AboutMargot RN BScN GNC Expertise Please feel free to ask anything, but the more specific you are, the easier it is for me. Please share as many details as you are comfortable doing. I do check my Emails daily Monday through Friday so you should receive an answer within 24 hours on most business days. Thanks.
Experience GERONTOLOGY (NURSING ISSUES RELATED TO THE ELDERY) I have 15+ years experience working with the elderly. I would be pleased to offer any assistance I can. My areas of expertise include: Gerontology / Geriatrics, Long Term Care, Community Nursing, Palliative Care, Private Nursing Services, Intermediate / Extended Care. I also have a personal interest in Homeopathic and Eastern Medicine. If I can not answer your question I'll do my best to direct you to an appropriate resource. Thank you. Experience in the area 20 years of Long Term Care and Community Nursing, specialising in Geriatrics, Gerontology and PalliativeCare.
Education/Credentials Registered Nurse , Certified Gerontological Nurse, Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Question 62 year old male, shuffles when walking, falls when starting to run, leans forward and will fall, muscle fatigue, stiff rod like muscles in right leg, foot and arm at times, memory loss of everyday things,very slight right hand twitch/tremor, right eyelid twitch occasionally,memory loss at times, (forgetful) right side drools sleeping, slower movement when walking.
Answer Hello Donald and thanks for writing,
Obviously no one can, or should, diagnose over the internet, but I will share some information which may be helpful for you. The symptoms you describe do sound similar to Parkinson’s Disease, but you’d really need to be examined by a Neurologist to be sure. You should see a Neurologist as soon as you can so you can know what your treatment options are and get on the appropriate one as soon as possible to alleviate your symptoms and improve your quality of life. I will do my best to compile PD-specific information for you. PD is a terrible disease which slowly depletes pretty much every bodily function – much like ageing in reverse until you’re back to being like a baby and requiring total care for all your needs except the patient is a strong adult with adult moods and feelings.
Although gait abnormalities in Parkinson's disease are very common, the presenting symptoms are frequently resting tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia, and postural instability. Older patients have a syndrome of predominantly axial rigidity and gait disorders. The tremor of Parkinson's disease is a rest tremor. Initially, the tremor is usually one-sided. As the disease progresses, the tremor becomes bilateral and increases in severity and frequency. Although the classical tremor of Parkinson's disease is a rest tremor, over time an action tremor may develop. Furthermore, it may increase in severity with levodopa. The major complaint is a writing tremor (which may also present as micrographia). This type of tremor, may respond with propranolol.
Rigidity is defined as a resistance (increased muscle tone) to passive movement. Typical Parkinsonian rigidity is intermittent in nature, thus its name "cogwheel rigidity." While the rigidity is often bilateral, there is usually one predominant side. In addition to cogwheel rigidity, there is also generalized rigidity affecting mostly the neck, trunk and the knees leading to a stooped posture.
Bradykinesia is defined as a general slowness of movement. This will often be seen as hypomimia, which is decreased facial expression and reduced blink frequency (commonly called called masked facies). The gait will also be slowed, this is best observed by having the person get up from a chair and walk. It can also be tested by the ability of the person to initiate and sustain rapid pronation-supination of the hand on the thigh. Once the bradykinesia worsens, it can become one of the most disabling symptoms of Parkinson's Disease especially when combined with postural instability. The patient's movements will become extremely slow.
The unsteadiness with walking and turning, as well as occasional falls in Parkinson's Disease patients is due in part to the postural instability. A patient suffering from mildly impaired postural mechanisms will recover by stepping back one or two paces after being nudged at the sternum. After a sternal nudge, a more disabled patient will attempt to recover by stepping backwards, however they will continue in this fashion until they either fall or hit something (called retropulsion). An extremely disabled patient, being extremely rigid, may fall back straight as a board, without any attempt at recovery. When the patient reaches end-stage, they are not able to stand without assistance.
The combination of disabilities leading to a variation in gait is festination. Festination is progressively shortened, accelerated steps. It is produced by the combination of the flexion of the hips and knees and forward stoop, the shuffling steps, and an advancing centre of gravity (leaning forward). Usually because the person cannot regain their balance, this gait will result in a fall. Festination will only occur in the latter stages of the disease, and can usually be corrected with the help of a walking aid.
There is an associated slowing down of the person's mental function as the disease progresses. By end-stage of the disease some 50% of patients suffer from significant dementia.
The incidence of depression in Parkinson's patients is high. It is not clearly related to disease-severity or the dementia. Another frequent complaint, which may be associated with depression, is poor night-time sleep. Low doses of amitriptyline (tricyclic anti-depressant) may help to relieve both the symptoms associated with depression, and the insomnia.
Constipation is a frequent symptom, which may be worsened with anticholinergic treatment. It can be easily treated with diet control and/or enemas. Dysphagia can be caused by pahryngeal incoordination. It is caused by a delay in the relaxation of the inferior pharyngeal constrictor. Neurogenic bladder may be a complication of late stage patients, who often complain of urgency and frequency. This problem may be worsened with levodopa treatment. Other causes must be excluded however. Drooling may be the result of reduced swallowing frequency. Orthostatic hypotension is often seen, although it is rarely symptomatic in the classical disease. It is worsened with levodopa and dopamine agonists. Severe sweating may be an intermitent problem. It responds well to propranolol. A frequent complaint and finding is leg edema. It is usually related to the bradykinesia.
Stage IV
• severely disabled due to the tremor, rigidity and bradykinesia
• still mobile and able to act independently some times
• fluctuations, if present, are more severe and may at times be completely disabling
• dyskinesias, induced from levodopa therapy, may be prominent (including postural defects)
With advanced disease, some patients will complain of vague paresthesias and discomfort in the lower trunk, low back, and lower limbs. These are often secondary to rigidity and/or severe tremor. Better control of the parkinsonism through medication adjustments may improve these symptoms.
Stage V
• maximum degree of previous disabilities, including severe postural defects
• independent mobility is impossible, usually bed-ridden.
I hope this helps, all the best,
Margot
