Poor balance

[AmmieM]

My main issue is poor balance which does improve with exercise but not to the point to which I want. Mirapex does nothing for it. Do you think adding NADH and or Mucina to my list of supplements would help? Or anything else? Thank you

T

[silvestrov]

What supplements are you taking?

[AmmieM in reply to silvestrov]

I take the supplements recommended by John Gray for PD on his marsvenus website

Plus a multiple, calcium, garlic and an eye formula by Andrew Lessman and probiotics

[AmmieM]

2x a day- 500 mg NAC 5000 iu d3, 100 mcg vit k, sustained release Vit b, 500 mg Vit c, 4.5. Mg lithium orotate

1x a day- multiple, calcium, garlic and an eye formula and probiotics

[silvestrov]

You should start by taking levodopa in the form of mucuna pruriens....as dopamine replacement therapy - NADH can wait. What I am going to suggest is nothing new on this site. I have featured it many times and the form of dopamine replacement therapy as derived from mucuna pruriens, green tea, salmon oil and vitamin c.

When I take mucuna pruriens levodopa, I do just that. I take 99% pure levodopa derived from MP with 94% pure + EGCG from green tea with 1,000 mg of salmon oil ,200 mg of vitamin C and I add a capsule of quercetin/bromelain with it.

My rationale:

The main drug for PD is sinemet, the combination of levodopa and carbidopa. A component of green tea called EGCG is also a decarboxylase inhibitor like carbidopa:

Green tea polyphenols: novel irreversible inhibitors of dopa decarboxylase.

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/113...

But EGCG is poorly absorbed and when combined with 1,000 mg salmon oil and 200 mg vitamin C (all taken on an empty stomach, with no calcium/milk, caffeine or hard water - which contains minerals which may inhibit EGCG absorption). This article delineates the above way to help absorb EGCG:

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

The only danger of this therapy is using EGCG twice a day, upon waking and at 4PM (2 hours before a meal) is EGCG is toxic to the liver and can cause liver damage. I noted this fact in the thread The Dangers of EGCG:

healthunlocked.com/parkinso....

By adding 1 capsule of quercetin (with bromelain) you are doing 2 things:

You create a combination of supplements which have the effect of the PD drug Stalevo. Stalevo is the combination of Levodopa + Carbidopa + Entacapone. Entacapone is used to limit 'off' times from sinemet and to maximize 'on times'. Quercetin, like entacapone, is a COMT inhibitor:

Quercetin potentiates L-Dopa reversal of drug-induced catalepsy in rats: possible COMT/MAO inhibition.

"The results of the present study strongly suggest that quercetin could serve as an effective adjunct to L-dopa therapy in Parkinson's disease."

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/127...

Quercetin's is liver protective: google.com/webhp?sourceid=c...

You are also taking NAC which is hugely protective of the liver and makes the EGCG issue a non-issue:

liverdoctor.com/n-acetyl-cy...

Here is an example of the supplements I am suggesting you take together:

99% pure levodopa from mucuna pruriens:

ebay.com/itm/L-DOPA-3-Bottl...

Experimentation with levodopa levels is standard with either regular medical or alternative PD therapy, it is inevitable. So purchasing a 'bag' - not in capsules, loose levodopa is also a possiblity. This way you can determine what dose works best for you (you also will need mini measuring spoons to determine the dose):

nutrivitashop.com/products/...

EGCG: swansonvitamins.com/swanson...

Quercetin/bromelain: swansonvitamins.com/now-foo...

Here is a listing of the best salmon oils that have been tested:

salmonoilreviews.com/top-15...

Prior to seeing this list, I took this brand of salmon oil:

swansonvitamins.com/carlson...

The label says to take 2 capsules twice daily so by taking 2 upon waking and 2 at 4PM you are taking a standard dose.

Finding 200 mg doses of vitamin c are almost impossible so I take 2 x 100 mg childrens (chewable) vitamin c - though I just swallow them whole.

swansonvitamins.com/natures...

So upon waking and at 4PM, EGCG, vit C, salmon oil, quercetin/bromelain, natural levodopa. If more levodopa is required take it with 2 capsules of quercetin/bromelain. That is 3 doses of levodopa + a day. The quercetin/bromelain + levodopa should be taken between the EGCG doses.

I know I am throwing a hell of a lot of information at you but it is a reference for you to read at your leisure.

