Traveling Tips to Enjoy the Holiday Season with Parkinson’s

“December is the time for remembering the past and reaching toward the future.” Ralph Waldo Emerson “Welcome winter. Your late dawns and chilled breath make me lazy, but I love you nonetheless.” Terri Guillemets Introduction: As we start the holiday season, for anyone with Parkinson's, it could be either the best of times or the …

Journey With Parkinson’s: Managing the First Ten Days After Hip Replacement Surgery

"I don't like surgery. I don't like elective surgery, I don't like surgery that you have to have." Sandra Bernhard "Truth, like surgery, may hurt, but it cures." Han Suyin Précis: On Wednesday, May 28, 2025, I had total hip replacement surgery on my right hip. Why talk about hip surgery when the blog focuses …

Fifteen Additional Myths and Common Misconceptions About Parkinson’s

"Myths are made for the imagination to breath life into them." Albert Camus "The trouble with the world is not that people know too little; it's that they know so many things that just aren't so." Mark Twain Introduction: Parkinson's continues to expand in numbers of people worldwide and firmly stands as the second most …

Managing the Consequences of an “Off” Day

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: …

Journey with Parkinson’s: Rigid and Sore Muscles (Psoas, Piriformis, Quadratus Lumborum, and Lumbar Multifidus)

"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 …

Journey With Parkinson’s: Everyday Heroes

"A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles." Christopher Reeve "Heroes take journeys, confront dragons, and discover the treasure of their true selves." Carol Lynn Pearson Nothing is redeemable about Parkinson's, but each Person-with-Parkinson's (PwP) has redeemable qualities.They awake each new day to a …

Journey With Parkinson’s: Mind the Gap

"Mind the gap - it's the distance between life as you dream it and life as it is." Cate Blanchett "The biggest gap in your life is between what you know and what you do." Bob Proctor Introduction: Several concerned readers have contacted me recently about not posting on "Journey with Parkinson's," asking about my …

Beta-Hydroxy-Beta-Methylbutyrate (HMB) and Vitamin D to Potentially Improve Muscular Function in Parkinson’s

"The mind is just another muscle." Ted Turner "Courage is very important. Like a muscle, it is strengthened by use." Ruth Gordon Introduction: This is a complicated blog post. Ponder these scenarios: (A) an older adult, healthy and aging naturally with evidence of decreased thigh muscles. This patient has a disorder named sarcopenia. (B) A …

Parkinson’s: The Importance of Drinking Water

"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 …

Why Monitoring Every Parkinson’s Symptom Matters

"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 …