Category Archives: recovery

Prognosis for Early Onset Parkinson’s

Nearly a year ago, I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease at the age of 27.  While it definitely came as a shock to me, I haven’t let it define the person that I am.  My father was diagnosed with PD when he was 51 (which is still considered young) and I sadly watched Parkinson’s completely take over his life.  The smallest things such as walking and even talking have become difficult for him.  

I was wondering, because I am diagnosed at such a young age, will I become as symptomatic as my father by my 40’s?

David

Response:

My answer may come as somewhat of a surprise to you. Your future state of health and wellness is primarily a function of what you think will happen. More specifically, do you think in your heart, mind and soul that you will suffer the same fate as your father? If you do, then you will.

If on the other hand, you hold the belief that your body can heal itself and that the symptoms your currently experience are an indication that something is out of balance in your body, then you will search for answers and find them.

You want to know what happens to people in your same circumstance. The outcomes split into those who believe their fate is sealed – they get gradually worse – and those who know healing is possible – they get better. At the foundation of all healing are our thought forms.

The pessimistic thoughts have low frequencies which impede healing. The optimistic thoughts have high frequencies which facilitate healing. In the end, the engine that  drives what happens to you lies in your moment to moment thoughts about what is possible to manifest. I have written about the impact of thoughts on healing for Parkinson’s in Five Steps to Recovery.

If you are interested in exploring options that can potentially facilitate a reversal of symptoms and to flood the cells of your body with an energy of optimism, attend the Parkinsons Recovery Summit this June! It is the happening of the decade for anyone who has set a course to recover.

http://www.summit.parkinsonsrecovery.com

Robert Rodgers, Ph.D.
Road to Recovery from Parkinsons Disease
http://www.parkinsonsdisease.me

Resources for Recovery from Parkinsons in France and Great Britain

Dear Robert,

I have been given your address, after being diagnosed with early Parkinson’s Syndrome, by a friend after discussing my general state of health with him. After exhaustive tests and the most frightening stay in hospital, a number of health issued raised their ugly heads.

I am just coming to my 56th birthday in June, to be told I had a liver virus, gall stones, depression (I have suffered with this after a nervous breakdown in 1994, but have been taught to control the effects through non-medicinal methods). I am in constant lower back pain and my specialist finally dropped the bomb shell that she believed I had the early symptoms of Parkinson’s.

I have been on a ‘light’ cocktail of drugs which have helped, but I do find it difficult to write now and hold a glass – it can suddenly fall from my hand for no reason. Walking is difficult, and I have had to give up driving, move into a friends apartment after falling and being unable to contact anyone for two days.

After going through your excellent site and information, I am writing to ask if you have :

  • Any knowledge of someone I can contact in France as this is where I live (or the UK)
  • Can I receive information you have on your site here

And finally, I want to be able to not be classed as disabled (which is what the French Health Service currently have me registered). It was hard work learning how to deal with my depression, but I learnt, I’m sure I can do it with the tools you have in your arsenal ! I am not a religious person, but I do believe in the power of the mind and the importance of a balanced spirit. If I could get to Bali, I know who and where I could go to get this positive / negative energy balance.

Thank you for your time,

Best regards

Rigby

Response:

Sounds like it is indeed a good time to get serious about considering other options! You have certainly come to the right place to get information about options that are helping people reverse symptoms that are similar to yours.

You ask about resources that might be available to you in France or the UK. There just happens to be one wonderful resource which has helped me personally and has helped many other people who currently experience the symptoms of Parkinson’s: Simon King. Simon, located in the United Kingdom, is a chiropractor who has has discovered the debilitating role that metal and crowns in our teeth can play on our neurological  system.

Why not first listen to my radio show interview with Simon King to evaluate whether you might want to make an appointment with him. His show aired April 9, 2009. To listen, visit:

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

Be sure to keep scrolling back since the most recent shows are listed first. Of course, all shows are free to download and listen. Simon’s website is:

http://www.proprioception.co.uk

You ask about other resources. My answer here is really quite simple. Start listening to some of the other Parkinsons Recovery Radio shows! There is a wealth of information in each show that I have aired. Read posts here on the Parkinsons Recovery blog too. If you have ever had any doubt about the prospects for recovery, those doubts will soon dissolve after you have listened to a few of the radio shows and had a chance to realize the wealth of information on the blog. Recovery is happening for more and more people.

Finally, if you want to get serious about identifying options, one incredible resource Parkinsons Recovery is making available in 2012: the Parkinsons Recovery Summit which will convene in Cincinnati, Ohio June 22 and June 23. I fully realize this is a long trip for you and would mean you must cross the ocean. I can assure you, however, that the trip would be well worth the effort.  You will encounter an incredible diversity of resources that are transforming many lives.

For more information about the Summit, visit:

http://www.summit.parkinsonsrecovery.com

Robert Rodgers, Ph.D.
Road to Recovery from Parkinsons Disease
http://www.parkinsonsdisease.me

Painting for Parkinsons

My guest on the radio show this week was Anne Atkin who has made remarkable discoveries for herself about what helps her get sustained relief from her symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease. Her radio show interview is remarkable in every respect and I strongly encourage everyone to listen.http://www.blogtalkradio.com/parkinsons-recovery 

Anne was kind enough to send me a copy of her book, Living and Laughing with Parkinsons which I have now devoured. I did not stop reading and laughing until I landed on the final page.

Her book is a thorough and comprehensive review of the symptoms that are associated with Parkinsons and the frustrations that they present. Anne has drawn provocative and very funny cartoons that complement each explanation of a symptom and that embody the many challenges she personally encountered. You can purchase her book (which Anne sends to people to any country in the world) on her website: http://www.anneatkinart.com

Living and Laughing with Parkinsons is a beautifully written and illustrated book  that reveals the work of an incredibly creative woman. Anne points out in the book that the creativity of many people with Parkinson’s soars and blossoms.  Her work soundly confirms this hypothesis. When you see her book you will understand why,

In addition to sending me her book, Anne forwarded a letter she wrote in response to a question about what she has been doing to get relief from her symptoms, Anne gave me permission to post the letter which follow. May this not however be a substitute for listening to her interview which is full of golden treasures for anyone who currently experiences the symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease.

