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Margie.. ya pointed out something that bothered me since reading Bonnie's email about the 45 year old man in her PD support group choosing an alternative - rather than the conventional - treatment for his advancing disease, and then applying for SSDI when his treatment-of-choice didn't work. You said, ". I can't imagine why someone who is 45 years old would choose to become an invalid." That statement made me to think about all our fellow List-members and other persons with PD. Folks who've faced brain surgery, and in some cases multiple brain surgeries, those who take a variety of drugs each day to function as best they can, others who volunteer for drug or surgical trials without even having some assurance they're not getting a placebo, and those who fight the inertia of gravity just to MOVE each day... and there's this.... this .... this 45 year old guy CHOOSING to not help himself to the maximum he can! I can understand the desire to try alternative treatments, and feel it's everyone's right to chose the method of treatment they feel comfortable with. However, I can NOT comprehend someone, who having tried one type of treatment and not getting the anticipated results, wouldn't jump at the chance to try ANOTHER form of treatment, ESPECIALLY when the second form of treatment HAS proved successful in relieving some if not all symptoms is a great many individuals. I don't begrudge an individual applying for SSDI and getting it under the circumstances this 45 year old man did, but I can certainly understand why he was denied SSDI benefits in THIS case. Barb Mallut [log in to unmask] ---------- From: Parkinson's Information Exchange on behalf of Margie Swindler Sent: Wednesday, August 13, 1997 10:16 AM To: Multiple recipients of list PARKINSN Subject: Re: 2 questions Bonnie - You wrote, >There is a young gentleman in our support group who has been diagnosed >approx. 5 years and he is 45. He has never taken a medication for >Parkinson's -- He believes in vitamins and herbal therapy. His PD is >interfereing in his daily life. He has applied for SS Disability and has >been turned down on the basis that a doctor decided he "should" be taking >meds. Do we not have a choice how we treat Parkinsons? He certainly has >no medication side affects. I don't believe social security disability is intended for people who could get better, but won't get accepted medical treatment. It's an individual's choice to treat ailments in any way they choose, as long as it works. When the result of the chosen treatments is that that individual becomes dysfunctional when he/she could be functional, then you can see why government agencies balk. And quite frankly, the average taxpayer would be a bit put out about it, too. Personally, while I think there's a lot of benefit to be gained from "alternative" treatments in some cases, his choice of treatment clearly isn't working. I can't imagine why someone who is 45 years old would choose to become an invalid. Could you or other group members convince him to start on very small doses of Sinemet or Mirapex? If not, his situation will only get worse, and I would expect he'll continue to be turned down for SS disability. Has he thought about what he'll do then? Indeed, a difficult situation. Margie Swindler [log in to unmask]