[bubblyshar]

Hi all,

Hope you are all enjoying the Labor Day weekend.

I joined this board about a year ago when my Dad (69 and living in Canada) was diagnosed with PD.
His current symptom is tremor in his right hand. The neuro has not prescribed any medication yet.

He take Coq10 1200 mg, alpha lipoic acid, cucurmin, alpha omega as supplements.

He exercises six days a week ( cycling, yoga, cross trainer).


I was wondering if anyone has any recommendations for anything to help with reducing the tremor. Or anything else you can suggest.

I am the one doing all the research (since he doesen't read too much about it).

So any information/ advice you can provide will be much appreciated.

Thanks,

Sharmila

[CarolynS]

Sharmila, I will just about to post something about tremor. I wish I had an idea for you, but short of DBS I don't.

I came in here to grip about my tremor, so I will start a new thread so I don't bum you thread will negativity.

I do hope that someone has something to say about the tremor your dad has.

Carolyn

[lindylanka]

Hi, Sharmila,

I wondered, given your father's age, why he has not been started on medication.

Is his condition impacting on his quality of life? If tremor is his major symptom, and he is not finding it too problematic, perhaps he is better as he is, but if he has balance problems, falls, is moving so slowly that it impacts on daily life, or is very stiff and rigid (which can also cause falls) then medication might be the right way to go.

But very slowly......... and very low..... and with caution. Some of the side-effects of PD medications are so similar to PD itself. So it is good to know what he is experiencing now, to contrast with how he is on meds, if that is the route he goes........

Postings, studies, and patient anecdotes indicate that older people do better on l-dopa than agonists, and often doctors are reluctant to prescribe older people agonists, as the side-effects are more difficult to live with. However this is not a hard and fast rule. Neuros vary. But it is something to consider.

If he is happy and functioning well to what he sees as his own needs, then it could be better to wait....... it's a very personal and individual call.

Tremor seems to respond differently in different people, there are no definitives with PD.........

Best of luck with finding something that works for your Dad, he is fortunate to have someone caring to look out for him.......

Lindy

[jolot]

Reply and question.
Shamila: Re tremor.
Sorry to hear about your dad.
Lindy hit the nail on the head.
You need to provide more info on your father and his condition: Age diagnosed, physical condition - stiffness (rigidity), balance problems, facial expression, voice condition, gait, right or left handed, medications, etc. If he is satisfied with the way things are now and can live with the tremor and if it were me I would let it go until he needs Sinemet to treat other conditions. Incidentally, a recent study concluded that Q10 has no effect on PD so you may want to research that as it may save you some.
I have had plenty experience with tremor, but keep in mind that we are all different when it comes to PD. Basically it seems there is very little can be done to help tremor.
I am now 72, I live alone on a 40 acre parcel 20 miles from Edmonton Ca. Was diagnosed with PD in 2003. Severe sudden tremor right foot & leg, then arm & hand six months later (luckily I am left handed). My first neuro started me on Sinemet, then added Trihex and Nortryptaline. After four months of treatment I never knew if I was coming or going, and the tremor was as bad if not worse. I quit all the meds and the neuro and felt a whole lot better. Slowly lost some of the function on right side over past three years. During the last year have developed chronic pain in lower back and surrounding areas. Am no longer able to easily roll over in bed, and painful & difficult to get out of bed or tub. I need to take a break doing simple tasks like washing dishes, and am not able to do simple maintenance without consequences, but try to keep moving. My neuro was skeptical about the diagnosis because Sinemet has no effect and there is little rigidity in my right arm. He sent me to a top specialist in Vancouver, for a second opinion (took nine months to see him). He confirmed diagnosis and said the good news is that mine is tremor intensive and that it is slower progressing. He prescribed Mirtazipine for tremor, just recently started on 15 mg so don’t know if it will help yet, but you may want to talk to your doc about it. So far after seven years I am managing OK. I belong to a support group and find it helpful.
Question:
I have experimented with Sinemet several times over the years without success, and am now trying again as I don’t see a neuro until next Feb, but am not sure how to go properly go about it. Currently for one week I have been taking 3x100/25/day four hours apart trying to keep away from meal times. If anyone has advice on proceeding further, please lay it on.
Thanks.
John.

[bubblyshar]

My Dad who has PD also lives in Edmonton. I am not very happy with his neurologist. Do you like yours?

Sharmila

[Aunt Bean]

Try eating raw pumpkin seeds

[bubblyshar]

Originally Posted by Aunt Bean

Try eating raw pumpkin seeds

Hi Aunt Bean,

What do raw pumpkin seeds help with?

Thanks,

Sharmila