Question 

Before three years, I was diagnosed Parkinson with rigidity in neck, shoulders and back, less arm swing,slowness.
 
Thereafter I consulted a number of neurologists who diagnosed as stiff person syndrome or drug induced parkinsonism or due to depression.
Currently, I have following symptoms
 
1. Rigidity in arms, shoulders, neck back and whole body.
2. Within last one month intensity of muscle spasm in right shoulder increased which spread over neck, back with increase in rigidity.
3. Heavy legs, difficult to walk; body is dragged while walking
4. Spasm in right shoulder and upper back as a result the head is slightly bend over right shoulder.
5. Rigidity in right shoulder, upper back and neck create pain and very uncomfortable spasm like sensations which aggravate as day progresses.
6. Some times uncomfortable sensations in legs.
7. Anxiety with depressed mood.
8. Low energy level.
9. Restricted painful neck movement.
10 Slowness in hand writing; no much change in size of letters
11 Less arm swing
 
Things which I can not do: 

  Can not walk normally
  Can not stand for long
  Can not lift heavy luggage 
  Can not drive car
  Can not concentrate 
  Do not like to read , mix with people
  Can not sit for long 
 
Family history :
 
  I have not undergone any surgery so far.
  Congenital fusion of C6 to D1 vertebra
  My mother had breast cancer and has undergone by pass surgery.
  No PD in family.
 
Summary of health:
 
Lipid profile Normal
Renal profile Normal
Blood sugar Normal
BP Normal
Ultrasound of KUB Normal
ESR High
MRI of cervical spine Presence of Arachnoid cyst at C7- D1 level;
size appox. 11x15x13 mm
Congenital fusion of C6 to D1 vertebra 
MRI Brain Normal
Glutamic acid decarboxylase test IgG Antibody serum Positive
Neurophysiology  report Chronic partial lower motor neuron type of degeneration in the anal sphincter muscle with normal tone preserved
Thyroid profile Normal
Vitamin B 12 High
 
Facts :
  No tremor
  Near to normal gait
  All of a  sudden muscle spasm increased in last month.
  Balance near normal, never fallen
  Hand eye coordination good
  Can cut vegetables, button shirt and handle coins
  Can ride scooter
  Normal 6-7 hrs sleep
  No urination at night.
 
Current medication
1. Lelodopa + Carnidopa 2 tab a 
day
2.Premipexaxole 05 mg three times a day
3. Lioceutical glutathione 
4.Co enzyme Q 10 100 mg/ day
5. Vitamin B complex 
 
Inspite of taking these I feel continuous  feelings of rigidity in neck, shoulders, back and whole body. My legs have become heavy.

Please let me know whether my diagnosis of PD is correct and what should be the line of action..I wanted to do brain scan  and dopamine absorption test but they are not possible here.
Please advise me.

Answer

I am not a medical doctor so I am not qualified or trained to diagnose
or treat disease or even speculate on whether your diagnosis is right or
wrong.  My perspective differs from the conventional approach of
diagnosis and treatment of disease. Let me explain myself. 

Parkinson’s is what we call a garbage can diagnosis. 
Because there is no definitive test for Parkinson’s 
it is terribly difficult for even highly trained neurologists to 
diagnose Parkinson’s.  Some researchers
even speculate that one third of the people with Parkinson’s
are misdiagnosed. Sometimes a neurologist will even
tell a patient: 
   
      “I am not sure whether you have Parkinson’s or not.”

So, let’s say there is a two thirds chance your diagnosis is correct
and a one third chance it is wrong.  What does it matter whether 
the diagnosis is correct or wrong? With a “diagnose then treat”
approach the key question turns on “what is wrong with
me and how do I fix it?”  

I want to be fixed as much as anyone, but I also
know there is something inherently wrong with this
mindset. If I hold onto the thought that something is wrong
with my body then that belief will eventually become true. I will
become sick. I will become my thoughts.

How do I know this is true? Easy. Just think about what happened
when you were first conceived. There was only one cell in the beginning.
How did that one cell become two cells? Answer: the consciousness
and thought forms of the first cell created the second cell. And so forth.
These thought forms work their way up the chain as cells multiply
and we are fully materialized in human form. 

How about considering a different way to think and respond
to your symptoms?  How about acknowledging that your body is
actually working perfectly, exactly the way it was designed
to function?  

Pain is a gift that is given by the body.  Receive
the gift with open arms. Your body is simply giving you 
signals that it needs a little help in returning to a 
state of balance and health.  

After all, most of the cells in your body are functioning perfectly. 
Why not focus your attention on giving your healthy cells the
support they need to become stronger? Bodies with healthy cells
grow other healthy cells. The good news is that the body can
always rejuvenate itself. 

I believe the key is to listen to what your body is telling you. 
By the description of some of your symptoms it might be the case
that your body is very, very stressed and traumatized. 

In our newsletter I regularly offer information about many
different ways you can consider to address the stress and trauma
that is trapped inside your body (if that, in fact, is the issue at hand). 

All the best. May you find relief from your symptoms soon. 

Robert Rodgers, Ph.D. 
Parkinsons Recovery

 © 2008 Parkinsons Recovery