Robert Rodgers, Ph.D.
Pioneers of Recovery
http://www.pioneersofrecovery.com  

I am very careful about how I describe what is happening to me. Recovery is a word that is too strong; I like to think that I have reached an equilibrium and a state of balance with Parkinson’s. I feel that I am always improving some aspect of myself. If you think you have recovered, then you may allow bad habits to come back whereas to keep in balance you have to keep working at it. It all becomes second nature.

Yes, it is true that I no longer use a cane and that has happened because my quad muscles are much stronger and that helps balance. Also, my overall balance has improved because I spend time just practising standing on one leg then the other.

I don’t do hours of exercise because I would be bored silly. I exercise no more than 10 minutes at a time but at frequent intervals. This way I don’t get tired or bored. I do all my own housework, which is also exercise! I love gardening and I will talk about gardening more.

I don’t do anything that is complicated or difficult. Nor do you have to do everything exactly the way I do it. After a while you will find your own pathway and it will feel right and comfortable.

So I use a combination of:

•    creativity
•    socialization- being with people from all walks of life is the way to go. Don’t isolate yourself.
•    humor – develop a sense of humor as laughter is so good for our bodies
•    exercise – and you don’t have to join a gym. There is a great book on exercise for us and it is called ‘Delay the Disease.’ It is by Jackie Russell and David Zid.
•    Mindfulness
•    Wellness   These three are handled beautifully on the Northwest Parkinson’s Foundation website
•    Visualization
•    Positive thinking
•    Not giving in to negative thoughts

In everything I do I have a little catch-cry –

‘You’ll never, never know if you don’t have a go.’

You can retrain your brain through thinking positively. It is very important if you have depression.

Whoops! I forgot about gardening. Gardening is an activity that is both creative and exercise. You get the best of both worlds. I love gardening and spend at least an hour a day in mine.

My book ‘Living and laughing with Parkinson’s’ is just at the very beginning of my journey and it is my second book which is being published later this year which will do a lot of talking about the dot points above.

I hope I have given you some ideas but I must impress on you that  you can find you own path to wellness and mindfulness. There is more than one pathway because Parkinson’s is such a mixture of symptoms. We are all different and therefore our pathways are going to be all different too.

I also started this journey about 4 years ago and the further along the pathway I went, the more easily I found it to take control of some symptoms. For example, anxiety attacks are now no problem because when I feel one starting, I just visualize myself drawing, or sniffing my roses or I see myself bathed in sunlight with, sitting on a hill and watching the clouds.

Anne

Postscript:

I do believe that the complexity of Parkinson’s means that there is a complexity of different ways you can tackle the condition. I concentrated on the motor skills because I like being physically independent. Plus, retraining the brain is vitally important. I hope people see that if a late middle-aged mum from Australia can help herself then it is something within the reach of most.

But the key word is Persistence.

Cheers

Anne Atkin
http://www.anneatkinart.com

Most Amazing Journey on the Road to Recovery from Parkinsons Disease

My radio show guest this week is Anne Atkin from Victoria, Australia. Anne offers painting workshops throughout Victoria to persons with Parkinson’s where she discusses everything that really counts when it comes to reversing the symptoms of Parkinson’s.  Below is a brief email from Anne that gives your a sneak preview at the incredible story she will be telling on the radio show this Wednesday.

To get a snapshot preview of Anne’s ground breaking book, Living and Laughing with Parkinsons, visit her website at: http://www.anneatkinart.com

Robert Rodgers, Ph.D.
Pioneers of Recovery
http://www.pioneersofrecovery.com

You know Robert, when I look back about 4 years ago to how I was doing PWP, I can’t believe how much both the group and myself have developed.
I have found it all to have been a most amazing journey and one that I would not have missed for the world. I have changed so much as a person and developed skills that I never thought I would have.

I have attached some of my Parkinson’s cartoons which I hope you will find amusing. The are from my book ‘Living and laughing with Parkinson’s’

Cheers

Anne

 

How to Manifest Recovery in 2012

Several weeks ago I sent out an invitation to persons who receive my free newsletter to do an exercise I have found personally powerful. The invitation was to jump ahead one year to January, 2013 and reflect back on everything you are grateful for. In other words, you set in motion the ability to manifest your dreams for 2012.

What follows is an email from Alan who has given permission to post here on the Parkinsons Recovery blog.

Robert Rodgers, Ph.D.
Pioneers of Recovery
http://www.pioneersofrecovery.com

Here is my list of gratitude for 2012. I accompany it with a story from Autobiography of a Yogi, a long-standing classic.

A student went to his teacher/guru, having become quite sick.

I see you have made yourself ill, said the teacher, but tomorrow you will feel better.”

Gladdened, the student went home and regained health. He returned to thank the teacher, who said,

“I see you have made yourself well. Who knows what tomorrow will bring?”

A wave of fear went through the student at the prospect of becoming ill again. He did become ill again and could hardly drag himself back to the teacher. Of course, the teacher said,

“You have again made yourself again indisposed.”

 The student, exhausted, asked the teacher what was going on.

“Really, it has been your thoughts that have alternatively made you feel weak and strong. You have seen how your health has exactly followed your subconscious expectations. Thought is a force, even as electricity or gravity.”

He then went on to explain that the mind is a spark of divine consciousness and that a thought, if believed intensely, would come to pass.  pp.133-4.

I could certainly use some work on the intensity of thought, but doing the exercise that Robert suggested has helped change my thinking. I listened to his broadcast many times to be sure I understood it. Then, I took some planned time and made my list of improvements as if looking back on them from 2013.

