Connect
← Return to Living with Parkinson's Disease - Meet others & come say hi
Discussion
Living with Parkinson's Disease - Meet others & come say hi
Parkinson's Disease | Last Active: Dec 7 2:32pm | Replies (532)Comment receiving replies
Unfortunately, pain and stiffness are part of the PD experience. However, you need to have the back pain checked out. I'm sure that your pain specialist will look into different reasons for your back pain and help you find a solution.
I appreciate your comment about mentioning your leg/brain connection to several doctors before the diagnosis of PD. It often takes several years before you come up with the diagnosis of PD. For me, it was about 10 years. Persistence pays off if you stay with the process
Is the back pain a recent problem or have you had it prior to your PD diagnosis?
Replies to "@jaybee51, Unfortunately, pain and stiffness are part of the PD experience. However, you need to have..."
Connect
So sorry it took you 10 years to get a diagnosis. That shouldn’t happen.
My back problems have been going on for several years. Started with a fall off my roof but have been much worse lately. My pain doctor prescribed Pregabalin shortly after my neurologist told me she didn’t treat pain. After I researched Pregabalin, I read that it blocks dopamine production and that long term use can actually cause PD. When I asked my pain doctor if there was an alternative that was more PD friendly, he basically told me that he ‘doesn’t do Parkinson’ and I should go back to the neurologist who told me she doesn’t treat pain!!
Neither would budge from their position but the neurologist agreed to arrange a virtual visit with a pharmacist who is supposed to be well versed in Parkinson’s meds. I’ve been a patient at this medical facility for over 50 years and have never encountered such poor doctors.
In the meantime, I’m left to decide on my own whether to stop taking the pain medication that may actually do harm or discontinue it and be in a lot of pain. I’m choosing the former.