Painful muscles

A very common symptom of Parkinson's, is pain one can experience, particularly in the thigh muscles. When these muscles are over worked, great stress is put upon them, and the muscle can literally seize. I had his happen a number of times, but once my left thigh muscle (which is the side most effected) was so painful that it had gone into spasm. No amount of hot showers or painkillers seemed to help and I was very lucky that my sister-in-law not only is qualified in teaching Women's Yoga, but more importantly for me, she is trained in Thai massage (deep tissue massage). She worked on this particular muscle for over an hour, and told me to stay laying down on the bed and rest after she'd finished. Her hands must have been exhausted, for she really worked hard on my leg, getting deep down into the muscle. After she left, I fell asleep, and awoke refreshed a couple of hours later, finding the pain had finally gone. I had suffered for almost two weeks prior to her visit and was so grateful and relieved. Massage may not work for everyone when a problem like this arises, but it's worth a try and you have nothing to lose. Some people swear by acupuncture; I have never tried this, so have no personal experience to share with you. There is a book if anyone is interested, entitled "The Book of Exercise and Yoga for those with Parkinson's Disease" by Lori Newell (using movement and meditation to manage symptoms). Each patient is different and it’s a matter of finding what works for you.