Monday, February 18, 2013
What triggers Parkinson's?
After having hip surgery
six years ago, I soon began to feel shaking in my left leg, and it took just
three months to confirm the diagnosis of Parkinson's. Other symptoms followed
quickly, and today I am not in the best of health. Having heard from many other
patients, there seems to be a common thread amongst some Parkinson's sufferers.
Many have similar stories to my own, having had surgery, some even hip surgery
in particular, and soon after diagnosed with Parkinson's. This
brings to question, is it the shock to the system of the surgery itself or the
anaesthetic that "triggers" the Parkinson's? I don't know if any
research has been done regarding this idea. I'm not saying for one moment that
I wouldn't have got Parkinson's had I not had the hip surgery, for even without
the surgery, I am sure that Parkinson's would have arrived on the scene at some
point, just maybe a little later in my life. I would be interested to hear from
any other patients who have similar stories, or from anyone who is doing research
on this specific topic.
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My Parkinson's symptoms became obvious enough to warrant a diagnosis after an extremely stressful period in my life. I have a family history of PD, onset around age 50, but in both my dad's case and my own, onset was preceded by turmoil. So I think major life change can hasten emergence.
ReplyDeleteI experienced a connection with surgery / anesthesia recently. In the recovery room I noticed an tremor in my tongue - very unpleasant and, well, frightening. I've had periodic difficulty swallowing - just can't initiate the action, have to wait calmly for the message to get through - but the tongue undulation and tremor was new. This now has become part of my list of symptoms, the first one that has really dampened my spirit a bit. Ugh.
My Parkinson,s was also triggered after a very stressful period. My grandmother had PD in the 60's and that was scary to see for a child. I remember her begging me to hold her foot or her hand to stop it shaking! I;m not sure if the writhing movements of today's medications are much better really. My Grandmother was miserable most of the time. She was also in her 70's when she got PD and died in her late 80's. I was just 50 when I was diagnosed and now 10 years later still manage to hold down a job running an aftercare. I play badminton and tennis there - then I come home and walk the dog - fast and for about 40 to 45 minutes every day. I do take medication and now after 7 years or so it is already causing problems. I am very sensitive to overdosage and yet I often run out before the next scheduled dose and grind to a halt - especially if I've been sitting or standing without moving for a longish period of time. Then my feet get stuck.
ReplyDeleteMy advice is keep moving! Write, read, paint, and draw but also move around as much as possible. Walk - it is cheap and cheerful - but walk with your head up concentrating on doing it in a relaxed and natural way. Do Tai Chi, yoga, pilates, or any other exercise that appeals. Just keep on moving. If you exercise enough you might be able to rewire you brain - it is possible - see Dr Doige The Brain that Changes Itself. (see You Tube) his next book promises to be of interest to PWP
Even if PD is down to the luck of the draw and not inherited - don't give up and don't give in. You may have PD but don't let it have YOU!
My parkinson's was diagnosed 18 months after radical prostate surgery Did I get rid of a prostate cancer in return for triggering a degenerative brain disease? My father died of Parkinson's, and he had no surgery or other physical shocks I know of preceding his diagnosis. But I have wondered if four and one half hours of anesthesia and a robotic surgery might have set my own illness in motion. There should be correlational studies of the relationship between surgical and other forms of stress and the subsequent onset of this disease.
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