Best wishes.

Rich

PS. If you have any questions or need clarification, send them this way.

[999---666 in reply to silvestrov]

I've been told I probably have parkinsons symptoms but am not convinced. neurologist said the only way to confirm diagnosis is to see if drug reverses symptoms..... but I am terrified of levodopa that neurologist prescribed....side effects are actually worst than the disease?!?

I don't have tremors, I had cascade of symptoms that appear, last a while and promptly disappear?!?

I have a problem rolling over on my side...have to use my left side to counter-balance...takes several attempts to build momentum....high comedy

I googled this disease and learned there are several variations of this disease....I think if I have parkinsons it's vascular parkinsons, primarily because I have swollen hand on the affected side with bulging veins which......subside and reoccur?!? no rhyme or reason that I can point to. this is the only symptom that persists.

I tire easily, and fatigue causes my gait to deteriorate....when i'm not tired I have started walking with a side to side gate instead of dragging my leg along. my speech has improved, thank God, my hand (right side) is useless. is this parkinsons?

I've never done drugs, medication, athletic....?!?

[silvestrov in reply to 999---666]

To start off here is an article entitled,

The L-dopa response in vascular parkinsonism

"A good response to L-dopa in our patients could not be

predicted by onset type (acute or insidious), or by localisation

(unilateral or bilateral, upper or lower limbs), or any of the

dominant features (tremor, hypokinetic rigidity, or shuffling

gait). However, it was related to the presence of lesions in or

near the nigrostriatal pathway—that is, macroscopically

visible lacunar infarcts or lacunae caused by enlarged

perivascular spaces in the putamen, caudate nucleus, and

globus pallidus, or microscopic substantia nigra cell loss. This

is in agreement with the outcome of individual

L-dopa responses (positive or negative) in the only 34 reported VP

patients in whom the presence or absence of a macroscopic

lesion in the nigrostriatal pathway, found with imaging or on

pathological examination, was described."

"All 14 VP patients who did not have macroscopic lesions in the basal

ganglia showed a negative response to L-dopa.....and all nine

patients without basal ganglia lesions . Of

the other 20 VP patients who had macroscopic lesions in the

nigrostriatal pathway, 15 showed a positive response to

L-dopa ...."

jnnp.bmj.com/content/75/4/5...

So if you have vascular parkinsonism you may also be L-dopa responsive and it just depends where the lesions are. Of course this is speculation because you have not been confirmed to have VP.

___________________________________________________________________

In regards to dyskinesia, this side effect of sinemet takes place about 2 years after the therapy is started.

There are several supplements which can combat dyskinesia and considering the reason why sinemet stops working has been discovered,

"They

discovered that L-DOPA triggered widespread changes in DNA methylation.

This process is a common way for cells to change their gene activity in

response to environmental factors. When enzymes place the molecular

tags — in the form of chemical methyl groups — on the DNA, the genes

become either less or more active."

parkinsonsnewstoday.com/201...

So if you take sinemet, what supplements can alter changes is DNA metylation?

Omega 3s are being tested to see if they lower dyskinesia and omega 3s affect methylation.

Reducing Dyskinesia in Parkinson's Disease With Omega-3 Fatty Acids (RLID-PD) clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show...

______________________________________

Omega 3s and methylation:

The effects of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and genetic variants on methylation levels of the interleukin-6 gene promoter.

"We aimed to conduct an integrated analysis with both population and in vitro studies to systematically explore the relationships among n-3 PUFA, DNA methylation, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), gene expression, and protein concentration of IL6."

CONCLUSION:

"Higher n-3 PUFA is associated with lower methylation at IL6 promoter, which may be modified by IL6 SNPs."

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/265...

Yes omega 3s can affect methylation but the above is an indirect link. Let's look at something more direct, betaine hydrochloride.

Wilson's disease: changes in methionine metabolism and inflammation affect global DNA methylation in early liver disease.

" betaine treatment increased S-adenosylmethionine and up-regulated Dnmt3b levels, and both treatments restored global DNA methylation levels."

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/229...

Betaine protects cerebellum from oxidative stress following levodopa and benserazide administration in rats.

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/267...