The next day, I found that I had planted those “subconscious expectations” mentioned above. For the past few weeks, that phrase “subconscious expectations” has been coming to mind. I wondered how I could set them up to be relieved of the symptoms of Parkinson’s. Without realizing it, this was the answer. Writing things out commits yourself to what you are writing. The next day. I kept thinking that change is possible and started acting as if it was happening.

The support for acting out change comes from within!! It is cool to see thought go to work for you. Everything will correspond. Of course, there is a battle between what is and what I can change. The nice thing is that the writing strongly plants new seeds in the mind of healthy thoughts because it is one of your actions–and it is free!

List of gratitude:

  • I restore full use of my left hand with flexibility and contractions are released.
  • My steady balance is restored.
  • I have excellent bladder control.
  • I regain and surpass the muscle mass that I have lost in the past few years.
  • I turn over spontaneously in bed while sleeping.
  • I live in a manner that improves my health, day by day.
  • As my symptoms disappear, my medications are reduced down to nothing.
  • Complete feeling returned to the left side of my body and face.
  • I advance in my career, personal growth, and wealth.
  • I easily chew and swallow all foods and liquids. Choking has ceased. I swallow saliva spontaneously.
  • I complete all tasks, intellectual and physical, easily with normal speed.
  • I walk efficiently with a normal gait and maintain a completely upright posture.
  • I lift and carry heavy items with ease.
  • I give positive encouragement to others.

It is necessary to have something in your mind besides devastation. I stayed positive and had faith in my first year and a half. I seemed to have spiritual healings but not so much physical ones. I was trying to defeat the “medical model”: it will progress.

That is all I knew and believed (from the Internet), and I did get worse in that time.  I found Parkinsons Recovery at this time of year in 2008-9. I soon committed myself to recovery, starting with vitamins. I’ve had to fight progression, and it has been challenging. What is truly better this year is my eye viewing the scenery, close or far.

I am spontaneous at noticing things.  My eyes flit about instead of stare, and I turn and notice things. Example: I heard some women laugh after a man spoke at the grocery checkout. I turned 180 degrees to see what that was. A tall man had just joked with three women who were facing him. I was surprised at my quick, turn around response. I have become more socially spontaneous, too.

Now,  I hope to get into bodybuilding again. Two years ago, I couldn’t find any thoughts to desire it at all, and it had been a passion of mine. Listening to the music of Johann Strauss has freed me up to start thinking about mobility again. I can picture the ballroom dancers seen on youtube when I hear or think of this music. Prior to this, I couldn’t picture any motion at all.

Now, I need to expand my visualization to other activity.  I used a study where one group exercised, one group imagined exercising, and another group did nothing. The second group improved, though not as much as the first. The third group made no improvement. This study told me that the mind will affect the body in regard to motion.

My biggest crisis this year was whether to go down in defeat or not. Howard Schifke said, if you fight Parkinson’s, it will fight you back. After that, I could see you can fight the whole thing–it may be fierce, but its fierceness does not have to beat you into a hole.

When you set up one therapy or practice you open up other possibilities of  healing. I am excited with the effects already of making this list of gratitude for recovery in 2012.

Alan

Good News About My Progress

Dear Robert,

A month has passed and I want to report good news about my progress. I’m happy to say:

The inner shaking is completely gone. It was constantly present before.

I have better balance when walking  Now I can even look aside when walking, which was impossible for me two months ago.

My left side, the affected one, is not so rigid and heavy any more.

I notice tiny swings of my left arm when I am walking.

My voice gained some energy back. Before I sounded like I was too exhausted to talk.

I notice more strength in my body.

My concentration is better. I can work for 3-4 hours now. Before it was around 1-2 hours.

In general, I feel much better. Of course, some days are good, some others not so much, but I notice the progress. I know I still have a long way to go, but I am optimistic now!

My recovery program includes:

 I don’t take any anti-parkinsons drugs.

Dr. Paneri’s ayurvedic medicine since October 10th 2011 – I’m taking some tablets at mornings and evenings and some others before and after lunch and dinner. I follow the diet which, honestly, is not so hard to follow. I order a new package of medicine from India every two months.

Since September 2011 my husband is helping me according to the description in the book of Dr. Janice Walton-Hadlock – he simply holds my foot for an hour every evening. I have noticed recovery symptoms described in the book. The method is aimed to correct wrong energy (Qi) flows in the body.  Note, please, that this method is suitable only for those who are not taking any anti-parkinsons drugs!

I have a Tui na massage every two weeks.

I practice yoga (30 min daily, twice a week for an hour).

I meditate daily.

I work on resolving the psychological influences (conflicts, resentment, guilt, trauma, etc.).

I practice self-healing method reiki and … I’m changing my life principle from “Be good, work hard!” towards a wiser one: “F*** it!”

🙂 It works! 🙂

I wish you all a nice day! And … let’s keep going!

Romana

Does CoQ10 Really Slow Down Parkinson’s?

Does coq10 in large doses really slow down Parkinson’s?

Stephen

Response:

The framing of your question is fascinating. There is an implicit assumption behind the framing of your question that Parkinson’s disease is a race in a download direction. I fully realize that many people hold the belief that Parkinson’s is a degenerative disease – meaning
that anyone who has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease is destined to deteriorate over time, with no hope of recovery.

The mission of Parkinsons Recovery is to provide compelling evidence from across the globe that the assumption Parkinson’s is “degenerative” is misguided and wrong. In support of this mission, I have been interviewing people for the past several years who have successfully reversed their own Parkinson’s symptoms. Stories of former guests on my radio show are featured contributors  in the book just released, Pioneers of Recovery. We are documenting more and more cases of recovery every week now.

There are many treatments and modalities of one form or another that help reverse the symptoms of Parkinson’s. Some supplements will help depending on the factors that are causing the symptoms. After all, a supplement is simply food for the body. You can feed your body with the nutrients it needs by eating healthy, live food or you can acquire the nutrition you need through supplements.

There is a controversy in the research studies concerning the use of CoQ10 to treat symptoms of Parkinson’s. I am about to launch a thorough analysis of the research evidence. At the outset, I suspect the difference in study outcomes (some studies report positive effects and others do not) is due to the type of Co-Q10 that is used.

Some people with Parkinson’s shop around for the lowest cost CoQ10 available. The cost differences are extreme. A search for the lowest cost is a terribly flawed strategy. You might as well be throwing your money into a bottomless well if you purchase and take a low cost form of Co-Q10.  There are only a few forms of this particular supplement that will pass through  the blood brain barrier.

For recommendations, I suggest you listen to my radio show with guest Laurie Mischley, ND who has extensive experience treating people with Parkinson’s and has specific recommendations about the brands of Co-Q10 that she has discovered have been helpful to her patients. I aired two shows with Dr. Mischley in June, 2010.

Robert Rodgers, Ph.D.
Pioneers of Recovery
www.pioneersofrecovery.com

Hope and Support for Recovery from Parkinsons Disease

A few months ago I have ordered and read your book Road to Recovery from Parkinsons Disease. It gave me a lot of hope, support and very valuable information.

It was important for me to see that some people managed to recover! I am much more relaxed now, not in a panic any more.

I have a diagnose since August 2010. I took Azilect until December 2010, but afterwards I have stopped taking it. I’m exercising yoga, meditation. I’m walking every day. Tuina massage also helps. I have changed  food, reduced stress factors, etc. And I’m taking Dr Paneri’s medicine for a month now.

Great news: I am already noticing some improvements!

I hope you know, how important your help is! Thank you.

I wish you all the best.

Kind regards,

Romana

Response:

Thanks so much for letting us all know about your recovery progress and giving me permission to post your update. I am hearing more and more stories of recovery every week now. I just released a new book this week [Pioneers of Recovery 2012] that reports 11 stories of recovery as told on my radio show.  These are exciting times to be alive.

Robert Rodgers, Ph.D.
Pioneers of Recovery
www.pioneersofrecovery.com
Road to Recovery from Parkinsons Disease
www.parkinsonsdisease.me

Parkinsons Recovery Happens Day By Day: People Get Better

Parkinsons Recovery– People Get Better

I am a recently joined member from England. I am so excited about finding your web site and want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. There are no words to express my gratitude and excitement. I am really going to enjoy my recovery as it happens day by day. I have always had a little place inside me that says “I will figure this out”.  Now I have found the way with your help and I have regained my drive.  It is fantastic!

I have had definite symptoms for 12 years though I have been burdening  my mind and body with severe stress for years, mistakenly believing I could handle anything. Then the oak tree collapsed: I was totally exhausted and had no idea. I have been taking requip for 5 years and sinemet for 18 months and am determined to get free of them. I know I will though I don’t know details of the how yet. Don’t worry I shall be very careful and I have a lot of support. I have learned that relationships are even more important than health.

The things I am doing NOW are:

listening to your radio shows lots of exercise,  my dog gets 2 1hr walks per day in beautiful woodland exercise bike stretches and balancing listening to guided meditations really clean healthy diet lots and lots of water singing class nintendo wi writing out and reading poetry aloud eft feldenkrais recording my progress and activities and goals. my writing is loads better already hot and cold showering every day. The EFT Deft is HUGE for me.

I am not the person I was before my symptoms came along. The changes are quite staggering that actually I am a bit overwhelmed and confused. It has helped uncover something of the pay- off I get from having my symptoms – a mega breakthrough.

I found your site, actually the radio downloads on itunes 5 weeks ago and have improved so much already ( from really quite a bad place as the drugs were beginning not to work. They work well now. I have only stared eft in the last week

I was doing something of the above list before but now I have designed myself a programme which is a little bit strict and a little bit flexible. I have decided to stick to working with  this before I look at supplements and more complex things. I want to give my body some time on the basics  – good food, fresh air, mental stimulation, relaxation, fun etc. I have realized how sensitive I am at last. And I forgot to mention I have started detoxing  my environment – so far I have junked all my toiletries for natural ones, and only have about 1/8 what I had before! Now I am working through the cleaning stuff. It feels so good.

I am 55 years young, have a great husband who doesn’t give me too much sympathy and does his own thing, yet is fantastically caring and I have 2 fantastic sons aged  24 and  27. I have a brother who I would do anything for and a sister that I value  and love though I don’t have the same rapport with her.

I have just joined your membership pages today to continue my parkinsons recovery and it is great to get your emails. Encouragement is fab.

The crucial thing you have given me is the knowledge  PEOPLE GET BETTER. Now I know that I am on my way.

With heartfelt thanks

Fiona

How to Raise Money Needed to Recover from Parkinson’s Disease

My grandfather has Parkinsons in its later developments. He’s currently in stoke hospital recovering from a recent fall. He’s pretty much fully recovered now and ready to be released, Unfortunately his care home wont take him back unless he has a properly fitted chair to get him around without falling over again. The chair costs around £3000 for the type that he needs. I’m trying to find a way to raise this money, I was hoping you might have some ideas as to how I might do it?

Response:

Sometimes people need a jump start to begin feeling better. Sounds like your grandfather may need just that. I typically do not work on questions about wheel chairs, since they invite thought forms which are negative and De-energizing. Sounds like in your grandfather’s case, a properly fitted chair might help improve his quality of life significantly so he can begin to feel better.

I believe the way to approach this type of challenge is to set up a website interface which makes it possible for friends and family to donate small amounts of money. A person may well be unable to pay 3000 pounds, but they can probably donate 5 pounds or 10 pounds. When you set up the website interface, you explain how the funds will be used and invite people to make donations of any size. Many small donations will eventually amount up to 3000 pounds. You will be surprised by how many people will be eager and happy to assist. The money goes for a very worthy cause.

