Dear Bill
For the past 2 years or so I have run/walked each morning for about an hour.
The total distance that I cover is about 4 1/2 miles so what I do could
better be described as plodding. I always go out first thing in the morning
before I start my meds. The hour spent doesn’t seem to make a difference in
my need for senimet. If I spent the same hour in an easy chair my need for
medicine would be no less. The reason that I walk frequently is that in
the off condition I will freeze up if I continue the same activity too long.
So the routine is run 1/4 mile - walk 50 yards - run 1/4 mile - etc.
My greatest problem is that my gait is distorted due to Parkinson’s. So much
so that I will wear through the sole of a new pair of running shoes in about
2 months. I then have the shoe repair shop place polyurethane wear pads at
the wear points then repeat the cycle several times during the life of the
shoes.
I also blame the gait problem on the foot injury that is plaguing me now.
Regards,
John Davis 62/46/43
-----Original Message-----
From: Bill Innanen <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Monday, December 13, 1999 9:24 AM
Subject: Dopamine vs. exercise
I was recently diagnosed with Parkinson's, just one week ago. Prior
to this diagnosis I styled myself as an avid long distance runner.
Over the last 9 months or so my running began to get shorter and
shorter as what I now know are dystonias hit my left leg under the
stress of long runs. (Details can be found on my new PD diary web
page at http://Bill.Innanen.com/parkinsons/)
In a run/walk yesterday, I found a method of avoiding the dystonias
(which, in my ignorance, I've been referring to as "leg-locks").
This involves stopping running the instant I feel the "tightening" in
my leg that precedes a leg-lock. I noticed that the length of time I
rest by walking seemed (by a qualitative observation) to be directly
proportional to the subsequent time I was able to run before I had to
stop yet again.
*********
Question: Does heavy exercise deplete dopamine faster than normal?
*********
If the answer to this question is yes, then I think I can build a
mathematical model (with some strong simplifying assumptions - of
questionable validity) that should enable me to monitor the relative
changes in my net dopamine production (actual production minus
natural loss). I'm going to have to start collection some
quantitative data to drive this model, but before I do that, I'd like
to know if my base assumption (that the answer to the above question
is "yes") is valid or not.
If you have any information on this, I'd appreciate it if you could
pass it along.
Bill
PS - Since I'm in digest mode, I'd appreciate a Cc in addion to any
on-list response.
--
Bill Innanen <mailto: [log in to unmask]>
<http://Bill.Innanen.com> & <http://mni.ms>
