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Does anyone on the list know what the AFOs are that are referred to in the email below???????? Joan Hartman ----- Original Message ----- From: Private <[log in to unmask]> To: Ask the Doctor <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Tuesday, May 02, 2000 8:03 AM Subject: Re: Balance Problems > ***A message from Ask the Doctor*** > answer > the question appears below > approximately 20% of parkinson patients develop difficulty with balance > in approximately 1/2 of patients by adjusting medications the balance > problem can be overcome in the remainder the balance problem represents a > loss of what are called postural or righting reflexes and, at present, > there is no medical treatment available > physical therapy and balance therapy are helpful in a few patients > deep brain stimulation may be helpful in selected patients and is being > investigated as a possible treatment > without seeing you and examining you i cannot gauge the severity of your > postural instability and therefore cannot make specific recommendations > these are issues you must discuss with your doctor who appears > knowledgeable and sophisticated > abe lieberman > > > I have been diagnosed with Parkinsons for seven years now but realize I > > must have had it several years before as I started to have difficulty with > > walking prior to the diagnosis. Used to be a very fast walker and then > > became one of the slowest followed by experiencing an increase in falling. > > Have been taking sinemet three times a day 1 1/2 25/250 tablets. At times > > it would seem that I would have to grab the back of my legs with my hands > > to get them to move. During my last visit the Dr. prescribed that I get > > exterior AFO's!. I fight as hard as I can and continue to think positive > > in all instances. I must say the AFO's has made me feel like a new person > > - can almost walk normal and faster, but IT HAS NOT HELPED THE BALANCE. > > Just the fact that that my shuffling has almost disappeared when wearing > > the AFO's makes me feel like a million dollars and gives additional > > incentive to fight and hope! But is there anything that can help with the > > balance - and it seems worse when standing in a line (even with the AFO's > > on). Sometimes I think the will to resist the progression of the disease is > > the best available medicine. Any thoughts on the balance problem? > > --- > You are currently subscribed to askthedoctor as: [log in to unmask] > To unsubscribe send a blank email to [log in to unmask] >