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Nan,

I was having the same symptoms but the rigidity had over a period of two years
moved from my wrist to include my arm.  I take selegiline as does your
husband, but it wasn't until I started a faithful regimen of walking 3.5 miles
each day did the rigidity disappear.  I might add, I had to force an arm swing
at first and I try to finish my walk in under an hour.

When I initially started walking, it would take almost a mile for some relief
to appear.  Soon, it was down to just a few blocks and after two months it
disappeared except for "special" occasions.  Those special occasions include
periods of emotional stress and then it is minor in comparison.

Finding time to exercise seems overwhelming.  I look at it as self prescribed
therapy and like my medication, I never forget to take it.  It takes an hour
and sometimes I walk at 6:00AM before work.  You will find your energy level
is increased the whole day through.  Most the time I walk at 11:00AM after my
second selegiline then I skip lunch or eat lightly due to time constraints.
Some days after walking I feel almost "normal" as I remember it.

I might add, this exercising has done nothing for the underlying essential
tremor which is progressing slowly.

Larry Fleming
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-----Original Message-----
From:   Parkinson's Information Exchange  On Behalf Of Nan Boswell
Sent:   Wednesday, October 01, 1997 12:13 PM
To:     Multiple recipients of list PARKINSN
Subject:        Intro and questions

I'm also a new subscriber for my husband, John, 63/3 and am thrilled to have
found this resource.  We live in Virginia and John is still able to work as a
builder.  His neuro says he is still in the early stages of PD as his
symptoms are micrographia (right hand), which has gradually worsened to the
point of difficulty in using that hand even to eat, and extreme pain and
sometimes cramping in the right arm and wrist.  He has been on 5 mg
Selegiline twice/day for the three yrs.  Just today the neuro has added
Mirapex with gradual dosing.

I see several posts about difficulties some of you are having with this drug
and will continue to watch both John's reaction as well as future posts.
 Because we are new to the list, is there a universal response from those of
you on the drug as to how long the intro period should be and at what doses?
 This could save a lot of adverse symptoms if so.

Also, are there meds or exercises for this constant pain in the right arm and
occassional crippling cramping of the wrist?  The neuro is baffled.  Aleve
helps somewhat, but certainly not enough.

Thanks for any advice and input that you'll might have.  It's good to be
here!

Nan Boswell - not a caretaker yet!