A guest on my radio show, Sue Richards, who appeared on September 15, 2010 talks about her success with setting up just such a website to raise money she needed for her own recovery. It is not difficult to do. On the show Sue offered to help people who want to do this. I suggest you listen to the show and see if her approach calls out to you:

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

Scroll back to the show which aired on 9/16/10 with Sue Richards. You could probably raise enough in the short term to put a down payment down now – and could continue to raise funds over time until the chair is paid off. Everyone can contribute – if even 1 pound. It all adds up.

Robert Rodgers, Ph.D.
Road to Recovery from Parkinsons Disease
http://www.parkinsonsdisease.me

Expect to Get Better and You Will Get Better

Alan granted me permission to post his reflection below on how thoughts about Parkinson’s Disease have a profound impact on his recovery.

Robert Rodgers, Ph.D.
Parkinsons Recovery
Five Steps to Recovery

I just took time out to listen to Howard Shifke’s’ interview again.I am re-inspired to keep going. I don’t know if I’m getting better or not, but I don’t worry as much about a bad day or “what Parkinson’s is going to do to me.” I have been working on my thinking that I will get better since the last time that I listened to this interview. I got his point that expecting to get better is the way to get better, but it often takes a million reminders a day and starting over as many times. Yet, I think today, how nice to think it can get better. That was just the vaguest hope since taking recovery seriously in Jan. 09, a year and a half since diagnosis.

Alan

Progression of Recovery

Question:

It would be great if possible to list the chronological order of recovery I understand it maybe different for different  people but if there’s something you can list as reference that would be great.

Regards

Gino

Response:

In my opinion the best approach is to track your own symptoms over time rather than trying to compare your recovery process to the experience of other persons. This is why I make available the Parkinsons Recovery symptom tracker to track your symptoms over time. Symptom tracker is free:

http://www.symptomtracker.info/parkinsons/login.php

Parkinsons is a multi-dimensional illness. The recovery process depends on the primary causal factors that are aggravating symptoms. There is often more than one factor that requires your attention. People who hold out the hope that there will be a single solution are usually disappointed.

I have however heard stories from some people of full recovery after one treatment (of one type or another). Often, such cases are related to removing toxins of one type or another. Most people who have issues with toxins however find that the process of elimination requires time, patience and dedication.

Many people seem to find relief eventually when they find success with resolving their anxiety and stress issues. Most people report that the road to recovery is packed with good days (and weeks) and bad days (and weeks). Because a primary factor for most people is trauma, the person usually finds that they feel much worse before they begin feeling much better. This is known as a healing response.

Many people believe that they should always feel better after a body therapy such as energy work or tai chi or chi gong. As the energy system is activated and “stuck energy” is moved out, the person often feels sluggish, tired and – for lack of a better description – lousy.

Give yourself permission to sit with whatever feelings emerge.  They are smacking you in the fact to be released. Once the trauma is released, you will feel much lighter. You will have more energy. You will feel a profound sense of relief.

In summary – there is no such thing as a template of recovery. The only common factor for all persons on the road to recovery is knowing that the body does know how to heal itself. It just needs a little help remembering how in the case of Parkinson’s.

Robert Rodgers
Road to Recovery from Parkinsons Disease
http://www.parkinsonsdisease.me

A New Lease on Life

Dear Robert,

I have just listened to the interview with Howard Shifke. Just prior to that, I prayed for a new perspective because I was in pain which was about to discourage me again. So, I put it on, layed down, fell asleep, and woke refreshed in a very listening state. Howard covered all the areas that I have not understood yet. I began to see the symptoms–like the annoying urinations–as gifts. All the symptoms give you a true reading on your problems. I didn’t understand the spiritual and inner connection and the inner process of self therapy, though I have in fact been working on this–with improvement. His sharing of methods gives me much more in resources. Howard certainly understands exactly what it is like and what is happening and the process of recovery. I have a great desire to keep going now. I’ve already started listening to my body, but now I have a handle on what I’m hearing. There are a few other details I could include such as I devised a standing meditation and am returning to liver detox. Maybe Howard would enjoy this email to learn he helped someone in his interview.

I have a little contribution that has helped me. It is a flower essence story again, but this one worked more powerfully than the others. It started at the end of summer 2010. in the Bach series, Agricola is a remedy for those who carry great problems but outwardly act like the happy-go-lucky life of the party. This flower remedy helped me overcome suffering suffering in front of others, which was a pretty awkward problem. I found this flower remedy through energy testing, which was a strong “yes” for me. Whatever it is supposed to do for people, for me it made me more emotionally caring for myself (thus diminishing signaling care from others) and more spiritually tuned to others’ joy. Now, I habitually look for joy in people, and they seem to know it, as they are glad to see me. In this vibration-connection, they are distracted from my symptoms and would rather like their happiness reinforced. At the same time, I try to reduce my show of symptoms so that there is less to see. This makes for a good social exchange, as both my jobs entail seeing a lot of people.

Thank you for developing the resource center that you are. Believe me, there is a crucial need for it–and how wonderful that so many people are waking up to a better picture of parkinson’s recovery! Publish this as you see fit.

Sincerely,
Alan

My Medications Are Not Working: What Do I Do Now?

Question:

I   have had Parkinson’s for about 4 years,     I am 72 years of age and up to now have had a bit of a struggle with the medication.  I could go into detail, but would it bore you?

I have not had a great deal of support from my Neurologist and in fact he reduced me to tears, so I wont see him, instead I rely totally on the Parkinson’s Nurse.  But, I feel i want aswers that I feel he wont be able to give me, as I expect the answer will be no, due to the NHS cut backs.

Such as, can I have a blood test to define my Parkinson’s and a scan to say how bad it is..and like how strong can one take the medapor before it is enough?  I was switched to Kalveto because the effect lasted longer.  It  did the first three weeks and then wham!  I became so stilff down my right side (this is the side which is more affected than the left side) abd agitated that I had to come off them.

