The MDS specializes in movement disorders. I wasted 10 mos with a neurologist when I 1st started with symptoms. He kept saying "we will watch it." In the meantime, symptoms got worse. I finally went to Lahey Clinic got diagnosed after having a DATSCAN & seeing an MDS. She put me on meds & I was better. I have since gotten a new MDS closer to home & just love him.

The DATSCAN was scheduled by MDS @ Lahey to check the dopamine in the brain which showed a decrease, so that helped to confirm diagnosis, along with tremors stopping when put on carbidopa/levadopa.😊

I was diagnosed with parkinsons by a neurologist. He wrote me a couple prescriptions and told me to come back in a year. My wife fortunately did not accept this, looked for and found a neurologist who is a MDS. Had to wait 4 months to get in to see him but was well worth the wait. He took the time to tell us about what causes the PD and what to expect. Also sent me to physical therapy. We are both so very happy to have someone who understands and what to do as new symptoms happen. My advice would be to get a MDS

A MDS specializes in Parkinson's, while a neurologist deals with all sorts of brain and nerve issues so may not have as deep a knowledge of Parkinson's as a MDS. Where I live it is a long drive to a MDS so we just go to a local neurologist recommended by Jim's PCP and have no complaints. Jim's issues are straight-forward and all she has had to do so far was prescribe pills and refer him for PT. If your situation is more complicated, then getting a specialist can be helpful. As your disease progresses, you may also want to have someone with more cutting edge information on new treatments, medications, etc.

Yes the movement person picks up fom the neurologist diagnosis. I go to a center for movement disorders and we do boxing for parkinsons, movements to build strength and flexibility, i.e. hand to eye exercises, cognitive exercises. The cebter has specialized professional boxers who develiped the program along with physical therapist students and graduates. Movement is key from what research I have done.