Everyone knows about placebo....

[kaypeeoh]

Everyone knows about placebo, that being told something will help you means you'll get better even if it's a sugar pill. But what about Nocebo, the opposite end of the spectrum? What if negative thoughts leads to a worsening condition? The docs ask regularly about my signs; How is my balance, do I have headaches or bad dreams at night? They watch me walk then do the "push me over" test. My tremor is a 'given' but they ask whether medication is making it better or worse.

I never know what to say. Knowing that Rytary is given three times a day means I should tell them the tremor gets worse eight hours after the last dose?

And what about dyskinesia. I've been on Rytary for seven years. Shouldn't I be having side effects from Rytary by now? Is it time to add another agonist?

I take a yoga class once a week. It seems to be improving my balance. That is, I can prevent myself from falling when the doc tries to push me over.

Is this training my brain? Is this healing me? Or is this all just making me better at seeming better when the root problem is still there?

[bassofspades]

read Joe Dispenza’s books, especially You Are The Placebo. He, himself, healed from unbelievable structural, traumatic injuries by harnessing his mind. There’s a great deal about Parkinsons disease in the book, as we PWP are especially susceptible to the placebo effect because it works wonders on the dopainergic system.

Also, do you do Dr Cosentini’s Thiamine therapy? It keeps us from dyskinesia longer and improves the Pull test. If you do, that would explain it. Also the fact that you take conscientious care of yourself.

[kaypeeoh in reply to bassofspades]

Thanks for the note. I've got one of his books on my coffee table, titled Becoming Supernatural. Just leafing through it, it seems ridiculous. The idea of pushing one's hand through solid stone may be a metaphor for something less weird so I'll try reading further.

[bassofspades in reply to kaypeeoh]

You Are The Placebo is good and relevant to people with PD. I read Becoming Supernatural as well, not as good, but good if you're into meditation.

[crewmanwhite]

Nocebo is very powerful and used unconsciously by most western doctors. They are taught it is "being realistic".

Placebo is also very powerful and, I believe, should be used by all practitioners or all modalities as long as we don't actually lie.

It is not difficult to say "I believe that this strategy will help you" rather than "you are going to get worse".

[ShakingInMyBoots1]

Oh yeah, this is the discussion I’ve been waiting for! My thoughts about this have evolved a lot recently. As someone taught, by most people in the healthcare field, that placebo is somehow bad, I now embrace it. Bring on the placebo! BUT, it also has its problems. First you have to BELIEVE it’s going to work. And for me the belief is the problem. Also, when it. Stops working I feel like a big failure. Being kind to myself is a must. But yes, what if our doctors actually told us the power of the mind, and how we can harness it. They don’t really understand any of this, it is largely dismissed out of hand. But where learning more everyday The entire diagnosis process is pretty much heres a pill and you’re doomed. As far as nocebo I agree with this as well. If I believe something will happen, it will happen. I have manifested entire symptoms just based on suggestion. Is denial a bad thing? I don’t think so. We are all very different.