Living

Our resident artist here at ParkinsonsDisease.net, Peter, created a new comic in a four-part series on Parkinson's symptoms and side effects. This third installment discusses the side effects that occur...

Nothing strikes more fear in me than a trip to the dentist. I will make any excuse to avoid it. I know I should go but my head won’t engage...

When I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s five years ago, I knew nothing about it nor did I have a clue about the trip it was going to take me on...

Deciding when and if we should have children is a very personal decision for every woman. The reasons are as varied and as unique as snowflakes. It is also true...

April 11th is World Parkinson's Day and April is Parkinson's Awareness Month. Happy birthday to James Parkinson! He was a neurologist, geologist, scientist, and activist. He was born April 11...

In the world of disabilities, one of the top “don’t say this to me” statements is “but you don’t look sick.” In what it can infer (quit your whining, pull...

In no way do I reduce the severity of chronic illness to a game or even a puzzle, but they all require a plan and a strategic perspective. Without an...

You have just been diagnosed. Now what? Your doctor gives you good medical advice. But there is much more to be learned. Where do you start? Many feel it is...

“I don’t need help from strangers coming into my home!” I’ve actually felt this way before and made excuses to justify those feelings. If you or a loved one “necessitates”...

"What is pain like for you?" people often ask me in many different ways. For instance, someone will wonder, "Do your Parkinson’s tremors hurt?" They're annoying, but not painful. Sometimes...

In this series, we discuss causes of anxiety for those facing physical illness, like Parkinson's disease, and its side effects. Phrases in quotes are the words of our community members...

A large number of aging adults (65+ years of age) and many of us with Parkinson's are dealing with chronic pain. However, chronic pain is not a mandatory part of...

We all do it—we all say that thing, putting our foot in our mouths, and then immediately regret it. We tend to do it more often when we don’t know...

For some patients, taking an active role in your health and being more involved in your healthcare team can be challenging. Some individuals may feel overwhelmed by all of the...

Recently, in a weekend retreat with both patients and caregivers the two biggest complaints I heard from both parties were 1) my significant other gets mad at me because I...

Escalators are great modes of getting around for those of us without balance issues, those of us who don’t trip, and any neurological patient looking to face severe consequences. Broken...

One of the biggest complaints I hear from people with Parkinson's disease (PD) is severe leg pain. As a fellow, if I had heard someone complain of pain in their...

Living with a chronic and progressive illness such as Parkinson’s disease can result in mental health challenges such as depression and anxiety. Given the physical, emotional and spiritual challenges of...

After taking the Weschler Individual Achievement Test, it took eight weeks to get my results since they had a lot of information to go through. From a 2-hour history of...

In the presence of Parkinson’s, we must have courage, the strength of character, and a powerful belief system. Frequently, I’ve portrayed our struggle with Parkinson’s as a battle. Maybe typecasting...