PD Progression, stages and what to expect

Thank you so much for making make feel less alone ! It is so hard to describe your sx to someone else! And, it decreases my anxiety about these sx to know that other

Hello @windyh and welcome to the PD support group on Mayo Connect. Yes, strength, balance, yoga and also Tai Chi classes can be very helpful for both the physical problems as well as the cognitive and fogginess associated with PD.

If you would like to try some of these exercises at home, YouTube has plenty of free exercise videos which might help you get started. Here is a link to some of those exercise videos.
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=exercises+for+PD
Most of these exercises can be done while seated in a chair. This is good when you have balance issues.

Here is one of my favorite seated yoga videos,

I am 87 & ith PD for about 4-years now & can totally identify with your Dad! It is soooooooo depressing to feel this way when you have been active & engaged all your life!

I am in my 82nd year...and one thing I came across years ago from a university based study where how a retired basket ball from among top players got PD within a short time after leaving the sport ... and was helped to regain his life back by getting INTERESTED in Life. Movement seems the top indicator of this desire. And such desire, I believe, (and it seems to work for me) is having a Purpose in Life.

So I looked up the latest on physical activity: From John Hopkins Univ
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/parkinsons-disease/myths-and-facts-7-parkinson-disease-misconceptions
Myth 4: Aside from medication, there isn’t much you can do.
Fact: This “it is what it is; there’s nothing I can do to help myself” myth is counterproductive. There is a lot you can do — chiefly, keeping as active as you can. A recent study found that patients with Parkinson’s who took part in weekly, hourlong exercise sessions were able to do more in their daily lives than those who did not.
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/physical-therapy-for-parkinsons-disease
Physical Therapy for Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson's Disease Aging Well Staying Active as You Age
It’s well-known that exercise of all kinds is beneficial for patients with Parkinson’s disease. But physical therapy, in particular, is key.

Needless to say, I am able to live independently lifting heavy groceries thru steps in subways and buses and able to walk up couple floors ( I do have an elevator, but it's a tease to myself: Hey, wanna walk UP, old man!

But our bodies are forgiving; I do hope you find some help here.

I live with those symptoms every day and it is very frustrating. My eyes have double vision, blurring and I simply can't read as good. Brin fog is frustrating because it interferes what what I want to do. People close to me think I have loss of memory problems. Stree raises havoc with elevating my symptoms. I don't want to do anything but stay at home. Medications also adds to these symptoms. Every time I talk to my doctor he says i have to live with. How I wish I could think right and live well.

Yes, and I know it varies because my sister and I both have it and our symptoms can be different. I hope your appointment answers a lot of questions.

I either walk 3 miles a day or ride my bike on a trainer. By the time I get done with my walk I generally have lower back pain and very strong back fatigue around my lats. I do the exercise because when I am done exercising the pain subsides and I feel better than days when I don’t exercise.

I am seeing a neurologist tomorrow. I am still hoping to hear it is just stress. My biggest issue is intense anxiety coupled with apothy. I have a number of physical sxs and som pain. Reading your posts really helps. From all of my reading, over the six week wait to see the neurologist, it seems like PD takes quite an individual track and highly variable rate of progression. Is that accurate?

Thank you! I was beginning to think I was just being a drama queen! I am taking carbidopa/levdopa 100mg 3x a day - I have experimented a bit with dosage but noticed no difference in sx. Exercise has been recommended by almost everyone, but my balance is off, so I am a bit concerned - but maybe strength & balance classes as well as some gentle yoga might help.

Thank you, Laurie -I find the same fatigue, weakness & disorientation &, as I used to be doing exercise classes every day, including yoga & had good strength & fair balance this situation is very discouraging to me. I have been dx with PD for about 4-years now, but sx seem to be getting worse! It seems foolish to say that having someone else shared their experience is comforting, but it is.