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Published: Tuesday, March 13, 2007 Woman faces life with Parkinson's disease By Kristi O'Harran Herald Columnist Twitch. Twitch. That darn thumb wouldn't quit twitching. Doctors said it was probably a pinched nerve. Maybe Karen Painter needed a good massage. A neurologist said she had a tremor. Painter, 45, of Lake Stevens, had already self-diagnosed. She asked a neurologist if it could be Parkinson's - you know, the Michael J. Fox disease. Nope. Not enough symptoms, the doctor said. Two years later in 2004, she failed a sort of field-sobriety test, just like a drunk on the side of the road. When the doctor said she had young-onset Parkinson's disease, she began to cry. Six days later, Painter went to a support group meeting. "It was depressing," Painter said. "Everybody was old." She had to quit her job. She was a dental assistant from age 16, but it got too difficult to maneuver her left arm. "That is the hand I passed sharp instruments with across the patient's chest," she said. "I loved being an assistant, but I was tenacious, and got a job doing dental insurance billing and reception work. By then I had been diagnosed and the stress of life was getting to me so I quit that job to take the summer off." She wasn't able to go back to work. "By then symptoms progressed enough that there was a decline in what they call 'executive functioning'," she said. "I couldn't multitask any more, my memory was shot, and learning things was impossible." Parkinson's affects the way you move. The four main symptoms are: Tremors, shaking or trembling in the hands, arms, legs, or head. Stiff muscles. Slow movement. Problems with balance or walking. For those with Parkinson's, nerve cells in the brain break down. You have trouble moving the way you want. It gets worse over time. No one knows for sure what makes nerve cells break down. Abnormal genes seem to lead to Parkinson's disease in some people. There is no cure, but medications may control symptoms. So far, there is not enough proof to show that it is inherited. Painter graduated from Cascade High School in 1980. She was married for 16 years and has a daughter, Kate. She divorced when Kate was 11. Painter is in a relationship with Ric Rice, an exterminator, and together they are raising four teenagers. "Kate worries about me," Painter said. "When I told her I had Parkinson's, she asked if I was going to die." Rice is her buck-up guy, Painter said. The teenagers do more chores than other kids their age, she said. Painter recently traveled to Washington, D.C., with the Parkinson's Action Network to lobby legislators about delegating money for research. "I really want to bring awareness about the disease," she said. "The trip was powerful." She traveled with Carey Christensen from Stanwood, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's eight years ago at age 41. Christensen is the state coordinator for the Parkinson's Action Network. "Parkinson's disease among young people is only the tip of the iceberg of the changing face of health care in our nation," Christensen said. "As the baby boomers age, we are becoming a population of people living with chronic and disabling illnesses, a huge burden on our economy." She said she is glad that Painter, a terrific person, is willing to work for those with the disease. It isn't that Painter wants to think about Parkinson's around the clock. She can put the disease out of her mind, but then has to do something like walk down stairs and is reminded that her muscles no longer operate at her whim. Now and then, she allows herself a pity party. "Finding words is a tough one," Painter said. "Mid sentence I will just lose the word. Yesterday it was the word 'Elective.' I was talking to a high school counselor and struggled for it twice." As her disease progressed, Painter made plans to move in with her sister someday. Imagine that - knowing you will lose control of your muscles and needing to make arrangements for your care. "I know where I am headed," Painter said. "And I am scared." Columnist Kristi O'Harran: 425-339-3451 or [log in to unmask] April is Parkinson's awareness month A benefit for Northwest Parkinson's Foundation, "Bowl over Parkinson's," is planned for April 15 at Brunswick Majestic Lanes, 1222 164th St. SW, Lynnwood. The fee is $25 for bowling and a shirt. For more information, call E.J. Bennett, 425-259-5979. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn