As a patient, it is in your best interest to seek a physician who has an understanding of the unique treatment of young-onset PD. Such a doctor will be able to help you maximize your quality of life. There are things you can do now that may delay progression.

I have Parkinson's, but don't have many symptoms or problems. Here is my story.

While taking a walk with my wife about six years ago, she asked me "why are you walking like a robot?" She noticed that my right arm was not swinging naturally.

I chalked it up to getting old and stiff. I had a few other symptoms as well. None of them debilitating. My right foot dragged sometimes, I got what felt like chills every afternoon from about 5:00 to 6:00 pm. I typed too many spaces because of a hand tremor. I pretty much ignored symptoms for months, until I had a routine physical with my primary care physician. I was 59 years old. I told him about my hand tremors. He referred me to a local neurologist.

The medications I take have eliminated most symptoms most of the time. Excercise is really important for health and wellbeing. I now take an indoor biking class 2 or 3 times a week, I swim 1 or 2 times a week, ride my bicycle outdoors every day the weather permits, take a yoga class about 1 day per week, play ping pong once/ week and practice juggling 15 a 20 minutes/day.
Move it or lose it.

@A MyParkinsonsTeam Member You may be a little spooked and paranoid, but see a doctor anyway. What seems like minor and unrelated symptoms may add up to something treatable.

Doctors look for early evidence of non-motor or pre-motor symptoms long before motor symptoms appear. According to neurologist Dr. Lawrence Severt, the following non-motor symptoms may be early indicators of Parkinson’s:

a diminished sense of smell
a long history of constipation
REM-sleep behavior disorder
a history of anxiety and depression
speaking in a low-volume voice
changes in speech
difficulty finding words
low blood pressure when standing
*** painful foot cramps ***
changes in personality
problems with skin
drooling
increased sweating
increased urination urgency
increased urination frequency
erectile dysfunction

The four main motor symptoms include:

tremor
muscle rigidity
bradykinesia (slow movement)
poor balance or posture that may affect walking
Not everyone will have all the main motor symptoms. Similar symptoms are also common in other neurological disorders.

Additional motor symptoms may include the following:

loss of automatic movements, such as smiling and blinking
“masked” face, or a lack of expression
shuffling gait
trouble rising from a seated position
difficulty swallowing or eating
stooped posture
impaired balance
decreased arm swinging when walking
small handwriting
freezing, or walking in quick small steps
trouble moving or turning in bed
slowed daily activities
staying in the same position for long periods

Also, many motor symptoms of Parkinson’s are associated with vision. These symptoms relate to the muscle movements of the eyeball.

Mentioned Users

A MyParki...

I agree with all the posts here. I think that one should ask a neurologist, a movement specialist, this a neurologist whose practice is specialized in neurological diseases with movement disorder like Parkinson Disease (PD). I think the earlier the diagnosis is made the better the outcome of the treatment. God Bless.

I had pins and needles in my hand and writing became difficult. I was told I had begin tremor syndrome when I went back for a checkup they had me walk up and down and I later discovered because my arm didn't swing when I walked I had Parkinson's talk about shock

Hi, I first noticed a tingling in my right thumb and right hand weakness in 2012 and my right arm did not swing naturally when I walked. Richard and I work together in a woodworking business and my job is sanding and hand finishing. While working on a walnut farm table I noticed I could not hold the 4 inch foam brush. My right hand could not grip it tightly enough. So long story short my right shoulder had been giving me problems for more than a few years and eventually I went to an orthopedic specialist who sent me to a Physical Therapist in 2013. My brother several years older than me had been diagnosed with PD. But my general physician said each time I had an annual physical and asked "Do I have PD?" He said "NO." I was diagnosed in May 2014. The Physical Therapist (2013) was the first to consider PD as a possible diagnosis.