Parkinson’s disease is a type of Parkinson’s disease that results from a breakdown in the communication center in the brain. The disease results when dopamine, a chemical that helps transmit nerve signals throughout the brain, becomes low in certain areas. As the levels of dopamine drop, signals become weaker and the person can experience difficulty walking, balance problems, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, and loss of coordination. A sufferer can lose motor coordination and movement experience problems.
To find a treatment for Parkinson’s symptoms, doctors often try various treatments. These medications work to improve muscle tone and improve muscle function. There are also medications available that are designed to increase levels of dopamine in the brain. One of these medications is levodopa, which has been used to treat Parkinson’s patients for over forty years.
Levodopa is often taken as a daily prescription by patients with Parkinson’s disease. The drug helps ease tremors, slow down rigidity, and improve muscle tone. In addition, it may improve balance and coordination. Some doctors may recommend that levodopa be taken with other medications to help ease symptoms.
Unfortunately, there are limitations to using Levodopa to treat Parkinson’s. Levodopa cannot reverse the disease or arrest its progress once Parkinson’s reaches later stages. The medication will not relieve or even slow the disease’s progression on one side of the body, and does nothing to address symptoms on the other side of the body. While Levodopa may help slow the disease’s spread to the brain, it will not relieve or slow the symptoms that occur on either side of the brain.
For some patients, the medication may be recommended as a means of managing the disease and the symptoms that occur. However, because Levodopa does not treat the causes of Parkinson’s – which are dopamine-related issues in the brain – it has been considered a “useful” drug in treating the disease. Its effects on symptoms include a small improvement in one side of the brain, a moderate improvement on the other side of the brain, and no change in the motor skills of the patient.
This may seem discouraging to some patients who want to treat their Parkinson’s with drugs rather than relying on alternative therapies, but drugs have been used for years to manage symptoms. They may reduce tremors, help ease muscle tension, ease depression, and help control diarrhea. In addition, they may reduce the risk of falls and bruising.
There is hope, however. Using neurofeedback to treat Parkinson’s is one way to treat the disease. By monitoring brain wave patterns, neurofeedback may help a patient to keep Parkinson’s symptoms at bay. While this is an untested technique, there are many who claim that it helps ease some of the symptoms. It is unclear how well it will work in the case of someone who has Parkinson’s, though, as each case is different.
For someone with Parkinson’s, medication, combined with therapy and careful observation, can make a big difference in managing the disease. The early symptoms can be managed quite effectively using neurofeedback, and medication can be introduced only if the disease progresses. For those whose symptoms are not so severe, or whose drugs cannot keep Parkinson’s at bay, alternative techniques can also be used to ease the symptoms and allow a person to live a full and productive life. As the Parkinson’s progresses, these methods of treatment become more effective.
In some cases, surgery may be necessary if the disease has progressed to affect the brain. Surgery is used as a last resort for those whose symptoms are disabling them from doing the things they would otherwise do. For example, Parkinson’s patients who lose the use of their legs due to the disease may need to have certain muscle mass transferred from another part of their body to avoid feeling pain.
In some cases, medication may be all you need. Medications such as Tysabri, which is used to treat bladder problems, are often prescribed to help control symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. In more extreme cases, medications such as Methadone may help to ease some of the severe side effects. This drug acts like a narcotic to bring down dopamine levels in the brain, and thus ease both physical and emotional discomfort. In many cases, patients are not given prescriptions for these types of medications. Their primary care doctor may suggest them instead.
Coping with Parkinson’s disease symptoms can be difficult. Though it is always best to consult with a doctor first, it can be helpful to learn as much as possible about your condition. This way, you’ll know what you can do to relieve your symptoms and where to turn for answers when your doctor isn’t able to give you advice on how to deal with Parkinson’s. Knowing your Parkinson’s symptoms can help you live a fuller, more comfortable life.
Oren Zarif – Psychokinesis Treatment