Co-Benendopa 100/mg/25mg capsules and 50mg/12.5mg capsules are the tablets I am taking at the present time, but  they are wearing off before the 4 hours – so was changed over to Kalveto and then reversed after the effect it had on me.  I tried it again, the Kalveto, but again no good, so reverted to the Co-B tablets again.  But, they don’t last more than three hours now.

The second time with Kalveto decided to try and adjust the amount myself, but the second tim around with this drug it gave me the same difficulties, very stiff on my right side.   So have reverted to the first tablets.

My sleeping is approximately 3 hours a night only. And I have tried other tablets over the past four years.  But, this is where I am at at the moment.

I was wondering,should I be entitled to a blood test, or a scan or anything else to tell me how good or bad I am, and what can I do for myself.

I feel so useless, not knowing what to do next.

Can you give me any advice?

Yours sincerely,

Diana

Response:

First, person after person with Parkinsons on the road to recovery tell me it is extremely important to find health care practitioners that are trustworthy, professional and helpful. They need to be there for you. They need to be available to answer all of your question. If they are not, find someone else to be a member of your medical team.

Second, the general impression I get from reading your letter is that you have focused all of your attention and resources on prescription medications. It appears this plan is not working now, though it may have been helpful in the beginning. When a person begins to take more than one prescription medications, side effects and interactions can be very problematic. Where do you go from here?

I would recommend that you begin searching outside the option of taking prescription medications.  There is
certainly nothing wrong with this option but it is obviously not working for you.

There are a multitude of therapies – some thousands of years old – that people with Parkinsons say give them relief from their symptoms. Most therapies are natural, safe and offer the potential for improvement in your health on some level. I have  documented over 40 therapies in Road to Recovery that have helped people get well. There is a wide range of choices to consider from sound therapy to vibration therapy to herbal remedies to quantum healing to energy healing to biofeedback to Emotional Freedom Technique to …  The list goes on and on.

I would recommend that you find another health care provider – perhaps a naturopath or osteopath or an MD or a neurologist – who you can connect with. I also recommend that you listen to some of the Parkinsons Recovery radio shows that are archived. All downloads are free. You will find useful suggestions in virtually every show I have aired over the past two years. You can always listen to the radio shows live:

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

Call in with your questions. My guests are always happy to talk with people who call into the shows.

My guest this week is Sharry Edwards who is a national expert on using sound to heal chronic illness. My guest next week is Bobby who will talk about how he has become symptom free. My guests each week are amazing people who have incredible suggestions to offer.

There is no definitive test for Parkinson’s. MRI’s just rule out other causes. There is no blood test.  Instead of focusing on what is out of balance in your body – you might consider focusing on what is in balance. Be delightfully surprised to realize how many functions of the body are working well.

I am talking here about a transformation of thought forms. When we focus on what is wrong – we feed the illness with more energy. We give it food to digest. This makes the symptoms get worse. When we focus on what is right and strong – we get stronger inside and out.

The people who are recovering realize that they have to take responsibility for their own health. I believe in the end – when our bodies get out of balance – we have to take responsibility for ourselves.  In the end, we are really the only one who can figure out what is happening to us and how to heal it.

Robert Rodgers, Ph.D.
Parkinsons Recovery

Books
Road to Recovery from Parkinsons Disease
Pioneers of Recovery
Five Steps to Recovery

Resources
Vibration Therapy
Dehydration Therapy: Aquas
Parkinsons Recovery Membership
Parkinsons Recovery Chat Room
Eye Drops for Cataracts
Symptom Tracker
Parkinson’s Disease News

Full Recovery from the Symptoms of Parkinson’s

Hi Robert,

You have been incredibly on point with regard to healing and recovery, although I am not one hundred percent sure how it is I recovered. I know that you have recently expressed the direction I went. I think the study of neurophysiology and quantum mechanics as it applies to neurology forced me to go back and re-learn the mathematics necessary to visualize quantum theory. Furthermore when I would go walking I would of course contemplate these principles. This is a little difficult to explain but it was like a light came on. This event was not sudden but involved significant time with daily study and contemplation although that is not what I intended.

In those days the talk of any sort of psychic change or shift in consciousness would have been met with laughter, however those concepts are steadily becoming more talked about especially from evolved teachers like yourself. Although not advised I quit taking all of my PD meds which included a lot of sentimet and mirapex. It was difficult for a few days and I was still shaky.

I applied a lot of other things that I had learned including detox, no refined foods, organic fruits and veg’s and a great deal of exercise. Then the symptoms dissipated completely.

Robert I think if there is an effective way to release our minds from the conditioned way of perceiving information or reality as we have learned it is much easier to experience more constructive thoughts. Our new found way of experiencing life is where healing and recovery reside because there is this all important element of belief that plays a vital role.

Bobby

Parkinson’s Medications and Recovery

Question:

Hi. I love your radio show and website.  They are so helpful.

I have been reading information on how to recover from Parkinson’s Disease and I came upon a article that indicated that once you are on the Parkinson’s medication you cannot recover from the disease…that you cannot go back so to speak. Do you believe this to be true?

Mandy

Response:

No I do not believe this is true. What do I believe?

Our thought forms determine our health and wellness. If you believe recovery is not possible for any reason – in your example because of the medications – recovery will not be possible. Period.  End of story.

If on the other hand, you believe that recovery is possible, the magic begins. You will quickly begin to feel better. Transform your moment to moment thoughts and the miracle of life will unfold before your eyes.

I wrote Five Steps to Recovery to help people transform the thought forms that no longer serve their best and highest good.  The steps help me moment to moment transform my own thoughts which do not serve my best and highest good.  The challenge of transformation is tricky because we have as many as 50,000 to 70,000 thoughts each day!

I say to you today – believe in your heart, mind and soul that recovery will happen. Then sit back and enjoy the ride to recovery.

