Usually, PD starts on one side of the body. In my case, it started on my right hand (side) and is becoming more bilateral after 6 years of Dx. Recently, I find that my right hand/ leg looks relatively smaller than the left hand/leg. Is that a result of PD progress that affects my right side more seriously than the left side?

My right calf has been noticeably smaller than my left for several years, although I was looking in the mirror just the other day and thinking it seemed less so. Diabetic neuropathies can do the same thing and may be a clue to similar processes at work.

I just took another look and I swear that it has improved! I wish I had measured the circumfrence a few months back. If it has improved as a result of anything I have done the only real candidate is the lipoic acid, acetyl carnitine, and L carnosine mix I have mentioned elsewhere. It is also said to be effective for diabetic neuropathy so maybe there really is a connection.

I Have been wondering about a possible decrease in the size/length of my right leg (dominant and most effected but to a small extent). I can't recall ever noticing this before the last year or so. Time to get out the tape and document No meds after 4.2 years.

,,, ken

Do you suffer from dystonia? That might be a possible explanation. Sometimes a side effect of Sinemet can cause dystonia.

P.S. Moderators, note how much information is being shared by not using the "Thanks" button to share information, not just to vote yes. Oh no! have I risked getting censored because I pointed out a point in an inappropriate post. How naughty of me!!! LOL

Vicky

My dad has supposedly a shorter leg - I wonder now that I go to a chiropractor - if it is actually his hips that are uneven.

he was in a motorcycle accident - where it flipped up and over landing on his back - he was trying to cover/protect my little brother that was riding with him at the time. in a field.

I knew my shoulders were crooked for quite awhile -but since chiropractic - and searching for info on it....

anyway the C1/C2 can get bumped out of alignment which can cause misalignments in the whole body. Causing hips/pelvis and other areas to compensate down the chain.

info-
Chiropractic care info- a good one can help with many symptoms:
http://www.upcspine.com/self.htm
http://www.uppercervical.org/subpag...b/about_faq.php
http://www.spineuniverse.com/index.html
http://www.coloradochiropractic.org/.../glossary.html

some do or don't "believe "in chiropractic

- but I'm more or less just wondering if any of you have had an evaluation for any such misalignments or as to leg length vs hip unevenness?

i am, or was, right handed, and the right is my most affected side. i started having symptoms in 1996 and by the time i sought medical help in 1998, i had noticed distinct atrophy in one area of my right hand - if you are looking at the palm of your right hand, this would be the muscle(s) on the left side, stretching from the bottom of your pinkie down to your wrist. that area had atrophied already at that point. has atrophied a little more since then, but not hugely. have never checked other areas for atrophy.

since parkinson's does not involve atrophy, neurologists didn't know what to do with it. hence, ultimately, it was and continues to be disregarded.

Boann, some with repetitive strain injuries will have atrophy- do you think that might be a part of it in the case of your hand?
Some will even get a clawing tendency in the hand.

My left side is the one affected, luckily for me since I am right handed. My left leg feels shorter than my right leg. I'm not sure that it is shorter, because it tends to 'collapse' when I put weight on it. I have a pronounced limp after walking for more than a few minutes.
My left hip is slimmer than my right hip. My pants' zippers are never in the middle of my stomach, but both arm and leg and hand and foot on my left side are the same size as ever.
My right side has always been a little bigger than the left. My ears have a centimeter's difference in length, and my right foot is 1/2 size bigger than the left. Even the fingers on my right hand are slightly longer than the ones on the left. I was just not very evenly made to begin with.

birte

repetitive strain... never thought of it. can it occur without pain or some other sensation (buzzing, tingling, numbness, weakness)?

Boann- I suppose if it was very mild- mine {RSI/TOS} is mild now - but i do have finger coordination problems/ or maybe brain/finger coordination problems?

like with typing and writing - my brain knows the keys /letters but fingers go elsewhere - thank goodness for instant spell check!
If I didn't have that my typing would require a lot of fixes- LOL

I think I recall most mentioning atrophy of the thumb pad also.

when you mentioned your atrophy I was just curious if it might be RSI related.
Most likely at some point there would have been some discomfort in your hands, arms , neck or shoulders.

Bemm - my eyes and ears are slightly uneven too.


I have hyper mobile joints also - one time i jumped off from the tailgate of our 4x4 truck and landed more on one leg than the other.
3 days later was my chiro appt - I could tell that i got myself out of balance- I could feel it.
My DC noticed it right away & fixed it easily.