Parkinson’s disease is a disorder of the nervous system affecting movement. It can start gradually and worsen over time. Tremors and shaking — for example, of the hands — might be one of the first symptoms you think of when you hear the words “Parkinson’s disease” — but other important signs and symptoms include:

TREMOR
A tremor, or shaking, usually begins in a limb, often your hand or fingers. You may notice a back-and-forth rubbing of your thumb and forefinger, known as a pill-rolling tremor. One characteristic of Parkinson’s disease is a tremor of your hand when it is relaxed (at rest).

SLOWED MOVEMENT (BRADYKINESIA)
Over time, Parkinson’s disease may reduce your ability to move and slow your movement, making simple tasks difficult and time-consuming. Your steps may become shorter when you walk, or you may find it difficult to get out of a chair. Also, you may drag your feet as you try to walk, making it difficult to move.

RIGID MUSCLES
Muscle stiffness may occur in any part of your body. The stiff muscles can limit your range of motion and cause you pain.

IMPAIRED POSTURE AND BALANCE
Your posture may become stooped, or you may have balance problems as a result of Parkinson’s disease.

LOSS OF AUTOMATIC MOVEMENTS
In Parkinson’s disease, you may have a decreased ability to perform unconscious movements, including blinking, smiling or swinging your arms when you walk.

SPEECH CHANGES
You may have speech problems as a result of Parkinson’s disease. You may speak softly, quickly, slur or hesitate before talking. Your speech may be more of a monotone rather than with the usual inflections.

WRITING CHANGES
It may become hard to write, and your writing may appear small.

Source: Mayo Clinic

Although Parkinson’s can’t be cured, it can be treated. If you have any of the symptoms associated with Parkinson’s disease, contact your doctor for a proper diagnosis.

The Movement Disorder Clinic at Deer Lodge Centre can help

The Movement Disorder Clinic treated more than a thousand people living with Parkinson’s last year. All patients seen in the clinic by the Movement Disorder Neurologists, Geriatric Psychiatrist, and Neuropsychologist must be referred by a physician or nurse practitioner with referring privileges.

The Movement Disorder Clinic has a dynamic interdisciplinary team, providing specialty services to patients with a variety of movement disorders, including: Parkinson’s disease, Parkinsonism, Tremor, Dystonia, Huntington disease, Chorea, Myoclonus, Tourette’s syndrome, Restless leg syndrome, drug-induced movement disorders, and more.

Services available at the MDC are movement disorder Neurologist Consultants, Botox injections, Deep Brain Stimulation, Neurophysiology Laboratory, Clinical Resource Nurse, Social Work, General Psychiatry, Physiotherapy, Occupational therapy, Speech Language Pathology, Clinical Nutrition and Clinical Research.

The Movement Disorder Clinic serves all of Manitoba, Nunavut, Northwestern Ontario (West of Thunder Bay) and the Eastern border of Saskatchewan. Find out more »

YOU can help in the fight against Parkinson’s

Make a donation to Deer Lodge Centre Foundation in support of the Movement Disorder Clinic. Your gift will support and enhance the care we provide to thousands of Manitobans living with Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders.

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