Stages of Parkinson’s Disease According to Neurologist: Dr. Richard Hamer MD
After having treated patients with Parkinson’s Disease, neurologists like Dr. Richard Hamer MD explains it is hard to know exactly what to expect when diagnosed. Unlike other diseases that can be broken down into stages like cancer, Parkinson’s Disease does not have a linear progression. No two patients experience Parkinson’s same way — however, there are some common symptoms most affected individuals face. Possible symptoms impedes on the individual’s mobility and can introduce non-motor issues such as pain, loss of smell and dementia.
Symptoms typically worsen overtime and new ones develop along the way. Though there are a lot of gray areas between the stages, still, neurologists have broken down the stages of Parkinson’s by severity of the disease. Individuals can experience a mild form of Parkinson’s to a more advanced form later down the road.
Dr. Richard Hamer MD describes symptoms that may occur during these three stages: mild, moderate and advanced. Depending on your present circumstance, you may find some symptoms to be more debilitating than categorized.
Mild Stage: Though symptoms are bothersome, they do not interfere with daily tasking and can subdued with medication. Some things you may be experiencing during this stage are symptoms on only one side of the body, the inability to make facial expressions, your legs may feel heavy, your posture becomes stooped, your arms and legs feel stiff and your handwriting has become noticeably smaller.
Moderate Stage: Completing tasks that require fine motor skills might be near impossible. For example, buttoning up your shirt — you may no longer be able to do this. Other symptoms include: changes in your voice (your voice being softer or trailing off), feeling as though your feet are glued to the ground when moving in a different direction, trouble with balance and coordination — you’re more prone to falling.
Advanced Stage: In some cases, individuals suffering with Parkinson’s Disease do not reach this stage. This is when medication becomes ineffective. Individuals are limited to their bed or wheelchair, have severe back, neck and hip issues and need full-time support.
Parkinson’s non-motor symptoms include constipation, depression, loss of smell, pain, low blood pressure when standing up and trouble sleeping. Though medication cannot reverse the effects of Parkinson’s, there are medications to treat these symptoms. Medication and in some cases surgery, coupled with exercise and therapy can help individuals through the disease. Like any neurological condition, some patients respond to drugs better than others. Therefor, it is crucial for neurologists like Dr. Richard Hamer MD to provide individualized treatment. Seek treatment from a specialist if you or a loved one is suffering from Parkinson’s Disease.
