My Parkinson's life is so confusing - this is not easy.

No, my neurologist has not. He specializes in neurology, and is my VA community care referal specialist. About 4 to 6 month intervals between appointments. Every second or third appointment is a video appointment. So far, no physical therapy has been ordered.

@barryl
I would suggest that you ask for a referral for physical therapy that is specifically geared for PD patients. In the meantime, you might consider going on YouTube and searching for "exercises for PD." You will discover a lot of seated exercise videos that can help with stiffness and keep you more limber.

Will you post again and let me know you are doing?

The VA is sending me to a psychologist next Monday, 7/27 to evaluate me for my Parkinsons Disease symptoms. This is more related to a compensation claim I filed with the VA in January, 2026. I'll try for a specialist for Parkinsons to do the physical therapy, as you suggested. Thanks, Barry

@sunnyduckel
I know this is a reply to a month old post but today was a good example of the pains I have to deal with and how they change from time to time.

I was feeling very bad most of the day but forced my self to take the riding mower out and mow. While I'm not saying I felt great but running the mower I guess forced me to keep my attention on the task. Problem is almost as soon as I put mower away and came in the relax the gut pain was back big time. Now while reading here and replying pain level is tolerable to some extent.

It is very difficult to explain to my wife how this happens. It's also hard for me to fight through the pain and find something to distract my brain for the pain and also not try something that will cause me to stress out and make it worse.

@kshansen I can recognize and identify with so much of what you describe. It is hard to describe to someone who is not affected the swings in how I feel day to day or hour to hour. The heat of this summer in SC has been particularly hard to deal with. The orthostatic hypotension and weakness experienced when I'm outside and doing any exertion is SO limiting. I've had to get a handicapped placard for my car so I can get my groceries from the store to my car without passing out. I know exercise is important, but some days it just seems to be too much to ask. I know that pity parties are unhelpful - so I get it out of my system and keep going. I do all I can to help myself, keep up with daily fluid intake and meds to support my BP and try to get a good night's sleep (when the restless leg syndrome cooperates). I also remember to say the Serenity Prayer: God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Hang in there.

@bmfoster It is hard to describe to someone who is not affected the swings in how I feel day to day or hour to hour.

That is so true about the swings in how I feel! About an hour ago when wife asked about breakfast I was not sure I could even handle that, but I did go ahead and had the cereal with blue berries(sucks that I had to try three times to get the spelling for berries right!) And now I'm thinking about cutting some fire wood! Not! for this month, probably for winter of 2027 and 2028!

@kshansen I can recognize and identify with so much of what you describe. It is hard to describe to someone who is not affected the swings in how I feel day to day or hour to hour. The heat of this summer in SC has been particularly hard to deal with. The orthostatic hypotension and weakness experienced when I'm outside and doing any exertion is SO limiting. I've had to get a handicapped placard for my car so I can get my groceries from the store to my car without passing out. I know exercise is important, but some days it just seems to be too much to ask. I know that pity parties are unhelpful - so I get it out of my system and keep going. I do all I can to help myself, keep up with daily fluid intake and meds to support my BP and try to get a good night's sleep (when the restless leg syndrome cooperates). I also remember to say the Serenity Prayer: God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Hang in there.