Things that have worked for me in managing PD that may help you as well!
Morning all - I'm new to the forum but diagnosed in 2021. I wanted to share my story and a few changes I've made that have worked well for me in the management of PD.
As I mentioned, diagnosed in 2021 after I lost the ability to write in cursive. I ignored the diagnosis for over a year. I'm fortunate to live in an area that has 2 PD Centers of Excellence and do have the benefit of being a client of a neurologist who is also a movement specialist. That said... she's not much help other than renewing my l/c prescription.
Western medicine is limited in what they can do for this disease - levodopa is a 70 year old drug, DBS and laser treatments are the only other option for western medicine that can offer any type of symptom management. So in 2023 I started a wellness journey as a few more symptoms started to appear - rigidity in my right shoulder and a tremor in my right foot and leg that hindered my ability to drive. I was also in chronic pain from a hamstring injury and pain that added to my symptoms.
For me, I have found exercise, quality sleep (deep and highly oxygenated - not necessarily an excessive amount of sleep), stress management and attention to my gut and liver functions works well and gut health goes well beyond bathroom habits.
Exercise - move! even a small daily walk will help. In a 2024 Harvard study, exercise has been shown to HEAL neurons in PD patients. The study focuses on "vigorous" exercise but if you're not exercising start out small - every movement counts and I've been able to move into the vigorous level but noticed a huge improvement within two weeks with just daily walks. How about a stationary foot movement machine to start with while you watch TV? How about walking in place during commercial breaks?
Sleep - the book The Sleep Solution by Dr. Chris Winters discusses the science of sleep versus just sleep hygiene.
Diet - get rid of processed foods - if it comes in a box throw it OUT. It's loaded with toxins that destroy the gut lining. Just as there is a blood/brain barrier there is a gut/brain barrier. Start slow - for me it was the elimination of soda, then processed foods. Two years later I eat whole foods only. I buy frozen veggies, fresh fruits, mostly fish with eggs and chicken, nuts, seeds and yes, a bit of dark chocolate daily! I stay away from peanuts as they are loaded with mold that eats away at the gut lining. I'm not allergic to peanuts but they are a highly inflammatory food which is why a lot of people are allergic to peanuts. Our guts are not meant to process molds LOL.
Supplements - our bodies can no longer receive all the nutrients we need from foods alone due to eroding soil conditions. Consider probiotics for gut health - I can recommend two - Cerenovex (a specialty probiotic which is geared toward movement disorders and cognitive health issues) and MegaSpore by Microbiome Labs (I use this specific probiotic as it has been proven to survive stomach acids and get into the gut where all the healing happens). I give supplements 4 months to "work" - if no improvement I discontinue as they are too expensive to buy and not work. Hippocrates said - 'all disease starts in the gut" - 70% of our immune system is in the gut - if the gut is not healthy the rest of our body wont be either. I've seen measurable improvement in right shoulder rigidity and right leg tremor with the Cerenovex alone.
I find that when I focus on gut health I'm able to better management PD symptoms. I've lessened meds by doing so and moving much better along with changes to diet and sleep and implementing exercise.
Last, It takes TIME to see improvements but for me these lifestyle changes have worked very, very well. Gives me hope for the future!
Best Wishes all!
