How quickly does parkinsons spread to the other side?

[Finley]

[soup]

Parkinson's doesn't 'spread'. One side doesn't catch it from the other. However, it does slowly affect different parts of the body but again, at an individual rate for each person.

Looking at the research, exercise, where you are learning new skills and using all your limbs is most effective at slowing the progression. Dance, yoga, physiotherapy, Nordic Walking are all designed to activate parts of your body accross the mid-line or to stretch your core and limb muscles. This, with medictaion, will keep you mobile for longer.

I think you are a teacher so pay attention to the volume of your voice as it is difficult for the person with PD to judge that. If you find yourself being asked to repeat what you have said ask for speech therapy rather than sending your partner or family off to have their hearing tested!

Regular handriting practice will help. Use double or triple lines and do the sorts of patterns that pre-writers do to develop fine motor skills and secure their left-right orientation.

I sense that you are feeling overwhelmed at this stage. DON'T PANIC!

A good web site for your information is Parkinson's UK. There is so much information out there you can get overloaded. Are you in GB or elsewhere? I know about the GB system but perhaps other people can make suggestions if you are in a different country.

Message me if you are in GB and want to talk.

[Court]

I don't think there is a standard answer to this question. I believe that with some people, the lucky ones, it never spreads, Other people find that it spreads more quickly. I was diagnosed with PD, having a tremor in my right hand, which has since spread to my right leg.

[jazzfan53]

That's a good question, but there is no one single answer for everyone. For some it spreads slowly, others more quickly. In my case I was diagnosed 8 years ago (at age 49) and I still only have it on my left side. However that left side got SO bad I decided on DBS surgery for it last year and now I am doing much better. I seem to remember reading somewhere that young-onset people tend to exhibit a faster progression of the disease than older-onset people. Not sure why.

[PatV]

I was dx at 63 and now 71 it has not progressed much from left side. My doctor admonished me at the outset: Do not let it progress! haha, but I do make it my daily goal.

[Paul_Dineen]

I've had it on my right side starting at least by 2004, probably 2003. I didn't recognize the early symptoms for what they were, so it the start is unclear. The neurologists have been struck by how much it affects my right side without affecting my left side at all. However, in about the last two weeks, I've been noticing on my left side one of those early symptoms. I see my neurologist (my 3rd, who seems like a very good one) in about 3 weeks, so I'll ask if he thinks this means the left side is starting. So, very likely about 7-8 years for me, if he thinks it is.

[Susie01]

I was already bilateral when diagnosed, left worse than the right. In retrospect, my upper body was symptomatic first, then my legs were affected later, it was also bilateral. My symptoms started in 2004, was not diagnosed until Feb. 2011 after seeing three neurologist...

[Jerebet]

My parkinson's was unilateral when diagnosed 10 years ago. It Is stIll unIlateral today. My neurologist told me that everyone progresses

differently. He explained that many PWPs symptoms never progress to the other side.. I bike daily and find thishelps keep my symptoms in check.

Maintain hope, as there is no way to predict progression.

[carolineb211]

I was DX in March this year with right sided symptoms, last month started noticing twitches on the left. everyone is different.

[Gansbru]

Dominant left side first with dysphonia and writer’s cramp before, not realising it was anything but possible carpal tunnel. Right side showing beginnings but (touch wood) only balance/gait on right side.