I did not know Parkinson's had stages. How many and what involves each stage?

[Dennis]

[LawrenceM]

Hello. Check out this link. I hope it helps.

pdcaregiver.org/Unified.html

[Dennis in reply to LawrenceM]

Thank you for your immediate response. Helpful to me and I receive your help with appreciation.

[Jerebet]

Stage one: Parkinson's disease symptoms affect only one side of the body.

Stage two: Symptoms begin affecting both sides of the body, but balance is still intact.

Stage three: Parkinson's disease symptoms are mild to moderate and balance is impaired, but the person can still function independently.

Stage four: People with stage four Parkinson's disease are severely disabled, but they can still walk or stand without assistance.

Stage five: The patient becomes wheelchair-bound or bedridden, unless someone is helping him.

[Dennis in reply to Jerebet]

Thank you! Stage three describes me more so than others. I am "somewhat" disabled but can also function "somewhat" independently. I noticed yesterday, 11/12/11 that my balance was impaired to the point of considering to get a walker. Ability to go

from one gate to another when flying is very difficult especially if

the foot turns under. Thank you for your time in replying.

[Aussie]

Yes, there are 5 stages in Parkinson Disease. If you go into

webmd.com/parkinson-disease.... This outlines them clearly

[Aussie]

Yes, there are 5 stages in Parkinson Disease. If you go into webmd.com/parkinson-disease... - it outlines them clearly.

[Jupeter]

While I accept that there may be general stages in the development of PD, I believe that each person is unique. Symptoms are not consistent and may be completely absent in some people. I don't, for instance, have much of a tremor but my voice is weak. Others seem to be different.

I think that we can only judge ourselves - trying to assess which stage we are in is not specially useful, i.e. what can you do about it?.

My philosophy is - OK, I have PD, so what, get on with life. I am a person who happens to have PD, I am not a PD person.

I do appreciate that, at the age of 75, I have seen my best days. It must be more difficult to adjust to PD for younger people who have careers, families etc. to cope with. But it is important not to let PD rule your life.