Parkinson's Go Park Yourself Somewhere else!

Countering the debilitating condition.

- Padmaja Menon

The teller in the bank was getting a signature from my husband and all of a sudden, I noticed that he was struggling to sign. His signature seemed to have decreased and he was scribbling or rather trying to scrawl.

The man, who signed with a flourish and managed all bank documents himself even though we were joint account holders, had lost his signature somewhere. We were nonplussed as to what could have happened.

His hands had started a tremor and we had not given it serious thought. But, of late, the tremors had increased and his walk had become a gait type. All of a sudden, I remembered an uncle, who was very shakey shakey and we used to call him Movers and Shakers! Oh, dear was this Parkinsonism? Parkinson's was what?

I googled and this is what I got.

Parkinson's disease is a progressive disorder that affects the nervous system and the parts of the body controlled by the nerves.

Symptoms start slowly. The first symptom may be a barely noticeable tremor in just one hand.

Tremors are common, but the disorder may also cause stiffness or slowing of movement.

In the early stages of Parkinson's disease, your face may show little or no expression. Your arms may not swing when you walk. Your speech may become soft or slurred. Its symptoms worsen as your condition progresses over time.

Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of Parkinson's disease can be different for everyone. Early signs may be mild and go unnoticed. Symptoms often begin on one side of the body and usually remain worse on that side; afterwards symptoms begin to affect the limbs on both sides.

Parkinson's signs and symptoms may include: