Movement disorders

“My husband takes tiny steps and sometimes he can’t stop walking. He keeps falling and just broke his hip. Is there any way to help him?”

Parkinson’s disease (PD) affects one million Americans. It is caused by a reduction in a specific chemical (dopamine) in certain parts of the brain. It can cause a resting tremor, slow movement, rigidity, and postural instability (poor balance and frequent falls). It can also affect memory, mood, and sleep. It typically affects older patients and slowly worsens.

Many medications treat the symptoms of PD, however, the right balance of medications for your condition can be hard to find and can change with time. However effective treatment for PD can improve your symptoms, independence, and quality of life for years to come.

There also are non-pharmacologic treatments for movement disorders. Physical and occupational therapy programs, including LSVT for PD, can benefit many patients. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is also commonly used to treat Parkinson’s disease and essential tremor.

“My mother had a tremor all her life. It kept getting worse until she couldn’t eat or drink for herself. I have the same tremor. Will the same thing happen to me?”

Essential tremor is shaking that gets worse with movement. It runs in families, can affect young adults, and can get worse with age. It affects your hands and your voice. It gets worse with activity and can make eating and drinking difficult. However, there are medication and procedures which can help improve these symptoms.

Restless legs syndrome describes the irresistible urge to move your legs. It often happens at night when you are trying to fall asleep. It is sometimes a sign of iron deficiency. In other cases, it can be treated with medications or life-style changes.