a bit or to wait if your toes curl or your legs cramp ,don't leave home without it. . Some cannabis pain cream helps a lot on back and knees and some bright reflective clothing lets them know you have taken back your street.

Just one last thing

I did not say it was easy ,sorry but some days require a lot of drive and grit your teeth determination but I am alive and a lot of the guys I started this game with 20 years ago are not.

[JohnPepper]

Hi. You have to learn to consciously control your walking action. WE normally control our walking subconsciously. WE never have tyo think what our legs are doing, BUT, we CAN CONSCIOUSLY CONTROL OUR MOVEMENTS, WHICH TAKES A WHILE TO GET USED TO DOING!

[NewHope1961 in reply to JohnPepper]

John, I agree with consciously working to control my walking, but are there any other ways to train the brain besides PT Therapy which I am doing now and seems to help. Thx

[JohnPepper]

I have fouind that if I keep up doing the FAST WALKING I stay well and PD-FREE.