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Sheldon/Linda McNeil wrote: > Dear Members , > We are writing to you out of desperation to see if you might be able to > help us or at the least give us some hints on where to go next. I expect you will get several replies on this, but here is mine: Parkinson's Disease (PD) is sometimes hard to distinguish in the early stage from others in a related group of neurological disorders. But the symptoms you describe should alert any competent neurologist, or even a general-practice MD, to the possibility. (Onset at a young age is NOT rare.) Among the above-mentioned group, PD is unique in that one drug, levodopa (available in the U.S. as Sinemet, in the UK as Madopar) can provide lasting relief, sometimes for decades. Although there are sophisticated and complex diagnostic protocols to sort out PD from other related disorders, the most powerful tool is simply to find a neuro who will try levodopa for a few weeks. If it doesn't help, you have lost nothing. If it does, bingo! and your neuro can decide the best treatment strategy to take from there. Good luck! Joe -- J. R. Bruman (818) 789-3694 3527 Cody Road Sherman Oaks, CA 91403-5013