When To Seek Medical Advice for Parkinson’s Disease

Diagnosis of Parkinson’s in its early stages is critical in deciding treatment plans. Even though a Parkinson’s diagnosis is hard to pin down, if treatment is started soon enough, symptoms and signs can be delayed or successfully managed for several years.

There is no special test to decide if you have Parkinson’s disease, that’s why it’s important to rule out anything else that could cause your symptoms. Other neurological disorders that can cause Parkinson’s symptoms include progressive supranuclear palsy, multiple system withering, essential tremor, and dementia. Symptoms may also be brought on with some antipsychotic medications. The drugs that may induce Parkinson’s symptoms are:

Chlorpromazine
Haloperidol
Compazine
Metoclopramide

The symptoms will go away if you stop taking the drugs.

Toxins that can give you Parkinson’s symptoms include carbon monoxide, cyanide and other similar toxins. A stroke or fluid buildup in the brain may also mimic the signs of Parkinson’s disease. A boxer with multiple injuries around the head or neck may also show signs of Parkinson’s disease although this is a small risk.

Your medical history and a neurological work up can decide if you have Parkinson’s or the symptoms are caused by something else. Your doctor will look at your family history and discuss the medications you are taking as well as watching while you do simple hand tasks. He also may watch the way you walk and your coordination. A diagnosis of Parkinson’s can be given if a patient has at least two of three symptoms, which are tremor, muscle rigidity, and slowness of motion. Other sure signs of Parkinson’s is a pronounced tremor while your hand is resting, symptoms on only one side of the body, or a strong reaction to a Parkinson’s drug called levodopa.

There are complications from the disease that can cause concern and lead you to seek professional advice. People with Parkinson’s sometimes have sleep problems. They may not be able to go to sleep even though they are tired, or they may wake up several times in the middle of the night. Sleep attacks can happen during the day when a person will suddenly go to sleep while going about their normal daily activities.

Another complication from Parkinson’s disease is with chewing and swallowing food. The muscles that enable you to do these routine movements are affected and will be worse as the disease progresses.

Urinary and digestive problems may also develop because of medications used to treat the disease causes the digestive tract to work slower and cause the patient to retain urine, or cause incontinence problems. Parkinson’s diseases sometimes cause a decrease in sexual desire. Medications for the disease can also cause jerking movements in the arms and legs, involuntary twitching, hallucinations, and a sudden drop in blood pressure.

Be sure to contact your doctor if you are having any of these complications. Adjusting medications may help with some of the symptoms and depression can be treated with drugs or therapy.

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