Betaine acts as an antioxidant and methyl donor agent versus levodopa-induced oxidative stress and hyperhomocysteinemia in the rat kidney

"In contrast, betaine acts as a promising antioxidant and methyl donor agent versus LD-induced complications.Therefore, this research highlights the therapeutic antioxidant and methyldonor effects of betaine in line with our previous reports in cerebellum,testis, ovary, liver, and brain of rats."

congress.tbzmed.ac.ir/TILC/...

Also:

Recognition of Betaine as an Inhibitor of Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Nitric Oxide Production in Activated Microglial Cells

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

___________________________________________________

I cut and pasted this from the why levodopa stops working thread:

healthunlocked.com/parkinso...

Also from the same thread:

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

It is good to see general PD researchers starting to understand the properties of synthetic L-dopa/sinemet. From the article:

"The team also treated animals with a compound called RG-108, or with methionine supplementation, and saw that they could change the dyskinetic behavior of the animals."

In an internet posting entitled, 'What Doctors Don't Tell You: PARKINSON'S DISEASE'

"The most impressive research on non orthodox treatment of Parkinson's concerns the use of L-methionine. WDDTY panel list Melvyn Werbach knows of several studies showing that L-methionine is as effective as L-Dopa after three weeks in people with previously untreated Parkinson's disease (Rev Neurol [Paris],1982; 138 (4): 297-303). It also brought about further improvement in Parkinsonian patients who'd reached a plateau in their orthodox treatment (South Med J, 1984; 77: 1577)."

healthy.net/scr/article.asp...

"It also brought about further improvement in Parkinsonian patients who'd reached a plateau in their orthodox treatment (South Med J, 1984; 77: 1577)."

"It" meaning methionine, has already been used in conjunction with sinemet as reported 32 years ago. I am glad to see the researchers of this article are catching up with past research.

[L-Methionine treatment of Parkinson's disease: preliminary results]. (1982)

"Eleven patients with previously untreated Parkinson's disease were treated with L-Methionine for periods from 2 weeks to 6 months. The treatment was well supported and good improvement in clinical signs, particularly akinesia and rigidity, appeared within approximately three weeks, the effect on tremor being less marked. Therapeutic effects were similar to those observed with L-dopa treatment. Correlation of clinical effects with a marked increase in the number of 3H-Spiroperidol binding sites (Bmax) to lymphocytes was noted. This therapeutic effect suggests the role played by modifications of membrane fluidity on dopaminergic receptors, both lymphocytic and striatal, in the etiology of Parkinson's disease, and opens up new therapeutic possibilities in this disease."

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/713...

More about methionine:

Methionine: Be sure to get enough folate , vitamin B 6 , and vitamin B 12 . 7

Levodopa : Methionine might interfere with its action.

healthy.net/scr/article.asp...

_______________________________________________________________________________

To summarize: researchers in 2016 have figured out why L-dopa causes dyskinesia in PWP and it involves the methylation process. Both a drug or methionine "could change the dyskinetic behavior of the animals."

Yes methionine interferes with levodopa absorption, like any other amino acid, and perhaps it has to be taken with sinemet to prevent dyskinesia. What is needed is an experiment that balances the dose of sinemet and methionine, to find an optimum, efficient dose.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

In conclusion, there is evidence that omega 3s, betaine hydrochloride and L-,methonine can lessen dyskinesia but this is not scientific proof. At the very least these three agents have potential therapeutic benefit for PD patients in reducing dyskinesia.

If non of this influences your thoughts why don't you try Sinemet to see if you react to it positively and then switch to levodopa derived from mucuna pruriens. At high dose MP can cause nausea, muscle cramps but not dyskinesia. Or perhaps you want to take a walk on the wild side and start taking L-methionine after testing sinemet (L-dopa) positive.

I hope this helps.

Rich

[999---666 in reply to silvestrov]

thank-you Rich, wouldn't lacunar infracts, show up on a MRI? I think I saw that much on the monitor, as I was putting boots on. it was very light, nothing like graphic images I've seen of brain scans. pretty sure I was looking at my MRI image because there was a white patch behind my left ear that MD's refer to as a cyst or a lesion. (one MD told me it was fat! I think she called me a fathead!)

I started taking Lactaid just before my right leg started acting up, i'm also aware that I occasionally need hydrochloric acid, any possible connection there?

