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Susan one of my first symptoms was shoulder problems in one side. It took a year and several docs who misdiagnosed it. ONe wanted to operate on it. Water therapy is what fixed it for me. I no longer have the debilitating pain, just some limited range and cogwheeling due to Parkinsons. I cant really blame the docs because i thought it was a real shoulder problem too until i was diagnosed with PD. Start meds???That is the big question--some neuros say it is inconsequential but for me, the weight of evidence seems to support delaying meds as long as possible. There is some research being done to see if dyskinesias can be alleviated by combining sinemet with COMT. Agonists may be the way to prevent dyskinesias but there are many side effects with them. Others on the list will have different opinions. This is not a disease that is easily categorized. Welcome, this is a greeat resource. Bob ----- Original Message ----- From: "susan robinson" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Saturday, October 04, 2003 6:34 AM Subject: hi all! > Hi, I’m Susan. and I live in a country town north of Sydney in Australia. > I am new to the List, and have not yet been diagnosed with Parkinson’s. > Having read quite a lot lately about symptoms, though, I’m pretty sure > that’s what I’ve got - either that or MS, but at 52 years of age, I think MS > is less likely. My local doctor has referred me to a neurologist > (appoinment later this month) and wants him to send me for an MRI. I’ve had > a CT brain scan - normal - and the usual blood tests are normal. > > I’ve read that a “frozen” shoulder is a common early symptom. Can anyone > tell me whether, when it is a symptom: > - the arm remains “frozen”, or > - physiotherapy can get it moving almost fully again ? > > My shoulder was "frozen" early this year, though it was diagnosed as “rotator > cuff dysfunction”. Physio got it working again, with only stiffness > remaining - which exercises relieve. For months I thought the other > problems I am having – poor balance, severe writing difficulties, unable to > brush teeth - were caused by the shoulder. But those other symptoms haven ’t > eased with the improved shoulder function, and in addition my speech now > sometimes gets “caught up” – as though the tongue/lips can’t move fast > enough [especially saying “Mama Mia” :) ] – definitely not related to the > shoulder! I also get a bit of "foot-drag". I wonder whether my shoulder > problem was an early Parkinson’s symptom. > > I’ve read that there is no treatment that slows down the disease, but > elsewhere I read that treatment should be commenced as soon as possible. Is > that only to relieve symptoms, or can the drugs actually slow down > degeneration? Isn’t it better not to use the drugs till later, because > their effect diminishes and a higher dose is needed? I’m confused about > early treatment and the need for a definite early diagnosis. I can put up > with my symptoms at present, but I want to know if treatment actually slows > down the disease. > > Thanks for reading this, and for any advice you can give. > > _________________________________________________________________ > ninemsn Premium transforms your e-mail with colours, photos and animated > text. Click here http://ninemsn.com.au/premium/landing.asp > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] > In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn