Parkinsons treatment is chiefly based on the use of medications. In Parkinsons disease (PD), the neurotransmitter dopamine is either missing or the receptors have become insensitive to dopamine. Thus, all medications work by either increasing the manufacture of dopamine in the brain or by increasing receptor sensitivity.
The classic treatment for Parkinsons disease is the use of L dopa. In the body, L-dopa is converted to dopamine. However, to prevent side effects from dopamine, the drug is also combined with carbidopa so that no dopamine is formed in the rest of the body except the brain. As the disease progresses, the benefits of L-dopa become less consistent and decrease. When this happens, other drugs are initiated. Other common dopamine drugs for Parkinson’s disease include Pramipexole, ropinirole and rotigotine. Other alternative drugs include Selegiline, Tolcapone and amantadine. The choice of medication is based on your response and tolerance to side effects. Unfortunately, all drugs for treatment of parkinsons disease have side effects which vary from dry mouth, nausea, constipation, urine retention and involuntary muscle movements.
Physical therapy is also a highly recommended treatment for Parkinsons disease. Not only do these exercises maintain good health but they also help improve joint function, relieve rigidity and improve balance. There is no specific physical therapy exercise that can cure Parkinson disease. Moreover speech therapy can help improve speech and swallowing.
Surgical treatment for Parkinsons is not the first option. Many surgical procedures have been developed but only deep brain stimulation is of any help. The procedure requires implantation of electrodes deep within the brain. The electrodes are controlled with a pacemaker placed underneath the skin. Once the pacemaker is turned on, it helps decrease tremors. Deep brain stimulation is only of benefit for people who have responded to l dopa in the past. The technique can help decrease involuntary movements and stabilize the response of medications. However, surgery also has risks which includes bleeding, infection and a stroke. Plus, the pacemaker battery has to be replaced every few years.
Treatment for Parkinsons also requires making changes in life style. This means eating healthy with a diet rich in fruits and vegetables. Since constipation is a problem with PD, it is important to eat fiber and drink lots of liquids.
Walking should be done with care. This may mean using a cane to help balance and improve gait.
To avoid falls one should never make sudden movements or lean too far forwards or backwards. Never carry things while walking as it may tilt the balance.
Dressing is difficult for most patients with moderate to severe PD. The loss of fine control movements can make it difficult to do buttons or close a zipper. Even stepping into a pair of pants can be an enormous task. To avoid stress over dressing, take your time, choose clothes that fit easily and do not have too many buttons. Use Velcro fasteners instead of buttons.
To know more about the latest in Parkinsons treatment, speak to your health care provider or contact the American Parkinson National association.

Parkinsons disease symptoms do vary from individual to individual and are generally very slow in onset. The early symptoms are not very noticeable and often go unnoticed. The symptoms of Parkinsons usually start on one side of the body and continue to get worse on that particular side.

Tremors of Parkinson’s disease (PD) usually starts in the hands and the individual may be observed rubbing his thumb and forefinger. This tremor is often known as “pill rolling” and is difficult to stop.

Slow movements also occur over time. All individuals with PD develop a reduce ability to start movements. For example, the individual may have difficulties when walking around and then the steps will be short or there may be a shuffling gait.

Rigidity is another feature in the arm, neck and legs. The rigidity can be intense, limits movements and cause pain.

With time, there is poor posture and the balance is unsteady. This often leads to falls.

Loss of spontaneous movement is common. The individual may not be able to blink, smile or swing the arms. Most individuals develop a fixed mask-like expression and no longer show any emotions.

Speech is slow, soft and often slurred.

Few individuals eventually develop problems with memory, concentration and develop varying degrees of dementia.

Other non specific Parkinsons symptoms include:

Depression which may be related to the diagnosis. Most patients feel sacred, are unable to handle the diagnosis and develop long standing depression.

Many individuals with PD are unable to sleep or have difficulty falling asleep. The disordered sleep cycle may also result in day time sleep attacks and night time walking.

As the disease progresses, other symptoms of parkinsons include difficulty chewing and swallowing food. This is primarily because of weakness in the muscles of the face and throat.

Sexual dysfunction is inevitable with long standing disease. Most patients notice a decline in sexual desire and performance. There is a loss of libido and this is related to both physical inability and emotional factors.

Finally, medications used to treat PD also have potent side effects like twitching of the muscles or jerky body movements, excess sleepiness, dizziness or vivid dreams.

Urinary problems may range from incontinence to urinary retention. Several anti parkinsonian medications will make it difficult for men to urinate and intermittent catheterization of the bladder may be required.

In PD, the small intestine slows down and constipation is a common complaint. Moreover, constipation is also a side effect from the medications used to treat PD.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of early PD is difficult because there are many other brain disorders which can present with similar features. There is no specific blood or radiological test that can make the diagnosis of PD. In all cases, the diagnosis is based on the history and physical examination. When features like muscle rigidity, tremors and and slow movements are observed, a preliminary diagnosis is confirmed. Physicians obtain a CT scan or an MRI of the brain to ensure that there is no structural problem. Sometimes physicians will administer levodopa and if parkinsons disease symptoms disappear, then the diagnosis is confirmed.

Besides medications, Parkinsons support is essential to understand this devastating disease. Parkinson’s disease is a chronic movement disorder which affects close to 1.2 million people in the US. The disorder is progressive and affects nerve cells in the brain which make dopamine. When dopamine-making nerve cells die, symptoms of Parkinsons appear. The disorder is characterized by tremors, muscle rigidity and slow movements. By the time symptoms of Parkinson’s disease appear, most individuals have already lost 60-80 percent of the nerves permanently.

The diagnosis of Parkinsons can be devastating because there is no cure. The available medications do work initially but become less effective with time. There are a few surgical procedures but the results are mediocre and not everyone responds to them.

Living with Parkinson’s disease is physically challenging and can be emotionally devastating. Understandably one will feel angry, anxious, or discouraged at times. As the disease progresses, it can be overpoweringly frustrating since one can no longer speak, put on clothes, walk or even eat. Every act of living becomes difficult and very time consuming.

Patients with Parkinsons disease can now seek help through support groups. Although family and friends can help, Parkinsons support groups do much more because they consist of individuals who are going through the same disease process. With Parkinsons disease support, one gets to understand the disease better, know what treatments are available and how to improve the quality of life. It is the experience of many individuals which is freely available. Asides from health care professionals, support groups provide the best practical information about the disease. Moreover, support groups provide online forums where one can share similar experiences or problems. By meeting together, Parkinsons support groups offer both practical and emotional support.

Support groups also organize formal lectures by health care professionals on the latest advances in Parkinsons and what clinical trials are currently taking place. In most cases, support groups are an informal way to meet, discuss and understand the disease process. To get the most benefit from a support group, one should make an attempt to attend regularly.
Besides open communication, Parkinsons disease groups hold social events, trips, yoga, art therapy, physiotherapy and cognitive training sessions. Support groups bring back life and renew hope in how to deal with a chronic disease. Finally, support groups will give you a chance to make new friends and breakdown the feelings of helplessness, depression or isolation. When you belong to a support group, you will never feel alone.
There are Parkinsons disease support groups established in almost every major city and town in the USA. The majority of these support groups have their own websites where details are posted.
To know if there is a support group in your area, speak to your physician or a social worker. One can even go to the national Parkinson Foundation or the American Parkinson Disease Association where all registered support groups can be viewed. Besides meeting physically, support groups also offer online chat sessions. Parkinsons support has been made a lot easier with the internet whereby one can communicate and transfer information.

What is Parkinsons disease?
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a chronic disorder that affects the body’s movements. The disease almost always presents with a tremor, rigidity of muscles and slow movements. The disease starts slowly on one side of the body and then can progress to involve the entire body. Parkinsons disease is often first identified by family members who may notice that the individual has no facial expression, rarely smiles or has slow movements. The speech is often very soft, slow and slurred.
What are symptoms of Parkinson’s disease?
The symptoms of Parkinsons disease vary quite a bit from person to person. However, most individuals do develop a fine tremor which begins in the hand. Another feature is slow movements. Even the simplest tasks like holding a pencil or a spoon can become difficult. Most people find it hard to initiate movements. Sometimes, it appears that the individual has become frozen into space. Rigidity of the legs, hands and neck is also another feature of PD. The rigidity can be intense and often causes pain. As the disease progresses, one walks with a shuffling gait and often looses balance. A common feature of Parkinsons disease is the fixed expression or a “mask like face.” These individuals rarely smile, blink or show emotions. Parkinsons disease symptoms also include altered speech which becomes very soft and monotonous.
Do patients with Parkinsons disease develop dementia?
Fortunately dementia is very rare in patients with PD. In the later stages some individuals may develop problems with memory and concentration. Sometimes the memory problems are worsened by medications.
What causes Parkinsons disease?
The exact cause is not known but the pathology is related to the lack of a neurotransmitter in the brain called dopamine. Specific dopaminergic nerves in the brain slowly start to disappear and Parkinson’s sets in. It is believed that perhaps genetic mutation(s) or some type of environmental toxin may play a role in the disease. Several toxins have been identified which can induce Parkinsons disease in animals but their role in causing disease in humans is not understood.
Can anyone develop Parkinsons disease?
Even though Parkinsons disease occurs most commonly in elderly individuals, some young people do develop it in the 4th decade of life. Besides age, having a close relative with PD increases the chance that you may also develop the disorder. Men are more prone to PD than women are.
Is there a cure for Parkinsons disease?
Unfortunately no. However, there are medications that can help reduce the tremors and rigidity. In most cases, the medications do work in the short term but often fail in the long term.
What is the role of surgery in parkinsons disease?
Unfortunately, surgery is useful in less than 3 % of people with Parkinsons. Deep brain stimulation is a relatively new technique whereby electrodes are placed in the brain and reduces symptoms of parkinsons disease. This technique only works in people who have responded previously to L-dopa. Surgery for Parkinsons disease is riskier and the procedure can induce a stroke, bleeding or paralysis.