Coping with Three Symptoms of Parkinson's Disease and Arthritis

PD Rigidity, Stiffness and Balance combined with Arthritis

Sometimes when you have an incurable chronic disease it's amazing how much difference losing or gaining a few symptoms will make. I have both osteoarthritis in my knees and Parkinson's disease in the rest of my body. It's the arthritis and the PD rigidity and stiffness that really slows me in the tasks of daily living and keeps me from doing more low impact exercises like walking or biking. It is also difficult to distinguish which symptom is arthritis and which is PD and this difficulty may affect the way that I approach the issue.

One problem with a PD patient also having arthritic knees is that the mainstream options are not always open for treatment. I discussed this with a former physician a few years ago. It was a disappointing conversation. Perhaps I'll revisit the topic with my new doctor.

Today if I walk too far, lean over or kneel down on the floor I feel pain. The pain and the stiffness limits how much and how fast I can move. While I can walk without a cane, I feel more secure with it - it helps relieve some of the stress on the left knee which is both the PD side and the badly arthritic knee - and it creates a stability in public places filled with jostling people and in private places with energetic dogs. Moreover, I can walk faster with it. What I haven't been able to do for a few years in climb a ladder, get under a sink to make plumbing repairs, walk upstairs without holding the handrail with one hand, the cane in the other and yearn for that third hand to tote the tool box.

Now that the weather is getting warmer I'm hoping to be able to work on my house and yard. I haven't been able to do that for two or three years but if I can successfully move without much pain it will make life easier for my wife and help me feel better about life. I have the skills, I just don't have a cooperative body.

I don't take any painkillers for my knee; my doctor feels it's better to avoid them if I can. I added the glucosamine-chondroitin sulfate, omega 3-6-9 fish oil to the other supplements which include vitamin D & A and CoQ10. I tried a shot of Cortisone once but it did nothing for me. I work out on Nautilus machines six days a week. Been doing it for six months and that seems to be helping my knee a lot. It is also strengthening abs, arm and the leg muscles which should help my knee.

If you've read this before you know that I also get a Swedish massage for one hour, once a week for the last year with a few time-outs on the massage for a postural alignment to help my bowed legs which may be a result of the arthritis. The results of using the Swedish massage are amazing for me, the knee pain goes completely away for 2-3 days, sometimes longer. My legs are becoming a little straighter the therapist says.

Since Arthritis and Parkinson's symptoms vary from individual to individual you shouldn't be surprised that what I do may not work for everyone. You need to find a well trained, licensed massage therapist...who knows about Parkinson's disease. She/he will evaluate your condition and design a program to fit your symptoms. I'm hoping to get rid of these symptoms, I'm hoping you will be have success too.

Fly with Me

More Chair Exercises for Parkinson's Disease

Shoulder Exercise - Trapezius Stretch
Sitting upright - head up - eyes forward - hands at rest in your lap or on your knees
Raise your ribcage so that you free up your diaphragm for breathing
Slowly raise your arms in front of you and to a full upright position over your head
Arms as close to your ears as possible
Try to grasp your thumbs to help with the stretch.

Depending upon the chair armed or armless - pick one
Armed: bring your arms down slowly in front of you and return your hands to your knees, thighs or lap
Armless: Move your arms to the side-parallel to the floor, bring your arms down and slowly return them to the starting position.

Repeat your stretch 4 more times.
Make sure that your can breathe by raising-opening the rib cage as you sit in an upright position

Flap Your Wings
Sitting upright - head up - looking ahead
Make fists and turn them thumbs to the sky
Bend your arms - and anchor your hands at the front of your rib cage - thumbs up
Flap your arms from the elbows.
Moving your arms back is more important than front move for this flap.
Can you feel the stretch?
Repeat a few times

Bodybuilders Posture without the shoulder drop or body twist

Same position - same fists at ribcage
Elbows lead - wrists may follow the arms forward
Resist the impulse to bend into the movement - try to remain erect.
Repeat 4 times to feel the shoulder (trapezius) stretch and the stretch of the triceps.

We will continue to add other chair exercises as they are developed.
Please feel free to contact us if you have questions or comments.

Concerning the weaker side of the body:
We have found that often during these exercises it is necessary for the assistant/the reader to hold the strong side so that the weaker side can exercise. Sometimes it is necessary to guide the weaker side once as an example. Do not be upset if there is additional tremor. That is not surprising because these motions can be intense for stiff muscles.

Previously posted chair exercises:
http://parkinsonsfocustoday.blogspot.com/2009/02/shakin-all-over.html
http://parkinsonsfocustoday.blogspot.com/2009/02/arm-swing-exercise-for-parkinsons.html