I have a private well and the water around here is ferrous, it has a rusty scum adhering to well wall, any chance I should take something that ionizes and expels this metal?

what is your experience with did condition? you seem well informed. I think your final conclusion is most logical one, but I am going to postpone levodopa until I try nutritional approach first. I have a very poor appetite, I am one of those people that can forget to eat, easily. I went online around the time I started to see ill effects, any evidence that microwaves can affect this? I thought I felt something when I was sitting close to whatyoumacallit? (yes, I skipped my meals, I found socializing more rewarding than eating alone.)

[silvestrov in reply to 999---666]

Yes I believe lucunar infarcts are visible on a MRI:

google.com/search?q=lacunar...

As for the 'fathead' comment, I would not be too offended. You, I, your doctor and everyone else reading this has a brain which has 60% fat content so we are all fatheads.

I am not sure Lactaid had much to do with you leg problem but one of the dietary supplements I mentioned can help with production of hydrochloric acid: betaine hydrochloride.

How to Supplement with Betaine HCL for Low Stomach Acid

scdlifestyle.com/2012/03/ho...

And,

Gastric Re-acidification with Betaine HCl in Healthy Volunteers with Rabeprazole-Induced Hypochlorhydria

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

Iron has a known relationship with PD and it is a matter of scientific experimentation to fill in the details. High brain iron concentrations are associated with PD and either high or low iron have been figured to be a risk factor for PD and it depends on which study you read. But a definite iron imbalance occurs in PWP patients. Having too much iron in well water, or in the body for that matter, increases bacterial content because most bacteria require iron to replicate themselves. Infection is the natural consequence of either too much iron, or too little iron. Too much iron helps bacteria multiply and too little compromises the body's defenses against bacteria.

As for well water, it is a risk factor for PD:

Rural Well Water Linked to Parkinson's Disease

"Rural residents who drink water from private wells are much more likely to have Parkinson’s disease, a finding that bolsters theories that farm pesticides may be partially to blame, according to a new California study."

scientificamerican.com/arti...

"any chance I should take something that ionizes and expels this metal?" Here is an interesting article with suggestions as to what to do about too much iron in well water:

Iron Problems in Well Water

wellwaterguide.net/iron-wel...

"Microwave - and other forms of electromagnetic - radiation are major (but conveniently disregarded, ignored, and overlooked) factors in many modern unexplained disease states. Insomnia, anxiety, vision problems, swollen lymph, headaches, extreme thirst, night sweats, fatigue, memory and concentration problems, muscle pain, weakened immunity, allergies, heart problems, and intestinal disturbances are all symptoms found in a disease process the Russians described in the 70's as Microwave Sickness."

The microwave was invented in Soviet Russia.

_____________________________________________

Occupational exposures and Parkinson's disease mortality in a prospective Dutch cohort

emfrefugee.blogspot.com/201...

My experience with parkinsonism, I was exposed to low level doses of insecticides, herbacides, fungacides and monsanto's roundup.

I started to feel unwell about 1 year after being a greenskeeper and accidentally discovered I had the disease when I took a capsule of tyrosine for depression. I had used this amino acid in the past because I had an adrenal problem. My father had PD and I was well aware of the symptoms and it took this event to realize what my collective symptoms meant. They included, lost sense of smell, depression, chest tremors, chest fasciculations, a stuff back, ED, my right hand and right lower eyelid were twitching, partial constipation - anyone who eats raisin brand for breakfast should never be constipated, etc. Within a week of taking tyrosine I realized I needed additional help so I investigated the net for alternative therapies, many which I was already aware of because of the adrenal problem, and simply applied the information and stabilized my condition. Parkinsonism of any form is strange because everyone seems to react differently to drugs, therapy....and I luckily responded well and in the process I acquired a lot of information and the best ways to find information on the net.

Cachexia is common to PD patients and perhaps you should try to get into a regular eating schedule. Even if you supplement your diet with Ensure or Boost, it is better than not eating.

Long-term survival of Parkinson's disease: a population-based study.

"In a set of a population- based study, long-term survival of 59 prevalent PD patients was compared with that of individuals free of neurological diseases matched 1:2 by sex and age of enrolment. PD individuals, compared with reference subjects, showed a two-fold increased risk of death (OR 2.1; 95 % CI 1.4, 3.1). Among causes of death, pneumonia and cachexia were significantly more frequent among PD patients than among individuals free of neurological diseases. We confirmed in a long-term follow-up study an increased mortality among PD individuals compared with that of the general population."

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/160...

