 |
 |
Welcome to the list, David. I, too, had a frozen and painful left shoulder and after unsuccessful cortizone shots by MD was referred to a neuro who after a process of elimination diagnosed possible PD and SINEMETCR therapy began and I returned to exercising and my shldr improved. Was the improvement from exercise or SINEMETCR or both? I don't know. Probably some of both. I did go for a 2nd opinion to a movement disorder specialist(mds) who initially kept me on SINEMETCR, adding a dopamine agonist when I complained of still not having full range use of my left shldr. When I complain at my dr. visits, I am usually given an rx for another drug. When I say I'm doing fine, my meds are kept the same. About a year after lst being diagnosed and reading of benefits to delaying SINEMET and using only a dopamine agonist, the mds said yes, let's do that to my question about trying to eliminate/reduce SINEMET by using a dopamine agonist at a therapeutic level. I have told you all this only to demonstrate that there are many choices that you or your neuro can make re:drugs, physical therapy, etc. Becoming aware of as much as you can about pd, treatments and therapies both drug and others, and finding a doctor who you can develop a rapport with and trust to give you his/her best advice is very important to your health. Also your dr. should listen to what you are saying about your concerns and your observations of your own condition. Reading all you can about pd, joining support groups like this online group, advocating for research to find cause/cure for pd will all increase your knowledge and aid you along with your doctor to make wise choices re:treatment for your symptoms. And remember, what works today may be replaced by the new and improved next month and you will get better when you decide you will along with deciding to choose the dr and recommendation that you feel most comfortable using. As I said, my diagnosing neuro gave me the gold standard, SINEMETCR, and yes I felt better in a couple of weeks. The mds is more aware of newer therapies and even though he might not have prescribed SINEMETCR if I'd seen him lst, he didn't recommend stopping it as long as I was doing well. I have purposely NOT told you what choice to make, David. But I hope by reading of what I experienced in my lst year w/pd, you'll see that you, the pwp, need to be informed and speak up and ask questions when you visit your doctor. Either neurologist is telling you what he/she thinks is best, you must decide to trust one and try what that dr. says. Let me know by direct e-mail or by posting to the list what you choose and how you are doing. There is life after a diagnosis of pd. Good luck, Jeanette Fuhr 48/47/44?