People keep telling me to go to Mayo, but I'm not sure I see the point.
I imagine they will see my tell tale PD symptoms and say, " you have PD" and do nothing more.

Any one here ever been to Mayo?

Robert

There are plenty of excellent Movement Disorder Centers across the US. Why is everyone telling you to go to the Mayo? Is there a particular reason?

RD42,

I agree with Carolyn - there are many fine clinics. I think there is one in Cleveland that is well respected. (Oh dear or is it Cincinnatti?) Someone please correct me.

And a good friend goes to Rush in Chicago. Mayo isn't the only game in town, nor is it necessarily the best.

Good luck,

Jean

Robert,
I don't know much about hospitals and clinics in Illinois. However in Toledo Ohio there is the Medical University of Ohio (I'm not sure if the name is correct, they recently changed it). Dr.Larry Elmer is the director of the movement disorder clinic. He's a super guy and very very knowledgeable about PD. He talks about PD in terms you can understand. If you have a question he's more than happy to explain in a way that you will understand.
Then there is the Cleveland Clinic. From my experience there, they will find what your problem is. The doctor I saw there has since retired so I really can't comment on or suggest any of the doctors there. One thing I do know is they are good or they wouldn't be employed by the Cleveland Clinic.
I think the trick to getting the best care for yourself is finding a knowledgeable doctor you can talk with whether it's at the Mayo Clinic or your hometown hospital.

GregD

Mayo Clinic in Rochester Minnesota is a very nice place to go for a diagnosis. I've been there several times for my husband and for myself, but you are right - there is no real reason to go there for a PD diagnosis. There must be several movement disorder specialists in Chicago. The Univ. of Chicago has a hospital and medical center, and I think Northwestern does too.
I suppose Mayo Clinic just comes to mind as THE place to find specialists when you live in the Midwest.
If you are not happy with the specialists you see in Chicago you can always go to Mayo for a second opinion......

My original diagnosis of PD was made at the Mayo Clinic. The H & P took 45 minutes and was performed by one of top movment disorders specialists in the country. I was 56 years old at the time. His final advice to me at that time was, "find another institution with more up to date treatment protocol". He went on to add that Mayo's protocol was based on PD patients that were 75-80 years old. I paid my bill (3 times that of similiar neurological specialists in town), and went elsewhere. I have always been thankful that he offered me honest advice. This occured five years ago. Things may have changed.

My personal opinion of Mayo Clinic is it is a fine teaching institution with an excellent staff of physicians. I feel they are more interested in research and publishing papers, then actually treating patients. I prefer to be seen and treated by an experienced neurologist, rather than a second year resident or a physician in their Fellowship.

I went to Mayo (Arizona) for a clinical trial a few years ago - and had a terrible experience with the clinical trial neurologist.

There are always good & bad doctors wherever you go. Just because a place is nationally known doesn't mean you'll be treated well.