Archive for May, 2010

May 31 2010

One More Letter from One Who is Recovering

You are getting some fascinating letters from others who are recovering – so good to know. I have quit leading 2 groups in the valley and now have more time to recover.

Suzanne Jonas’s Cd’s are marvelous and make a real difference. Randy Mentzer is helping with nutrition, medications and supplements.

The biggest change was the experience on the cruise of a deep knowing that I am getting better. I won’t be at Jump Start in Oct, though – too close to Mom’s big birthday bash. It will be a 3 day affair with over 120 people invited, she is so pumped. I do know where I get my stick to it attitude and she really enjoyed meeting you and the group. Thanks for making her feel special.

Marilyn

No responses yet

May 24 2010

Parkinsons Disease Progression

Below is a letter I received from Dirk who describes the exciting progress of recovery of his wife. Please take not that “progression” in this case – as with so many other stories I document here on the Parkinsons Recovery blog -  is toward recovery, not deterioration. Veronika is clearly on the road to recovery.

Robert Rodgers, Ph.D.
Parkinsons Recovery

.Dear Robert,

You are doing a great job. Compared to a year ago, Veronika is doing somewhat better. She has more energy, the lip curling disappeared, her arms are moving better when walking, so we are optimistic and believe that the turnaround – similar to Nathan Zakheim – is forthcoming but might be a year or two away. [Nathans' story of recovery is documented in Pioneers of Recovery].

Our diet is 70% raw and we bought recently a water ionizer (Kangen Water) that might also help with her osteoporosis.

She is now for one year on Dr. Paneri’s medicine. A friend of ours from Vancouver, who has also PD and is on Dr. Paneri’s medicine, confirmed that it is working. Last winter – because of a postal error – he was for one month without ajurvedic medicine and felt lousy and as soon he got new supplies his condition bettered. He went last summer over to India and spend a few weeks around Dr. Paneri. He told me that he met quite a few patients who were definitely on the road to recovery.

I am doing everything I can to help her and get her body in a condition to heal itself. But there are still some issues from her abusive childhood experiences that might be the root cause of her PD. Earlier this year we were listening in Puerto Vallarta to your interviews
[http://www.blogtalkradio.com/parkinsons-recovery] and I have to dig those ones out again, that were dealing with psychological damage.

It is too bad that – so far – we were not able to attend one of your seminars [Jump Start to Wellness]. But we will make it one of these days.

Thank you  again.

Cheers,

Dirk

No responses yet

May 22 2010

Recovery from Parkinson’s Disease

Hi Robert,

I have been continuing to follow your work and today I just felt compelled to write and convey my deep appreciation for you. Your work is invaluable and the information you provide is the most probative for anyone interested in recovery from Parkinson’s and other forms of chronic illness. I know that I have already indicated my appreciation in times past but I felt the need to do so again.

Robert, before I was diagnosed I was a mess, my hands, legs, head and entire body would shake. I have never been fond of doctors and always felt it would somehow subside, I finally went to see my general physician who said I had some sort of advanced PD, he recommended me to a neurologist who told me the same. Not wanting to accept this PD business I just continued to ignore it, then one day I was with my children at the mall and fell down a long flight of steps and unable to get up.

Still resistant I did agree to talk with Abraham Lieberman and he and I wrote back and forth for a long time, he agreed to treat me at no cost but I would of course have to get to Miami, instead he procured an appointment with Dr. Jankovic at Baylor University. They examined me for 4 hours and the diagnoses was the same. I started the medications that improved my condition substantially.

The long and short of it is I no longer have any symptoms of PD nor do I take any meds. This was the result of about three years of research and slowly making changes in all aspects of my life. I do have a good understanding of why and how I recovered however articulated this might not be so easy, it was not simply changing modalities but the capacity to perceive life and my existence in a way that is contrary to all I have been taught and conditioned, changing my perspective was not an easy feat but when that occurred I realized that healing and restoration was possible.

Bobby

No responses yet

May 18 2010

Incredible Story of Recovery from Vibroacoustic Therapy and Spinning

Hi Robert,

Please feel free to cite my experience with the Smart Lounger. I’ve been using it twice a day with Suzanne’s general PD disk and once a day with her Arthritis disk, all since  Easter week end. When I go to sleep I plug in to my earbuds  the Peter Hubner music – this I’ve been doing since mid March.

To put things in context, I’m 62 and I’ve been diagnosed with PD for nearly seven years and as an index I’ve been on 600mg pd of Levodopa.

First, Hubner’s music is unusual but a positve pleasure to listen to and I’m convinced that it has improved the quality and length of my sleep.

Some of my problems before the  Smart Lounge arrived :

I had been apprehensive about the urgency with which I could sometimes have to go to the lavatory , which of course discouraged my liquid intake and undermined one’s general social confidence.

I  was liable to drool when tired, prone to back ache when standing in queues, and more conscious of the “off” periods when the medicines were not yet kicked-in, making me move slower . For example manoevering oneself in bed could be difficult and even harder in the bathroom . Then there was the slowness of doing buttons up, the nigh impossibility of getting one’s trousers fully up unaided, and the humiliation of needing my food cut up if I froze at a restaurant.

In the last three weeks I have also joined a local “Spinning” class at the local gym for 2-3 weekly 45 minute fast and challenging pedaling sessions during which one can get the pulse rate up to 120-130pm.  This follows my reading of a paper by Jay L Alberts et al of the Cleveland Clinic inJuly 2009′s Neurorehabilitation and Repair.