Robert Rodgers, Ph.D.
Parkinsons Recovery

Books
Road to Recovery from Parkinsons Disease
Pioneers of Recovery
Five Steps to Recovery

Resources
Vibration Therapy
Dehydration Therapy: Aquas
Parkinsons Recovery Membership
Parkinsons Recovery Chat Room
Eye Drops for Cataracts
Symptom Tracker
Parkinson’s Disease News

How Can Toxins or Stress Be Removed?

Question:

How can toxins or stress be removed if it’s trapped at a cell level?

Gino

Response:

This is certainly an important question. There area wide variety of detox methods that remove toxins and a wide selection of approaches that assist the body with releasing trauma.No gold standard exists for either because everyone’s body is different.

Many people discover that one therapy will work for a while. Then, they have to switch off to another in order to continue the recovery process. Different methods are successful at different points in the recovery process.

One of the reasons I air the radio show every week is to offer a wide variety of choices you can consider. Whether my guest is a health care practitioner or a person who currently experiences the symptoms of Parkinson’s, they usually tap into their approach for detoxing and de-stressing. People with the symptoms of Parkinson’s talk about what therapies are working for them. It doesn’t mean it will work for you – but it is a starting place.

I am guessing you were hoping for a much more simplistic answer -perhaps a few websites to visit. There are hundreds of resources out there for you to pick and choose from.

The most important step is to begin taking action now. Initiate your own exploration. Call or e mail some of my radio show guests. Get more information.  See what calls out to you.

You really can’t go wrong. Most of the therapies people find are the most helpful are safe, non-intrusive and effective. The only side effect is improved health on some level.

Robert Rodgers, Ph.D.
Parkinsons Recovery

Books
Road to Recovery from Parkinsons Disease
Pioneers of Recovery
Five Steps to Recovery

Resources
Vibration Therapy
Dehydration Therapy: Aquas
Parkinsons Recovery Membership
Parkinsons Recovery Chat Room
Eye Drops for Cataracts
Symptom Tracker
Parkinson’s Disease News


Thanks for Being There

Thank you a million times over for answering the 2021 survey. I will tabulate the results and of course announce them here on the Parkinsons Recovery Blog as well as discuss them on Parkinsons Recovery Radio.

Findings of my annual survey inform all of us which therapies are showing the most promising results.

Robert Rodgers, Ph.D.
Founder
Parkinsons Recovery
Road to Recovery from Parkinsons Disease
https://www.parkinsonsdisease.me

https://www.parkinsonsrecovery.com
Olympia, Washington
877-526-4646

 

Angela’s Story

Angela is my guest on the radio show this week. As you can ascertain from her story below, she has had a fascinating journey on the road to recovery.

Angela will be available to answers questions from listeners on Thursday from 11:00 am – 12:30 pm pacific time.  Call the following toll free number to talk with her:1 (877) 590-0733 or visit the Parkinsons Recovery radio page here:

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

Angela’s History

Work as a freelance professional engineer in the pulp and paper industry. Based near Vancouver BC but work mainly overseas, particularly in Chile and in New Zealand.

In 2009, I won the Beloit Prize, the highest honour for engineering in the pulp and paper industry.

Have had previous training as a therapist in Hakomi body centered psychotherapy.

Was a trainer in “Living Love” method as described by Ken Keyes Junior in his book “The Power of Unconditional Love” and others. Ken taught that true happiness is uncaused, that no one or nothing is ever made us upset are unhappy. This is really good news since I realized I could change myself whereas it is impossible to change anyone else.

Living Love has really helped me with my PD. I don’t have to demand that I not have it, with all the attendant negative emotions. I can prefer to be PD free and work to that goal without negativity.

For many years, was an adept meditator. Spent much of my spare time on the spiritual journey visiting spiritual communities around the world.

My hobby and passion is fine wine. I am a past president of the American Wine Society. I know that many people with PD have lost their ability to smell but I still have mine. The result of long, intense training?

My outlook on life is decidedly optimistic. I am a “reverse paranoid” as I believe that everyone is out there to make me happy!

2006

First symptoms 2006 at age 59: cramped handwriting and frozen right shoulder.

Over the years my handwriting has remained cramped but my right shoulder has thawed. The tremor in my right hand has increased from virtually nothing in 2006 to intermittently bothersome in 2010.

Saw a neurologist in December 2006. Possible Parkinson’s. I rejected this out of hand as it was obvious that I have a “pinched nerve”.

Part of me still wants to believe the pinched nerve theory.

2007

Went for a second opinion. Saw another neurologist in May 2007. Diagnosis: idiopathic Parkinson’s disease. This was a terrible moment in my life as the urologist was almost gleeful when he told me what I had, as if he had solved some great mystery. I felt like I had been shot with a cannon.

On the recommendation of my neurologist, I started on Mirapex, a dopamine agonist. Dreadful side effects: somnolence, insomnia, nausea. Just about everything except compulsive gambling. I stopped taking Mirapex after four weeks and vowed to never again take a Parkinson’s medication.

It is as if the Mirapex put a “hole” in my brain. It took over three years for this to be repaired. I would classify Mirapex is a neurotoxin.

Desired third opinion. Had a PET scan at the Inglewood imaging center in LA. Supported diagnosis of idiopathic Parkinson’s disease. Finally accepted that I had PD and decided to defy rather than deny it.

Having read that exercise is the “best medicine” for PD decided to get serious about it. Started running. Started going to the gym. Hired a personal trainer. Within four months I had lost nearly 50 pounds and became a lean, not-so-mean, fighting machine.

I exercise regimen at the gym typically consists of 30 min. of cardio (upright bike), 30 min. on the weights, and 30 min. of stretching.

My personal trainer concentrates on keeping all of my muscle groups functional. She also includes many balance exercises. Balance on my right leg is not as good as on my left but at least I still have it.

I regained use of right shoulder by numerous injections of prolotherapy, although my right arm remained significantly impaired.

