My insomnia is really out of control tonight ... I've gone and started to answer my own post! how pathetic. I searched "Autonomic Failure" on Google and found some good stuff at Vanderbilt medical center.
Through their links I did find an article on Yahoo about "freezing", or what I call getting "stuck." (RSD articles call this part of the RSD Movement Disorder: inability to initiate movement.)
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Freezing In Parkinson's Disease What Is It and What Can You Do For IT?
by David L. Cram, M.D.
"Freezing is a sudden, temporary, involuntary inability to move one's legs and feet...there is no specific treatment for freezing although drug manipulation may help for a while. Once it starts it usually persists, occurring more and more frequently during the day. The episodes may also become longer and can cause severe disability. Freezing is one of the major causes of dangerous falls..."
"For some unknown reason people with PD tend to have their freezing attacks when they approach a doorway, tight spaces, elevators, rows of chairs or pews, doors, rugs, steps, a curb, a body turn, or merely when crossing a street. Unless you develop a "trick" to get yourself moving again you run the risk of losing your balance and falling. These tricks often involve sensory or mental imagery cues. The following are just some of the known tricks that may help:


Imagine a line or object on the floor and try stepping over it.
Walk over masking tape placed across a walkway.
Hum rhythmic tunes or count in a marching cadence when preparing to walk through a doorway or to initiate walking.
Have someone put his or her foot in front of you so you can step over it.
Slowly rock from side to side to get moving again.
Counting cadence to yourself, or aloud, when you walk may ease the process.
Listen to music especially marches and march or imagine you are marching.
Summon your willpower and take one long, firm step forward.
Also,
- Treadmill exercises and daily walking can be helpful
- A hand held laser The patient is instructed to direct the beam to the floor in front and they step onto the point of light.
- Dogs have been trained to help people with PD for a variety of problems, including freezing. The dog is trained to put its paw on the top of the person's foot which breaks the freeze and the person can continue walking. Why or how this works no one knows."

What do you all think? Is this RSD-relevant? Please let me know. I'm ready to run out to Home Depot and buy masking tape and a laser-light for my friend (she already has a very well-trained doggie).