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Conditions

Parkinson's Disease

First identified by Dr James Parkinson in 1817, Parkinson’s Disease is a chronic condition which affects sufferer’s movements – everything from walking to talking. It’s typically seen as a condition that affects older people, which is generally true but it can and does affect younger people, and very rarely children too. Overall it affects about 120,000 people in the UK and tends to get progressively worse. The 3 main symptoms of Parkinson’s are shaking (tremor), rigidity (stiffness) and slowness of movement. These symptoms in turn can affect a person’s ability to do things such as write, stand up or even roll over in bed. Parkinson’s is caused by a lack of dopamine being produced in the brain because of a loss of the nerve cells that create it. As the dopamine levels continue to drop in someone with Parkinson’s disease, the condition will worsen. Whilst there is no cure for Parkinson’s a variety of therapies including medications, physiotherapy and even surgery can ease symptoms.

For more information about Parkinson’s Disease:

Parkinson’s Disease Society
Patient.co.uk

Channel 4 is not responsible for the contents of external websites

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Hi there im 53years old iv got Parkinson Disease along with Osteoarthritis Arthritis and a skin complaint... Iv been Told that i could not have surgery done on my knee due to my illness (Parkinson) im wondering if i still could go through with it by taking a 50/50 chance of losing my mobility??





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Hello,hope things will get better. I am also 53 yrs young now this is my 13year with this Parkinson. I also have had 3 back surgery's 2 fusion on my l-1 l-2 l-3 &s1 and possible for l2 fusion in future. With my Parkinson dec1 2011 I had a deep brain stimulation done on me at UMC hospital in Colombia mo. Taking very little medicine since surgery.S o Charlie So keep your faith & head up .

Sorry posted surgery date of 2011,the correct date is Dec1 2010

i suffer from the symtoms of pd and was checked by my doctor and then a speacialist who belives its just a tremmer but over the months my tremmer has progressed and i too suffer the aches pains stiffness and slow motivation as other sufferers .. i just want to know is there a op were i can be offered or i can ask abbout to stop the tremmer as im at the stage were im down no personalitie just totaly withdrawn within my self and want to know can i push for treatment which involves the op





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im a female of 18 and i have a temor in my left hand with weakening feeling in my fingers, im seriously worried i might have PD but my brother also died of a brain heamorrage at 13. could it be a tumour instead of PD? im scared to visit my GP...





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I've been suffering in silence for some time now, I suffer with shakes, I look like a nodding dog in a car window. It's some what annoying when there is company in the house, I go up stairs out of the way. I don't go out anymore, over the last couple of months it's got much worse, at times I cannot speak, all my teeth and gums are sore with the grinding I do, I've even bitten the skin on the inside of my mouth and made it bleed, and now in the last month or so, the muscles in my arms are starting to stiffen mainly in my left side at the moment, but the pain is hurendous. I cannot eat properly because of my sore gums and now loose teeth. The headaches I get are terrible because of all the shakin my head does with causes my neck to go stiff, my eyesight goes all sqwiffy, and there's noway I would even attempt to handle anything hot anymore for fear of burning myself or someone else. I should mention though I do have bi polar, if that has anything to do with it. I'm pulling my hair out, if I go to GP I just get looked at funny, so I only go there now to discuss my prescriptions.





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I repeatedly suffer from some violent tremors/shaking mainly affecting my arms and hands but also my legs and facial muscles to which I couldn't control the muscles or movements. When seeing my Doctor she said that the shaking was characteristic of Parkinson's but that it had come on too quickly, she (eventually) managed to get blood from me and the tests all came back clear. As I already have fibromyalgia and now M.E the Doctor has just put it down to the M.E, but I'm not so sure. Could it be parkinson's disease? How do they test for this?





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My Father passed away last September at the age of 77. He had been suffering from Parkinsons disease for over 20 years. After suffering numerous infections and a mini stroke in 2009, the disease took it's toll on his weaking body. There are five stages of Parkinsons, the last being the end stage. My father died from aspiration pneumonia (where food gets breathed into the lungs), common with those at stage five. It is a horrible condition to have and feel for all who have been diagnosed. I hope they shall make a medical break through soon.





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my dad was diagnosed with parkinsons disease 13/14 years ago. and watching him suffer is awfull. sometimes he will have a good day where he can walk or even talk properly and then they are few and far between as majority of his days are bad ones where he cant just about manage to get out of bed mostly he needs help to go on a commode as he cant move many a time ive been slapped in the face as he cant control the spasms. id advse anyone looking for information to go the the parkinsons disease website www.parkinsons.org.uk as it has so much info and help on not just living with it as a patient but also as a relative supporting a patient.





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I was diagnosed at the age of 26 but had symptoms in the year or so leading up to this. I unfortunately got a gambling addiction while taking the dopamine agonists to control the PD. So had to move on to ldopa pretty early as i'm now only 29. I am worried about getting dyskinesia but there is not much I can do. Does anyone suffer from dyskinesia? Does it affect life much?





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hello richard, id really like to speak to you , if you waant to either add me on fb or contact pd uk and theyll conect us thankyou,im nicky by the wway...from vid

i've had this problem as long as i remember, never gone to the doctor. When i get up from sitting, or start to move, i cant move my body properly. its like i momentarily lose control, as if i'm suddenly heavily drunk for a few seconds. it feels weird, like my muscles are working against me. it has been getting worse over the past few months. it doesnt happen everytime, but when it does happen its horrible. I'm a 20 year old male, just wondering what it could be?should i go to my gp? If i'm talking when it happens, my words slur. peoplpe are starting to notice in Uni, its embarassing. Any help would be great





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My mum was diagnosed with parkinsons disease about 7 years ago, the doctors thought that it was a slipped disk at first. After my father past away 4 years ago, my mums condition has become worse, and she is now experiencing new symptoms that is adding more stress on her. Doctors say they can only treat one thing at a time, and only see my mum 3 times a year if lucky. These new symptoms such as severe back pain and continuous need to pass urine. As well as this it seems her medication seems to not havea great affect on her now, and sometimes does not improve her symptoms at all. As i am only 18 i find it hard myself to see my mum go through this. I have researched different medications and wanted to ask which is best affective. I know everyone suffers differently but its at that point now where anyadvice would be appreciated.





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It looks like no one else has asked this question, so please fill in the rest of your details below.





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