My dad (63) was diagnosed with Parkinson's 8–10 years ago. Lately, we've seen a major shift in his behavior and are wondering if others have experienced these symptoms - paranoia, hallucinations.
If you've experienced something similar, did anything specific help manage it (medication adjustments, communication techniques, safety steps)? Any shared experiences would be greatly appreciated.
My 78-year-old father has Parkinson’s disease and is currently taking Madopar (levodopa/benserazide) three times a day. His last dose is at around 9:00 PM.
Recently, he has started experiencing very painful cramps in his left leg in the early hours of the morning. The episodes occur almost every night at approximately the same time.
Some details:
The cramp is mainly in the left calf/leg.
It is extremely painful.
There is no obvious abnormal positioning of the foot or toes. His toes do not curl and his foot does not noticeably turn inward.
The cramp usually resolves quickly when he gets up, moves around and massages the area. He also used Voltaren (diclofenac) gel, and the pain went away almost immediately.
He takes magnesium bisglycinate (105 mg elemental magnesium) regularly, but the cramps have still started occurring.
His neurologist prescribed Neurontin (gabapentin) 300 mg at bedtime. It has not prevented the cramps, and unfortunately it caused dizziness and he had a minor fall.
The cramps seem to occur 6–8 hours after his last Madopar dose, in the early morning.
Previously, we also noticed that some of his leg cramps seemed to occur when the effect of Madopar was wearing off and improve after Madopar.
Would adjusting the timing of levodopa, rather than increasing gabapentin or magnesium, typically be considered by a neurologist?
Any experiences or advice would be greatly appreciated.
Hello Reddit!
We're excited to join you for an Ask Me Anything about Parkinson's disease.
I'm Richard B. Dewey III, M.D., a neurologist at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida. I specialize in Parkinson's disease, essential tremor, dystonia, and other complex movement disorders. My work focuses on improving care and quality of life for people living with movement disorders, and I've served as an investigator on more than 50 clinical trials studying emerging therapies for Parkinson's disease and related conditions.
And I'm D. Campbell Dewey, M.D., a neurologist at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida. I specialize in Parkinson's disease, tremor, gait disorders, ataxia, and other movement disorders. My interests include helping patients navigate diagnosis and treatment while developing personalized care plans using the latest evidence-based therapies and advanced treatment options.
We're also brothers, which means Parkinson's disease and movement disorders have been a topic of conversation both at work and around the family dinner table for years. Together, we're looking forward to answering your questions and sharing insights from our clinical experience caring for people with Parkinson's disease and other movement disorders.
On October 14 at 11:45 a.m. ET, we'll be here live to answer questions about:
· Parkinson's disease diagnosis and symptoms
· Early signs and disease progression
· Treatment options and medications
· Deep brain stimulation (DBS)
· Tremor and movement disorders
· Exercise and lifestyle considerations
· Current research and emerging therapies
· Supporting a loved one with Parkinson's disease
Whether you're living with Parkinson's disease, recently diagnosed, caring for a loved one, or simply interested in learning more, we'd be happy to answer your questions.
Learn more about us:
· View Dr. Richard Dewey's Mayo Clinic Profile
· View Dr. Campbell Dewey's Mayo Clinic Profile
We're looking forward to the conversation. Feel free to start leaving your questions, and we'll see you on October 14!
I’ve been having a lot of problems with finding a good neurologist . My GP is trying to help me but we’re not having much success. I thought I’d ask the Reddit community. Do any of you have suggestions for a motion specialist? I am willing to travel. Thank you.
During my appointment with my Movement Specialist he asked if I would like to be included in testing out the above app
From what I can see
- The goal is to be better understand & track motor symptoms on a more regular basis vs the 15 minute visit we have 3 to 4 times a year. Said another way, shows doctor what happens in between visits
- Apparently my wife will tape me as I complete assigned task such as: Finger tapping, Heel stomping, walking, eye tracking & voice assessment
- Feels like the system analyzes trends as compared to previous readings
- One neat application could be to better understand trends for patients during "on" and "off" periods
- Although it wont apply to me, might really benefit patients who have to travel hours to see their doctors and therefore might be limited to a few appointments a year
My doctor is NOT associated with the app and he knows I have already expressed an interest in other pilots and programs. He said I can quit at any time and wants to make sure I dont look at this as if it is homework
Doesnt look like this is has been discussed on this sub - which makes sense since it appears to be rather new
Thought I would put on everyone's radar