Prolotherapy is merely the injection of dextrose into the tendons. This irritates the tendon and stimulates blood flow to the area. It really hurts! But after two months I could raise my arm that was formerly just hanging at my side.

I was introduced to kickboxing by my personal trainer. Found that I enjoyed it very much.

They usually have 2×30 min. sessions of kickboxing a week. Kickboxing also feels good and I believe it is the cyclic vibrations from alternating job-crosses, right hooks-left hooks, right kicks-left kicks, that keep my movements stabilized. I particularly like hitting a dummy that I have named “Mr. Parkinson”.

On the recommendation of a friend, I started playing tennis again (I had to stop due to my frozen shoulder) using my left arm instead of my right. Soon after, however, I regained the use of my right arm. Now, I have two forehands and a left-handed serve.

I now visit Florida for two months each year where I engage a tennis coach every other day to put me through my paces. When I am on the court, I can run like the wind, and have no problems moving sideways or forwards or backwards or running. As soon as I leave the court, my PD symptoms return. I wish I could play tennis 24/7.

2008

Saw Jon Stossel, Canada’s top PD researcher at the University of British Columbia. With him, I feel that I am being provided with the best service available from standard Western medicine.

I see Jon Stossel once a year.

Became a patient of ND Caleb Ng of Mountainview Wellness Center in Surrey BC. Introduced to protocol of Dr. David Perlmutter, the “renegade neurologist”. Embraced Perlmutter’s protocol of supplements for neuroprotection of Parkinson’s patients. This included co-enzyme Q10, omega-3, B-complex, N-acetyl cysteine, alpha lipoic acid, phosphatidylserine, and others.

I have been taking intravenous glutathione once or twice-weekly. I began with 1400 mg but am now taking 2500 mg each time. Quite frankly, I have never noticed any of the miraculous improvements shown in Perlmutter’s videos.

Caleb also started me on chelation therapy as urinalysis revealed high contents of lead and mercury. I had about a dozen sessions but then have stopped. I understand that dozens of sessions are necessary for any improvement to be realized.

2009

While visiting my Hakomi teacher in Ashland, Oregon, I found out about the Center for Natural Healing in Ashland where herbalist Donnie Yance had a botanical protocol for PD. In late July, 2009, I commenced his protocol for botanicals and supplements. Botanicals included Mucuna pruriens, Withania somnifera, turmeric, and others. Additional supplements included vitamin D3, zinc, selenium, and others.

After one year on the Donnie Yance botanical protocol, I decided to stop taking Mucuna and NADH as neither of these appear to offer any therapeutic benefit whatsoever.

I am about to start using henbane, a botanical anticholinergic, in an attempt to reduce the tremors. The grand experiment is yet to begin however.

In June, 2009, I became a member of PatientsLikeMe.com (patient name: Dawn Angel). I also joined 23andMe.com where I learned that I did not have the LRRK gene for Parkinson’s.

In September, 2009, I visited John Coleman in Australia. The recommended that I go on a strict diet: gluten-free, dairy-free, coffee-free, sugar-free, peanut-free, cashew-free, and so on. He also recommended that a begin taking the Aquas. For therapy, he recommended Bowen.

I have recently stopped taking the Aquas as I have never noticed any benefit from it.

I had several sessions of Bowen therapy. Very relaxing. Not as effective as IMS (see below).

While working in New Zealand, I found a very good osteopath who was able to effect incredible improvement in my tremors.

Osteopathy is mostly hands-free bodywork. I have no idea how or why it works, but it does.

In December, 2009, I attended Robert Rodger’s “Jump Start to Wellness” in Olympia Washington. This is where I first learned that there were other people interested in getting well.

2010

A check of my free cortisol rhythm revealed that my cortisol levels were very low throughout the day. This is characteristic of “adrenal fatigue”. The only problem was, I remained high-energy and was not fatigued in the least, however, I began taking the supplement called “Adrenal Support”.

In January and February of 2010 I had a 10-session course of Hellerwork, a form of myofascial release. Very good.

Hellerwork is closely related to Rolfing. Over the 10 sessions my practitioner literally massaged all the fascia of my body. It felt great to have stiffened muscles worked upon. I return for an occasional tune-up.

I found a practitioner of intramuscular stimulation (IMS), who has been able to read awaken muscles that had become shortened due to disuse. This has been the most effective therapy of all for me.

IMS involves needling as in acupuncture but the needles are applied to the tendons instead of to fictional meridians. The benefits of IMS are immediate and last for at least several days. I see my physiotherapist weekly.

Despite improvements in my mobility and strength, the tremors in my right hand had become noticeably worse, especially when I visit either an M.D. or a neurologist. The tremors would go away as soon as they left their offices. This is clearly a manifestation of “white coat syndrome”.

I revisited John Coleman in May, 2010. He commented that tremors were the last symptom to go away for him.

After hearing about the possible benefits of neurofeedback for PD, I had a EEG done and found that my dorsolateral prefrontal cortex was not producing theta waves. I have since had six sessions of neurofeedback and have noticed improvement.

In a session, an electrode is applied to my scalp in the location of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. I listened to soothing sounds through headphones. When that part of my brain is active I hear the sounds. When it is in active, I hear only static. The reward is the sound and the brain actively creates the ability to hear the sound without intervention on my part.

I purchased a small unit for cranial electrostimulation (CES). This applies a very small current through my head by means of electrodes clamped to my earlobes. I find it very relaxing; indeed, it is a form of meditation. Since my diagnosis with PD, meditation has not come easy to me.

In October, 2010, I visited France where I completely abandoned my dietary protocol and gorged myself on foie gras, croissant’s, baguettes, rich cheeses, exotic desserts, café au lait, and other forbidden foods. After one week I felt better than I have in three years. Go figure, who would’ve thought there was such a thing as the “French Cure”! Vive la hedonism!

Angela