Hi,

I am new to this forum and could use some help and advice. I am having alot of problems right now with my PD and am wondering how do you know when the problems are medication related or just the progression of the disease?
I am 57, female and have been diagnosed 3 years. I am currently on Generic Sinemet, Requip, Azilect and Amantidine. I have alot of problems with dyskinesia and constant pain in my legs and feet.The pain does not seem to respond to the Sinemet. The MDC Dr played with my meds lately and now it seems like nothing is working at all. They are telling me my only option is DBS and I am very nervous about that.

I appreciate any advice you may have for me.

Sorry Soozie. I have heard from my neuro to go the DBS route and I've only been on meds two years! Crazy.

Anyway, I don't know I have much to help. I will say that Azilect can cause excruciating joint pain. I had to stop taking it early on; I'd wake up feeling 20 years older and had to take pain medecine every night- it is a known side effect. I suspected it and tried to eliminate with neuro's guidance and that the did the trick. I would suspect that first and the agonist next as I get weird joint pain with that too. This I know because when I take my next dose of Mirapex...it went away almost immediately- levodopa didn't touch it.

It really is frustrating not knowing what is disease progression and what is due to meds, isn't it? I am thinking of slowing down drugs with titration schedule from doc and perhaps doing a week long wash out over the summer just to get a baseline of where I'm at with this beasty.

Please look into the Azilect especially if it feels like a deep muscular ache or joint pain.

Laura

Laura,
Thanks for your reply and help. I appreciate the info on Azilect. As we all respond differently to the medications it is so hard to know what is happening. I feel like I am on my own when it comes to dealing with any side effects. I will try coming off the Azilect first. Did you have any problems when you came off it? I seem to be very sensitive to the medication changes so not sure what to aspect.
It sure is crazy how quickly they suggest DBS? I know, I am not ready to go down that road yet.

Suzanne