"Where Life Meets Parkinson's." A blog for Parkinson's education, research advances, treatment strategies, and personal reflection. The goal is to provide support and resources to anyone either with Parkinson's disease or with any neurodegenerative disorder.
"I've always made a total effort, even when the odds seemed entirely against me. I never quit trying; I never felt that I didn't have a chance to win." Arnold Palmer "I'm in the woods so much I can tell you which plants are edible." Lee Trevino Introduction: Not everyone is interested in the results …
Précis: I can recall this happening twice during the past 12 years. What am I talking about? It was a day where everything seemed to be "off" regarding my symptoms, primarily motor-related. Has this ever happened to you? If so, I'd like to hear how you dealt with a prolonged off-period. A Typical "Off-On" Period: …
Continue reading "Managing the Consequences of an “Off” Day"
"Being the first to cross the finish line makes you a winner in only one phase of life. It's what you do after you cross the line that really counts." Ralph Boston "The key is that I control my life; my life doesn't control me." Gabrielle Reece The Musculoskeletal System: Muscles work together with bones …
"Be the kind of person who takes supplements - then skip the supplements." Michael Pollan "One, I am skeptical of the effectiveness of nutritional supplements." Michael Shermer Supplementing Our Treatment Plan: We all contribute to this collective knowledge, using various supplements and over-the-counter compounds to manage our Parkinson's. Besides exercise, what other strategies can we …
Continue reading "Update on My Strategy Using Supplements in Treating Parkinson’s"
"Winning comes down to who can execute under pressure." Billie Jean King "No pressure, no diamonds." Thomas Carlyle Scenario #1: You're lying on the floor for a stretch in a physical therapy session. You rise to your feet, and the world starts spinning suddenly. You feel dizzy and disoriented, and the room takes a few minutes …
Continue reading "Science Sunday: Baroreflex Dysfunction and Orthostatic Hypotension in Parkinson’s"
"Water is life's matter and matrix, mother and medium. There is no life without water." Albert Szent-Gyorgyi "Thousands have lived without love, not one without water." W. H. Auden Introduction: We are experiencing unrivaled and sustained summer heat in parts of the USA. While everyone needs to stay hydrated in such situations, it is vital …
Continue reading "Parkinson’s: The Importance of Drinking Water"
"We must never neglect the patient's own use of his symptoms." Alfred Adler “A sick thought can devour the body's flesh more than fever or consumption.” Guy de Maupassant Painful Leg Cramps with Parkinson’s: I bent down to put some extra toilet paper rolls into a bathroom cabinet this morning. Suddenly, the hamstring muscles in …
Continue reading "Why Monitoring Every Parkinson’s Symptom Matters"
"The smallest deed is better than the greatest intention." John Burroughs "Words mean nothing. Action is the only thing. Doing. That's the only thing." Ernest Gaines Introduction: Some blog posts get written in a single setting, and the flow from start to finish is just effortless. By contrast, some blog posts require extensive reading and …
"It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop." Confucius "You just can't beat the person who never gives up." Babe Ruth Preface to the Story: One of our favorite vacation places is Bermuda. The small 20-something square mile island, the water, the scenes, the amicable people (~60,000 inhabitants), and …
Continue reading "Parkinson’s and the Lesson Learned on the Bermuda Railway Trail Walk"
"My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style" Maya Angelou "Resilience is all about being able to overcome the unexpected. Sustainability is about survival. The goal of resilience is to thrive." Jamais Cascio Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic …
Continue reading "Finding Your Ikigai in the Presence of Parkinson’s"
Journey with Parkinson's 