MANAGING PARKINSON'S DISEASE AT EVERY STAGE
Early Stages
Common early symptoms
The following symptoms may or may not be seen in the early stages of Parkinson's disease:9,15
- Shaky hands, arms, legs, or feet while resting
This shaking (called "resting tremor") is often the symptom that causes the person to visit the doctor. It may be more noticeable on one side of the body. It may also affect the hands more than the feet. The shaking usually stops, however, as soon as the patient uses his or her muscles.
- Slow movement or a brief, temporary delay in movement
The medical term for this is "bradykinesia" (BRADY-kin-EE-shya). It may also be seen as a decrease in spontaneous movements. Sometimes it shows up as a decrease in the overall distance of a person's movements.
- Difficulty in maintaining balance
This sometimes happens while a person is changing positions.
- Rigidity or stiffness of limbs
This may produce a shuffling gait—the slow, short-stepped walk that may occur during the early stages of this disease.
Talk to your doctor
We all perform everyday tasks—such as putting on clothes, brushing our teeth, reading, and eating a meal—without giving them much thought. But these everyday activities can be very challenging for a person with Parkinson's disease if his or her condition has gone untreated.
Many people who experience the early symptoms of Parkinson's disease do not talk to their doctor about them. They think to themselves, "Maybe it will go away." Or, they choose to ignore their symptoms because they are afraid of what the doctor might say.
If you are experiencing these symptoms, you should talk to your doctor. Only your doctor can determine if these symptoms are being caused by Parkinson's disease. If they are, then treatment with medicines such as MIRAPEX may help.
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