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Parkinson's plus Multiple System Atrophy (MSA)

Parkinson's Disease | Last Active: 3 days ago | Replies (57)
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@hopeful33250

Hello @mollymae18,

I would like to join @lisalucier in welcoming you to Mayo Connect. As Lisa said in her post, your experience as a caregiver is invaluable to others facing this devastating disorder. I would also like to direct your attention to the Connect Caregiver's Support Group. Here are the links to those discussions,
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/caregivers/ and https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/caregivers-dementia/

I can only imagine the frustration of dealing with an incorrect diagnosis. Could you share how you finally obtained the correct diagnosis of MSA?

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Replies to "Hello @mollymae18, I would like to join @lisalucier in welcoming you to Mayo Connect. As Lisa..."
mollymae18 | @mollymae18 | 6 days ago

Yes, from what I have read over 85% of cases of MSA are misdiagnosed. While in Florida, we went to a physical therapist who believed, on our first visit, that Ron had MSA and not Parkinson's based on his gait. We had already been seen by movement disorder neurologists and had many tests at Rush and Northwestern in Chicago and Mayo in Rochester.

Based on her observation we went to USF neurology, Dr. Hauser, and had the skin punch biopsy done. The results leaned toward MSA as well. We then went back to Mayo and Ron was seen by Dr. Coon in the MSA clinic. They took all of the history and tests into consideration and believed that the MSA diagnosis was accurate. Ron donated his brain to Mayo and preliminary results confirm MSA.

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