What, exactly, is Parkinson’s disease?
Published 9:08 am Thursday, March 31, 2011
Column: Marleen Ruble, Guest Column
In 1998 I began to notice certain things about my husband that had probably been exhibiting for some time, finally becoming more obvious. Things such as when he walked across the yard carrying two pails of feed for the cattle he was walking in a more bent forward posture. His right hand was often shaking very rapidly. His face was not showing the usual happy-go-lucky expressions; it was rather expressionless.
Knowing very little about Parkinson’s disease, I called a nurse friend, and without telling her why I wanted to know, I asked her to tell me the symptoms of Parkinson’s. As she listed the symptoms I knew she was describing what I was seeing in my husband.
I didn’t say a word about my suspicions to Glenn, but I went through my personal panic, a gripping anxiety, terrible sadness, knowing what could be ahead for him.
The first visit was with internal medicine. The doctor diagnosed him with essential tremors. We went away very relieved. But, within a few months, he had progressed and one of our local doctors suggested he see a neurologist. The neurologist we saw diagnosed the Parkinson’s.
It was a difficult diagnosis to hear. Glenn was 63 years old; we had just retired and were looking forward to doing some things in retirement we had been unable to do.
Glenn had other physical problems with which to deal. So our attitude toward this new diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease was: Let’s enjoy each day and do all we are able to do. None of us know what tomorrow will bring. Our faith and trust in our God had seen us through many situations through the years, and we knew we could trust Him with this as well.
In 13 years since Glenn was diagnosed, we have learned much about a disease with which we knew little. Parkinson’s disease is one of the more baffling and complex of all neurological disorders. There is no known cause and no cure at this time. The condition was first described in 1817 by James Parkinson, a British physician, and therefore it bears his name.
An estimated 1.5 million people in the United States have Parkinson’s. The average age of onset is 60, although it does occur in younger people as well. It is estimated that 5 to 10 percent of all persons with Parkinson’s disease are diagnosed prior to age 40.
Parkinson’s disease is a slowly progressive, neurodegenerative disorder that occurs when certain nerve cells in the area of the brain die or become impaired. Normally, these neurons produce a vital substance known as dopamine. Dopamine is the chemical messenger responsible for transmitting signals between the substantia nigra and the next “relay station” of the brain, allowing smooth, coordinated function of the body’s muscles and movement.
The four main motor symptoms of Parkinson’s are:
1. Shaking or tremor.
2. Slowness of movement, called bradykinesia.
3. Stiffness or rigidity of the arms, legs or trunk.
4. Trouble with balance, also called postural instability.
There are also other symptoms called secondary symptoms, which include: small, cramped handwriting, called micrographia (often one of the first signs); reduced arm swing on the affected side (often one of the first signs); slight foot drag on the affected side; “freezing” (a term used to describe the phenomenon of being “stuck in place” when attempting to walk); loss of facial expression due to rigidity of facial muscles, called hypomimia; low voice volume or muffled speech, called dysarthria; the tendency to fall backwards, called retropulsion; walking with a series of quick, small steps, as if in a hurry, called festination.
Some of the non-motor symptoms include: decreased automatic reflexes, such as blinking and swallowing; increase in dandruff and oily skin; constipation; sleep disturbances; anxiety beyond the normal responses to life stress; and a common symptom is depression.
It is important to note that no one individual develops all the symptoms identified above. The nature of Parkinson’s, as well as the rate of progression, varies greatly from one person to another.
There are many activities of daily living which effect Parkinson’s. Nutrition and diet is very important, especially how it interacts with the medications used to control symptoms. Staying physically active is very important.
If you have symptoms you feel might be Parkinson’s, it is recommended to consult a movement disorders neurologist. This is a neurologist who has specialized training in Parkinson’s and movement disorders.
Diagnosis is sometimes difficult and uncertain because other conditions have symptoms that mimic those of Parkinson’s. It is important to see a neurologist who is knowledgeable about movement disorders such as Parkinson’s to confirm the diagnosis and address concerns of patient and family.
The above referenced information is from the National Parkinson Foundation booklet “What You and Your Family Should Know,” edited by Gale Kittle, RN, MPH, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix.
We have a newly formed Parkinson’s Disease Support Group of Freeborn County.
It meets the fourth Tuesday of each month at the Senior Center at Skyline Plaza in Albert Lea. The next meeting will be at 9:30 a.m. April 26.
April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month, so it will be a good one to attend.
Coffee and rolls will be available. The purpose of these meetings is to create a format for Parkinson’s patients and families or caregivers, to visit, exchange information and support one another. We invite and encourage anyone interested to join us. We have educational materials available as well as information of other organizations that are helpful.
For further information call: Maureen Ruble, 507-373-1808, or Ann Troska, 874-3367.
Maureen Ruble is with Parkinson’s Disease Support Group of Freeborn County.