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I  also have found it easier to walk backward.

Sharon H

On Fri, 20 Aug 1999 07:08:47 -0500 P&B Fahr <[log in to unmask]>
writes:
>List members,
>All this freezing/vision/dyskinetia discussion reminded
>me of an
>experience we had.
>
>A little over a year ago, my brother (with PD) and I
>were at the hospital in Chicago.  We met an interesting
>gentleman and his wife while waiting.  He was sitting in
>a chair with a soda can
>in his hand, got up, turned around (with some
>difficulty), and walked backwards
>across the room to the wastebasket, threw the can away,
>turned around, and walked backwards to his chair and sat
>down.  No problem.  We had a long talk with them.  He
>could only walk forward with the greatest of difficulty.
>Had learned this years before.
>
>This man was 42 years old and had PD since he was 25.
>Had a pallindotomy 4 years prior that was no longer
>effective.
>Worked as a mechanic by trade and still drove to work
>every day.
>But could not walk forward more than a step or two
>without problems.
>PD had affected his posture.
>
>His routine each day was to walk around the house
>backward getting ready to go to work, walked backward
>from the house to the truck, drove to work, and then
>walked backward into the shop.
>
>My brother had particular
>trouble getting around at night to go to the bathroom
>when he was off meds.  He too found that he could go
>nearly anywhere he wanted to if he walked backwards.  He
>would walk backwards to the stairs, walk downstairs
>(he could still do that going forward), then walk
>backwards to the bathroom.  Prior to that, and much of
>the daytime too, his only dependable
>means of movement was on his hands and knees.
>
>Try it.  It may work when you freeze.
>
>Paul