Cachexia: "Cachexia (from Greek κακός kakos "bad" and ἕξις hexis "condition") or wasting syndrome is loss of weight, muscle atrophy, fatigue, weakness, and significant loss of appetite in someone who is not actively trying to lose weight."

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cachexia

___________

Kinda worn out here and have a good day.

Rich

[999---666 in reply to silvestrov]

thank-you again, it's going to take me a while to assimulate the above.

you might have the gene for PD, but it depends on what your father was exposed to.....you never know these days. voter approval trumps regard for health of masses these days....i'm getting very angry.

before I go, I believe in starting from the root cause of things, and that's led me to think that what is being attacked is the illumination/immune system and causing this disorder. I am trying probiotics in ernest ever since I learned that the immune system is in the gut. apparently there is a condition the MD's call leaky gut...it's really insidious, it goes on to produce leaky blood brain barrier.....the source of a lot of illnesses. Mercola.com explained it very well.

for what's it worth, I think the start line for a cure/relief for this malady, exists somewhere between the gut and the brain barrier.

please don't tax yourself, it's more info than I can process in a week at least.

TKS

[999---666 in reply to 999---666]

HI AGAIN, I'M REASSURED A BIT, I MUST OF BEEN LOOKING AT LAST SLICE OF MRI BECAUSE THE "CYST" WAS VERY WHITE AND DISTINCT REGULAR SHAPE BUT REST LOOKED LIKE MY FOREHEAD (NO SIGN OF THOSE "BUTTERFLYS" AND MATCHING "HOLES") AND WAS LIKE MILKY. ANYWAY, I'M GOING TO TALK TO MD. THEY DON'T TALK TO ME, THEY SAY IF YOU DON'T HEAR FROM US IT'S ALL GOOD?!?

I JUST TAKE APPLE VINEGAR FOR LACK OF HYDROCHLORIDE...IT WORKS! I USUALLY GOT IT IN MY SALAD VINEGRETTE, THAN I CUT DOWN ON MY SALADS. IT'S NATURAL AND APPARENTLY HAS VITAMINS TO OFFER.

[AmmieM]

Thank you so much

[AmmieM]

How much levodopa do you recommend I start with?

[AmmieM]

I forgot to add that I take hemp oil; can I eliminate this

[silvestrov in reply to AmmieM]

Keep using the hemp oil. As for the dose of levodopa....that will take experimentation. I think in the neighborhood of 300 - 500 mg a dose. Some bags of pure levodopa say 200 and others 500 mg. I use about 400 mg per dose. Just start with a arbitrary amount and adjust accordingly. That is what doctors do also. Everyone on this site has had multiple adjustments of their PD drugs.

[akgirlsrock in reply to silvestrov]

What brand of mucuna do you use? I've been using 30% 180 mg l-dopa per pill, by herbsforever. I've tried a few different brands not really sure which one works best. I take 2 pills with 5htp. Every 2 hours. I was taking l- tyrosine but I think that makes me shake more. I am concerned about the one product you said could hurt your liver. My left leg drags,walking on toes can't lay foot down flat and can't pick It up anymore. How well does your protocol work for you. Thanks a bunch.

[silvestrov in reply to akgirlsrock]

I take pure 99% pure levodopa and do not remember the brand (can't find the receipt).

I used to take tyrosine but I became too tense so I transitioned to using levodopa.

EGCG has been shown to damage the liver in lab animals and (primarily) in people who drink diet green tea in excess. I have not found cases of liver damage caused by encapsulated EGCG, just dieters. This makes me wonder what else they did ...excessive exercise, food deprivation.....along with using excess amounts of dieters green tea. The articles never stated this information. But since I take NAC, quercetin, theanine, alpha lipoic acid and acetyl l carnitine I have no worries. They all protect the liver.

Have you tried to take the mucuna pruriens without the 5htp? Amino acids compete for entry to the brain and central nervous system and by taking levodopa with 5htp it may inhibit the effectiveness of levodopa. 5HTP can be taken in the evening as a sleep aid.

My use of the EGCG + protocol I listed above works well for me but it should not be considered as monotherapy. I take a bunch of antioxidants coq10, NAC......which help me to be able to lower the dose of 99% pure levodopa +, etc.....

Hope this helps.

[park_bear]

I agree you need to be taking levodopa in some form or other. Mucuna will do.

It would be helpful to know what is interfering with your balance. Do you have poor balance because of tremors or dystonia or something else?

[AmmieM]

Park_bear The poor balance is in from tremors. It seems as if I stand and walk on my toes and can't seem to keep my feet flat on the ground.

[park_bear in reply to AmmieM]

Well then, by all means get regular doses of levodopa in your system and that should help.

[AmmieM]

Silvestrov I am going to try everything you recommend

[AmmieM]

Thank you park_bear

[pangyo]

I'm also has poor balance issue, medicine will not help . I think Tai Chi will strengthen your feet and help you to balance better.

I am doing Tai Chi and will feedback on the outcome.

Cheers

[AmmieM in reply to pangyo]

Thank you pang yo

[JohnPepper]

Hi Ammie. Medications do nothing to improve any symptoms, they only temporarily mask some of the symptoms. I want you to try what I am suggesting here:

With somebody holding on to your left arm, stand up straight with you feet about shoulder width apart. Now lean slightly to the left putting all your weight onto the left leg. Now see how far you can lift your right leg up in front of you with the knee straight, Having done that then lean to the right putting all your weight onto the right leg. Now lift the left leg up in front of you with the knee straight.

Both of these movements were done using your conscious brain to control what you were doing. Normally, when you walk you use your subconsciois brain to control your leg movements. Your subconscious brain is affected by the Pd and it does not properly control your movements while you are walking and the chances are that you go off balance as a result.

You have already observed that your balance improves when you exercise, because the exercise makes your muscles stronger and they are more able to keep you standing upright, but if the legs do not get placed in the correct position each time you move them, then you will tend to lose your balance.

What you need to do, for the rest of your life, is to CONSCIOUSLY control your leg and arm movements. How do you do this? To begin with, you get somebody to hold your left arm, so that you don't fall while concentrating on your movements. Then, Stand up straight and place your weight onto your left leg and CONSCIOUSLY lift your right leg up off the ground and concentrat hard on landing the HEEL of that right foot a good distance in front of you with the toes sticking up in the air at about 30 degrees. Then follow with the left foot in the same way and carry on walking like this for as long as you can. Don't lose your concentration on that front heel landing on the ground while the weight of your body is being carried on the toes of the back foot.

This is what I call CONSCIOUS WALKING! If you practice this concentration on your control of your feet and, later on, your arms, and you keep walking as fast as you can, you will not only get physically stronger but you will be walking in a controlled fashion and you will not fall.

You should be able to walk unaided by somebody else within a couple of weeks.

I have had Pd symptoms since 1963 and only learned to walk CONSCIOUSLY in 1998. By 2002 my symptoms had all improved somuch that I was able to stop taking any further Pd medication and I have lived a normal life since then. Nobody, other than a good neurologist would ever know that I still have Pd and I live a 'normal' healthy life now at the age of 81.

Good luck!

John

[AmmieM in reply to JohnPepper]

Thank you so much. I will try this today.

[ramondo4]

I also have a big problem with balance, unfortunately my neurologist said this is difficult to cure, sorry for this bad news, if anyone knows different please tell us.

[AmmieM in reply to ramondo4]

Difficult is not impossible right ? We can do it

[McPam]

I have found that taking a tai chi class or dance class can really help with balance. Right now my husband and I are taking ballroom dance classes at the senior center twice a week...each session is $8. ...rather reasonable and we have a good time and meet others. The senior center also offers tai chi lessons which i took for 3 years. Also I found it very worthwhile.

[AmmieM in reply to McPam]

Thank you. I'm going to try a DVDs I have

[pjokeefe]

I am doing the PD Warrior course at the moment and I am finding that my balance is improving mainly because I am building strength in my leg muscles. One particular exercise - the penguin waddle - is great as it is utilizing the muscles down the outside of your thigh which help in weight shifting and balance. Check out pdwarrior.com as they have videos of each exercise.

[AmmieM]

Thank U.

[Hikoi in reply to AmmieM]

Exercise is the only thing so far known to help PD. A neuro Physio may help you find the best type of exercise for you. Everyone has different areas that are more challenging than others, for some tremor, others dizziness, you balance. Nothing cures it but exercise sure helps.

You say you seem to walk on your toes, I have a friend who does that too and I've since read it happens to some people with PD. Certainly a strange condition isn't it!

[AmmieM]

It sure is