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You wrote: >Question to the list. It is my understanding that, for the most part, if >not entirely, severe shaking and tremer (Dyskinsia and Distonia) are >primarily the result of Sinimet endused side effects. Assuming that is >correct, can you say that the patients shown last night on Prime Time can be >descibed is showing late stage Sinimet reaction in their uncontrolled >movement and not particulally a late stage level of PD? >Gary D. Crowe I believe dystonia=excessive muscle tone -- from stiffness to "freezing" Dyskinesia is the uncontrolled flailing about of arms and legs. Both of these can occur at either the beginning or end of the Sinemet dosage curve although I have heard that cyclic recurrance of dyskinesia is the most common response to Sinemet wearing off. I have read on this list that one of the requirements of the Loma Linda surgery group is that patients be off all Parkinson's meds for at least 24 hours before the surgery. This is required so that the immediate results of the surgical lesion can be assessed and more can be done if symptoms still remain after the first zapping. The idea is, so far as possible, to see during surgery how the patient will be with no meds after the operation. In direct response to your question, I'd say that the patients' symptoms were real indications of the "progress" of the disease. If they had been taking Sinemet, they would have seemed better most of the time. For what it's worth, Bill Parmenter