I realize that this confuses the issue in theory , but in practice whether it’s the Smart Lounger or Spinning – one or more things are really working right and I hope for more improvements. For example I can now again wet shave myself in 3 minutes rather than have to electric shave .
I can pull my trouser up, tie my tie and shoe laces. My gait is improved, and freezing is less likely. My handwriting is “on” for more of the day.  At last I really feel progress and I hope for more ….. on the road to recovery

Regards

Robert Welch
London

No responses yet

May 18 2010

Restless Leg Syndrome

Dear Robert,

I have been diagnosed with PD in late 2007 and I am frequently listening to your radioblog. I am writing because I have gotten rid of RLS [restless leg syndrome] and some others may be helped too by following a similar path.

I am following the 12 step program of John Coleman for symptom reduction and have weekly sessions in Joga, Boxing, Gym and have a daily walking routine. Improvements were very slow and after consulting a new neurologist in 2009, I started to take 3 times a day 3/4th of one Madopar Tablet (Levodopa+Benserazide 200mg/50mg). I started to feel a bit better but because of RLS problems I could not sleep and in spite of eating well, I did not gain my proper body weight.

In mid-September 2009, following the advice of my neurologist, I started taking 1/2 tablet Mornings and Mid-Day, and one tablet in the evening of 0.50mg tablets of Sifrol (Pramipexole hydrochloride) a day in addition to Madopar. Within a week the RLS disappeared and I started to get back some of my earlier strength and my appropriate body weight.

I am very happy, feel very positive. I can easily take care of myself and travel extensively, and returning from four weeks in Uzbekistan, I listened to your Stories from People on the Road to Recovery and the interview with John Gold.

I leave it up to you if you want to pass on my note and wish you more success with your great work

Sincerely

Urs Sieber

-

One response so far

May 17 2010

Spiritual Growth from Parkinson’s

I have just returned from a trip to the Rocky Mountains in Jasper Alberta – attending a friend’s daughter’s wedding. It was a 9 hour car ride that I was dreading that turned out very positive. I took along Suzanne’s Cd’s and my portable player, drank in the splendor and generally felt very well.

How do I  tell people about the spiritual growth that is happening for me that is making all the difference. Physical symptoms just seem to be insignificant – the peace and joy I am experiencing is awesome.

Thank you for the cruise and your program. I very much felt a community of people committed to Recovering and also supporting each other – a solid foundation. I am no longer frantic to tell my story, rather I will spend my time doing the work I need to and sharing with those who are interested – it is so freeing up.

Marilyn

No responses yet

May 16 2010

Tai Ji Tears

Published by under poem,tai chi

Below I have posted a marvelous poem written by Daniel Loney who is virtually symptom free from Parkinson’s today thanks to his practice and dedication to Tai Chi. You can hear my interview with Daniel Loney by visiting:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/parkinsons-recovery

Once on the Parkinsons Recovery radio program website above. scroll down to my December 3, 2009 interview with Daniel.

Robert Rodgers Ph.D.
Parkinsons Recovery
http://www.parkinsonsrecovery.com

Below is the poem Daniel Loney wrote this week,

Tai Ji Tears

Exhausted from the fight
And weary of the journey,
I find rest upon a city bench
Parked, like a statue in the square.
Ignored and invisible to passersby
Who scurry through their lives,
They move with quickness and with ease,
A pace I can no longer keep.

Yet, there is still a hidden place
Where I am king.
A world where every move
Becomes a gift of praise.
A place where tears flow freely
In thanks for heaven’s grace.

Stillness is my solace,
And slowness is my sanctuary
Where every muscle, joint, and sinew seeks its rightful place,
And every limb and organ finds harmony in the whole.
Where I am quiet as a mountain,
Yet, flowing like a river great.

With the grace of a white crane spreading wings,
I move,
And with the firmness of a golden pheasant on one leg,
I stand.
Using the guile of a snake creeping down,
I fight,
And with the stealth of a tiger seeking prey,
I conquer.
Like a horse jumping over a stream,
I soar in victory,
And with the surety of a sparrow returning to its nest,
In triumph I fly.

So, if in your daily journey
Rushing from place to place,
You happen upon a man
Dancing an ancient dance,
And diamond drops rest on his cheeks

Know that he is immersed in tai ji prayer,
Crying tai ji tears of faith,
Worshiping through movement in awe of his Creator.

Daniel Loney

No responses yet

May 15 2010

Glacier Bay National Park in Alaska

On the Parkinsons Recovery Cruise to Alaska we met with near perfect weather. I heard a story on the trip that there are only 55 days of clear weather a year at Glacier National Park. We just happened to hit one of those picture perfect days as you can see from the video. This 8 minute video offers a glimpse of what we had the opportunity to experience as we cruised through Glacier Bay National Park in Alaska on May 5, 2010. This is truly one of the most magnificent places in the world to visit.

Robert Rodgers, Ph.D.
Parkinsons Recovery
www.parkinsonsrecovery.com

No responses yet

May 12 2010

Vascular Parkinson’s

Published by under Vascular Parkinson's

I  have a question.  I have just recently been made aware of the condition called “Vascular Parkinson’s”.  Although I have been looking for more information on the internet, I don’t know if I have the best and most current information on this.  Any help you can give me on vascular Parkinson’s ?   …….. best source ??
Any experience out there with this condition? Let us know!
Robert Rodgers, Ph.D.
Parkinsons Recovery
www.parkinsonsrecovery.com

3 responses so far

May 06 2010

Laughter Yoga and Parkinson’s Disease

Published by under laughter yoga

After listening to your podcast on laughter yoga I did a little searching and found http://www.laughteryogausa.com they have laughter yoga 14 times a day on the phone! Perfect for people who cant make it out to find a group. I have tried a few of the moderators and find Gaga to be the best she is on at 9am and 9 pm every day. Free- the number is 712-432-3900 access code 6071292.

Take Care,

Turtle

No responses yet

Next »