SO THE SIMPLE ANSWER to your question is NOTHING IS WRONG WITH your feet - you have PD!

PROBLEMS WITH WALKING
For many people, problems with gait (the way you walk) may be one of the earliest signs of Parkinson’s.

Peripheral neuropathy can manifest as a disease of the axons or the myelin, or both, within nerve fibers. ... Symptoms of a peripheral neuropathy may include the early onset of numbness, tingling or prickling sensations, followed by the later onset of coordination, weakness and pain

If you experience stiffness in your feet and legs, it can make a heel-to-toe pattern of walking more difficult. Rather than striking the ground with your heel and then pushing off with your toes, you may shuffle, or walk in a more flat-footed way.

A FLAT-FOOTED GAIT
A flat-footed gait can cause foot, leg and even knee pain. It can also lead to stiffness or muscle contractions. This is when the muscles tighten and shorten on their own.

SWELLING
Swelling is a common problem for people with Parkinson’s, particularly for those who have movement difficulties. If you don’t exercise very much, fluid can build up in the feet, ankles and lower legs. This is known as oedema.

Swelling can get worse during the day and go down overnight. Sometimes this is called ‘postural oedema’ because gravity causes the build-up of fluid around the ankles when you stand up....EXERCISE, EXERCISE, EXERCISE

Walking (gait) problems
Many people with Parkinson’s find their balance, gait, mobility or posture deteriorate.

In ‘normal’ walking, the heel strikes the ground first and the toes are the last point of contact as the foot lifts from the ground again. But in Parkinson’s, stride length is shortened and the ankles may become more rigid, leading to a more flat-footed style of gait.

A podiatrist can also advise on specially tailored devices (orthoses) which are custom-made to fit your foot and help spread the impact of striking the ground across the whole foot. This can improve gait and mobility and allow the muscles in your calves and feet to work properly.

Dystonia and toe-curling
Dystonia and muscle cramps frequently occur in the feet. Typically, the toes curl into a claw-like position, the foot turns inwards at the ankle (inversion), and occasionally the big toe sticks up (hyper-extension).

The Achilles tendon may also tighten as a result of dystonia which can cause ‘toe walking’ as the foot is pulled downwards.

Dystonia can be related to your medications, so speak with your doctor, or Parkinson’s specialist ...

Swelling (oedema)
Swelling in the feet results from the accumulation of excessive fluid in the tissues. This is more likely to occur if you have slow or reduced movement (bradykinesia) or spend long periods sitting down. .

All the best JOHN

This could be dystonia. Treatments range from various meds, to botox, to DBS surgery. It might also be plantar fasciitis. You can massage your feet, use a frozen water bottle for cold massage, rolling your foot over it. Make sure you have supportive shoes - inserts if you have high arches. I've switched to almost exclusively hiking boots that are very supportive. Just before getting up, rub your feet, or at least wiggle them a bit to say "Ok, time to get moving!" That may help.

Weight gain can be caused by meds, but it sounds like you're less active. What about some yoga, or floor exercises using body weight for resistance? There are seated aerobic workouts as well - search youtube. And maybe try a lower carb diet? I'm exploring that as I can look at a lettuce leaf and gain 3 pounds, but meds like L-Dopa do not play well with protein. That kind of rules out a ketogenic diet.

As we all find out gradually if it is not one thing, it is another, and so we go on from crisis to crisis, coping as best we can, and still smiling at the end of the day. After all, there is always a new challenge tomorrow

Best wishes (and hugs) to all

Audrey

Glad to be of assistance, as we All sink or swim together, SO let's SWIM...

@A MyParkinsonsTeam Member, This explains each one of the problems that Harold experienced. Thank you! Most of the Drs. did not describe those results so clearly.

Mentioned Users

A MyParki...