Parkies… So much more than a tremor

So, today I went to see an Orthopaedic Surgeon about my troublesome knee. While he was getting ready to inject my knee with something to take away the pain – which ironically was quite painful – he asked if I was on any medications. I love this question! There usually isn’t enough space to write down my cocktail of meds!

I told him a few of my medications for my various maladies. Then I told him I have early stage Parkinson’s. After telling him I was on Ramipex and Sinamet, he said ‘well they’re doing a good job!’ When I asked him why he said that he responded, “I can’t see any tremors at all!’ I said something like “Thanks’ or something like that. However, I was thinking that this seems to be the symptom that Non-Neuro Doctors latch onto.

When I met my new doctor when we moved, he too said much the same thing. I find it interesting that at least three GP’s or health professionals have made similar comments!

IT’S NOT ONLY ABOUT TREMORS!! I feel like saying.

My previous Doctor I had for many years was reluctant to refer me to a Neurologist for much the same reason. In fact he came right out and said he hadn’t seen any tremors while I was talking to him. It was not until I insisted and told him of some other symptoms such as loss of sense of smell that he agreed to refer.

Sometimes I think with such a high prevalence of this condition, more Doctors at GP level need to read up on Parkies, It comes to something when ‘Dr Google” seems to know more about Parkies than your GP!

Maybe it’s our job to be the expert in the Doctor/Patient relationship? To educate those who are out primary health care professionals in the community?

I think by the time we have gone through this for a while we could just about go on ‘Mastermind’ with our specialist subject being ‘Signs and Symptoms and Misconceptions of Parkinson’s!’