Parkinson’s disease is a chronic and progressive movement disorder. One of the first steps to living with the disease is to understand it.
When an individual has Parkinson’s disease, vital nerve cells in the brain – called neurons – malfunction and die. Some of these dying neurons produce dopamine, a chemical that sends messages to the part of the brain that controls the body’s movement and coordination. The amount of dopamine decreases as Parkinson’s disease progresses, which causes difficulty for an individual to control his or her body’s movements.
More than one million people live with Parkinson’s disease in the United States, with symptoms varying from person to person. Some symptoms of the disease are easy to see, while others are hard to detect. Symptoms often begin on one side of the body, but eventually will affect both sides as the disease progresses. Signs of Parkinson’s disease can include:
- Tremors or shaking of a body part
- Slowness of movements
- Difficulty with walking or balance
- Muscle stiffness or rigidity
- Voice softening or slurring of words
- Loss of automatic movements such as eye blinking or smiling
- Handwriting becomes smaller
- Stooping or hunching over
- Difficulty swallowing
While there is no known cause or cure for Parkinson’s disease, individuals can take an active role in their health to help control symptoms and manage the disease. Research has shown that a combined focus on medication management and intensive rehabilitation in an inpatient rehabilitation setting can dramatically improve function and quality of life in individuals with Parkinson’s disease.
An individual treated through an inpatient rehabilitation facility is offered the latest in rehabilitative technology and a multi-disciplinary approach that provides the expertise of numerous health care professionals, including physicians, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech pathologists, dietitians, case managers, nurses and more. Members of the health care team work with the individual, family members and his or her physician to develop a customized plan of care to meet needs and goals.
The treatments provided by the multidisciplinary team can address a number of issues, including:
- Medication management
- Muscle tone/tremor management
- Balance
- Walking difficulty
- Speed of movements
- Fatigue and endurance
- Use of adaptive equipment
- Swallowing
- Deep brain stimulator monitoring
- Posture
- Impaired memory, problem-solving, and behavior
- Communication
- Self-care skills, such as feeding and dressing
- Bowel and bladder training
- Depression management
- Education on fall prevention and home safety
- Voice and speech impairments
- Range of motion, trunk mobility, rigidity reduction
Members of the health care team communicate regularly and coordinate treatments and medications to allow for the best possible outcome.
If you would like to learn more about Parkinson treatments available at Mountain Valley Regional Rehabilitation Hospital, call 928-759-8800. FBN
By Karen Russel
Karen Russell is community liaison of Mountain Valley Regional Rehabilitation Hospital. For more information, visit MVRRH.ernesthealth.com, call 928-759-8800 or visit the hospital at 3700 North Windsong Drive, Prescott Valley, Arizona.
Shelley says
After my Parkinsons Disease diagnosis, i was on Carbidopa and Pramipexole for two years, as the disease progressed my symptoms worsened, with my neurologist guidance i started on natural PARKINSONS DISEASE TREATMENT from Rich Herbs Foundation (ww w. richherbsfoundation. c om). The treatment worked very effectively for my Parkinson’s, most of my severe symptoms simply vanished within the first 3 months on the treatment, i feel better now than I have felt in years and i can feel my strength again. My neurologist was very open when looking at alternative medicines and procedures, this alternative parkinson disease treatment is indeed a breakthrough.
Carlos Benita says
I am a 51 year old female that just found out I have Parkinson’s about a year and half, but I have been having signs of it for years, tremors, depression, body weakness. ECT. I honestly don’t think my doctor was reading the signs because of my gender and age. A few years ago I had my shoulder lock up on me and I was sent to a P.T since x-rays didn’t show any physical damage. My shaking was getting worse and I began falling. Only when my speech became so bad that it brought concern to my dentist was Parkinson’s even considered. He phoned my doctor with his concerns about my shaking and balance problems. By this time I was forgoing shots in the back of my neck for back and neck pain to which once again I was sent to a P.T (although x-rays showed no damage) I was told I had a few spurs which were most likely causing the pain. Here I was feeling like my whole body was falling apart and doctor could not find anything wrong, maybe in was all in my head? My doctor even seemed annoyed with me and things just kept progressing and I just kept it to myself, why bother going through testing and them finding nothing? Well, it was after my second P.T called my doctor about the weakness in my legs and arms, by this time I have developed a gait in my walk and I fell more frequently. Only then did my doctor send me to a specialist and it was found that I had Parkinson’s, and that I have had it for awhile. I think because I was a woman that my signs and symptoms weren’t taken seriously and therefor left untreated for so long,I was taking pramipexole dihydrochloride three times daily, I Was on carbidopa levodopa but only lasted 90 minutes then wore off.I found that none of the current medications worked effective for me.I got tired of using those medication so I decided to apply natural herbs formula that was prescribed to me by my second P.T, i purchase the herbal formula from totalcureherbsfoundation. com, There has been huge progression ever since I start the treatment plan which will last for 15 weeks usage.all the symptoms and sign has begin to disappear .
Yacine Esther says
My husband was diagnosed with early onset Parkinson’s disease at 57.his symptoms were shuffling of feet,slurred speech, low volume speech, degradation of hand writing, horrible driving skills, right arm held at 45 degree angle, things were tough for me, but now he finally free from the disease with the help of total cure ultimate herbal clinic, he now walks properly and all symptoms has reversed, he had trouble with balance especially at night, getting into the shower and exiting it is difficult,getting into bed is also another thing he finds impossible.we had to find a better solution for his condition which has really helped him a lot,the biggest helped we had was http://www.ultimateherbalclinic.com, they walked us through the proper steps,am highly recommended this http://www.ultimateherbalclinic.com to anyone who needs help.