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Hi David..... FYI... "Frozen shoulder" is related to Parkinson's in 50 percent of the cases. It usually crops up just prior to the onset of the disease. Initially I had frozen shoulder (OUCH!) on the left side which was treated by a cortisone injection when I couldn't stand the pain any longer - about every four months for the last 4 1/2 years. That assured me of at least a coup-three months of relative comfort till the darn thing kicked up once again. My orthopedist told me there's a standard surgery for frozen shoulder, however, there's a long, and not-always-good recovery for those who have PD. He's strongly discouraged me from having the surgery as long as I can stand the pain (and there's times when I've felt unable to stand it), as in many cases the problem appears to go away. After living with this monkey on my back for the last 4 1/2 years, oddly there actually IS less pain and a longer pain-free interval of time between injections (YEA!!). This may be due to the fact I've been getting physical therapy in order to train the deltoid muscles to take over the functions of the shoulders muscles (I know I'm not explaining this very well, but trust me, it IS working). As for the confusion regarding your meds, that too appears to be a common problem in the medical community which is why eventually so many Parkies end up calling the shots on what drugs and what dosage they'll take. I suggest, if you haven't yet seen a MOVEMENT DISORDER specialist (a neuro, but much more knowledgeable about PD then the average neuro), you probably should at least at this point since there IS the confusion. Barb Mallut [log in to unmask] -----Original Message----- From: David Thurston <[log in to unmask]> To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]> Date: Tuesday, February 02, 1999 9:26 AM Subject: new member >Hello list members, >I was diagnosed with PD less than a month ago. I have a shuffle in my >gait on the left side and some loss of dexterity in left hand with a >very very slight tremor. I can live with these symptoms with minor >adjustment to the way I live. The main symptomatic problem, for which I >had sought medical attention in the first place, is a painful "frozen >shoulder" with severly restricted range of movement of my left arm. I am >told that this is a separate issue from PD, but that the latter's >tendency to tighten muscles of neck and shoulder could be causing lack >of response to physical therapy for the shoulder joint. Therefore >starting PD medication, why not yet strictly necessary, could benefit >this condition. >I have not started medication yet because of another worry: In order to >get a balanced understanding on what was happening, I sought a second >opinion from another neurologist. Result: complete confusion. One >recommends that I commence with dopamine agonist Pergolide, the other >(who knows about the other's recommendation) favours levodopa in the >form of Madopar. Both tell me it is my decision. These are two reputable >medical men, when the time comes that I feel I am ready for the >commitment, which course do I choose? Not so much that, how, as a >layman, do I choose? >Dave Thurston >