I was diagnosed in 2011 but had had the shakes a long time before then and that was by a doctor who had never seen me before. Why could my regular doctor have not picked up on the signs.I know there is no cure at the moment but surely an earlier diagnosis would have helped to make my life a bit easer if treatment had started earlier? The shaking first started in my left hand now occasionally spreads to the right. The main worry is sometimes I feel as if I'm loosing my balance and seem to… read more
Hello, @Jelly. General Practitioners really don't know a lot about the specialties. You have to be proactive in your search for proper assessment. You should ask your doctor to refer you to a neurologist who specialized in Movement Disorders. Movement Disorder Specialists (MDS) are neurologists who have had specialized training in diseases like Parkinson's.
Good luck to you. Be well.
My husband would ask the dr. about his shaking and for abut three years he called it essential tremors and he knew ny husband had lost his sense of smell -we put two and two together finally and went to a neurologist who confirmed it - he only had it in the right hand and he is left handed so it didnt affect things much till he hurt his left arm and hand - making a tight fist helps stop the shaking -
BrianHayler, Hello. You ask why your doctor did not notice your symptoms. General practitioners get a little taste of neurological diseases like Parkinson's in their training. If they specialize in neurology they will see more neurological symptoms, but there are so many areas of specialization that one doctor may see very little of a specific disease like Parkinson's and that can result in him/her missing something the first or second time you visit. If you think you have something like Parkinson's, you should question your doctor and ask for a referral to a specialist. In the case of Parkinson's you should see a Movement Disorders Specialist. Also, we can all educate ourselves with so much information that is on-line. Take a look at what you think you might have so you'll be better able to speak with your doctor about it. Many of us have similar problems when we first develop symptoms of Parkinson's. It's not an easy thing to diagnosis. You might like to take a look at the Michael J Fox Foundation web site. You see a lot of information there that may help you, and your doctor, understand more.
I wish you well.
Julianne
Frans advice is spot on with her recommedation of Yoga or Palates. My suggestion is to get fit super fit. Really its just common sense weights and cardio its not easy but the rewards have been massive.
I use a cane for mobility, holding it in my 'tremor' hand. I find it helps control some of the shaking and makes me more aware of my walking and my 'space'. I also do chair yoga for strength and balance.