I've been noticing that quite a few of you who are either PSP caregivers or PSP patients mention stiffness and/or weakness on the left side. My husband who was left-handed lost the use of his left side about a year ago. At the time, I thought it was just another cruelty dished out by PSP because he was left-handed. He eventually lost his right side too, but several months later.
Now I'm wondering if it is always the left side that fails first. Has anyone else noticed this? If so, is there any significance to this?
Pat
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racinlady
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Thanks Jeff. Actually my husband leaned to the right, but the first side that failed (as in couldn't hold a pen or use his left hand to eat) was his left side. He eventually lost the use of both hands. His left leg is definitely the most contracted now. I was just wondering if this was common throughout, but doesn't seem to be so judging by your and Kevin's responses.
My beautiful 68 year old sister Linda was diagnosed with CBD w/alien limb syndrome almost 5 years ago, she is / was a lefty. She lost use of her left hand and arm first now her right hand also. Her Dr's have told us it's the left side brain that is dying. She has to be fed ( loves ice cream THE MOST)...her husband ( my BIL) is her sole caregiver but now she is starting to lose mobility,shuffles instead of steps and her sentenances start out great but after 5 words she forgets. I can not express how much I HATE,HATE this insidious disease ( all dementia and alzheimer's related diseases) I'm so sorry for your situation... 😢 pray for peace and patience... Our loved ones are still there, they just aren't the same!!!!!
One of the things looked for to differentiate CBD from PSP is that CBD mostly affects one side more than another. PSP tends to affect both sides equally.
Then there are those with PSP and elements of CBD who too can be affected on one side more than another. My wife is such a person.
It can be either side.
I am quoting my neurologist here. I do not know.
Hope this helps a little.
Remember this forum is a long way from being a representative sample.
Thanks for the info Kevin. My husband did have more pronounced problems with his left side in the beginning, but the right side later followed. Now his left side is more contracted, I expect the right side will probably follow that too. I don't really know very much about CBD because it's never been mentioned by any of the neurologists he has seen. I suppose it could be possible though. I guess time will tell.
My husband who is right handed has PSP and always used to fall to the left but recently it has been forward. He is losing the use of his left hand and leg which is now dragging noticeably.
So Kevin's comment about PSP also showing some CBD symptoms is interesting and something I'll mention at the end of the month when we see the Specialist Nurse Practitioner.
Dear Pat, My husband John was right handed, but the first symptoms of PSP or CBD was the weakening of his left arm. Over the first year after diagnoses it became rigid.
My John who is right handed, also experienced weakening, then ridigity on his left side. He often drags his left foot depending on fatigue levels. Poor dexterity in both hands , so far the right side is still pretty normal.
Thank you all for responding. I do see slightly more left side problems, but it doesn't seem pronounced enough, at least to me, that it has any significance. It does seem especially cruel to lose the use of your dominant side first.
I only really know about CBD but that usually starts on the left side, although eventually it affects both sides. I don’t thin it relates to being left or right handed x
My man had CBD and a one-side-at-a time failure is common. My man's WAS the left side, though literature says often it is on the right. I've never read anything that said it is usually or always on the left...
How is your husband doing over all now? No movement at all?
He has a little movement on his left side, but it's pretty much involuntary. He is able to kind of hold an object with his right hand if you help him by positioning his fingers and thumb. He can then usually get the object to his mouth very slowly.
Hi Pat, Ben was right handed but it was the left side of his body that became very constricted, his right side always seemed more relaxed. Even on death his body on the left side never went back to a relaxed position which I hoped it would.
I certainly would have expected some relaxation of the constriction after death too. That just seems so sad to me. I just wish for Ed to be at peace when the end comes. It doesn't seem like too much to wish for.
I have noticed that my right-side arm does not work properly. I am a right-handed person so I am having difficulty writing. I hope that the left hand keeps working!!!
My husband (who is right-handed) is weak on his right side. His right leg is much smaller than his left. He has a terrible foot drop and sometimes drags his right leg. He frequently has fasciculations in his right leg.
Thanks for your reply. I hope to put this into some sort or order to see if there is any pattern. I''m in the middle of moving so it will take me a few days.
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