 |
 |
Dennis, Each of us has a different experience with our PD. I have seen Tom in action.......There is nothing to doubt as to the effect of vision on his movement. Althought my responses are different than Tom's, vision does have an effect on my movements and my "off" times............for instance, driving past a row of the little red pylons in a construction zone is for me an instant "off".....for Tom, probably an instant "on".......I have not been with him in a car recently. Although I was not aware of the vision/movement connection prior to meeting Tom several years ago......I was aware of several environmental situations that were instant "offs" for me........simply narrowing the focus to realize the cause has been greatly beneficial in helping me to avoid the "off" time. I do not have festination with my hands in front of me........ I walk better with my hands behind my back when I am "off". I walk better with weight in both hands even during my "on" times. I am "off" in situations where popping a sinemet would be of no benefit...... Lines on the floor not only improve gait, but movement in some persons with PWP... The positioning of my feet while sitting in a chair determines whether or not I can lift my arm. Blue glasses enable me to swallow and breathe during sunset hours, and enable me to walk during bright sunlight hours..... Tom's red blinking peripheral light which enables him to walk across the room, sets off dyskinesia for me... Tom's elevated shoes which enable him to have better stride, throw my balance out of whack. Tom's voice amplifier/feedback system improves my speech pattern. Does this occur because I have seen Tom using it and I believe that it will happen.... I don't think so........neither of us expected the dyskinesia with the little blinking light. I certainly didn't expect changes in gait with the voice feedback. So Dennis...........just because you are not affected by all aspects of Parkinson's. Please don't squish someone else's efforts to deal with their movement disorders. Tom and I are both seen by Parkinson's specialists in the US.......not in the same PD clinic..........both have been diagnosed with Parkinson's.......both respond to sinemet and mirapex. My movement is not like Tom's.....the non-educated would not recognize both of us as having the same neurological diagnosis.........but I can say without hesitation that I have no doubt that vision has an impact on movement for Tom Reiss and other Parkinson's patients. Dennis, try to have an open mind and discard your view of "if it doesn't happen to me, then it doesn't happen". We have enough to deal with without having to justify our movement/lack of movement to other Parkinson's patients. Rita Weeks Lincoln, NE