Parkinson's:Crackin' the nut

WE: our Plight, our Fight! This is the last in this series regarding Parkinson’s and Public Awareness. So I want to thank you for patience. Well done if you've stayed the course…you’re amazing! My sincere apologies for this coming so late – I do fear I've lost my audience – it has to do with the two inevitabilities of life and it isn't about taxes. There; hope that helps to get you to read! Instead of going on about the horrors of Parkinson’s (did I mention the tortuous pain of rigidities, spasms, and torticollis? These aren’t like a Charlie-horse, which is small and can be relieved quickly. They’re involuntary sustained muscle contractions which in themselves cause twisting, abnormal postures – horrible to witness and impossible to help – the body won’t be stopped! To add insult to injury, they’re often caused by trying to initiate movement), I thought I’d turn a moment to Dystonia, a Neurological Movement Disorder. Dystonia is simply awful and most often occurs ...

It's a funny thing - agendas, motives. Something I ask myself a lot; 'what is my agenda here?' I don't know about you, but I have a great deal of struggle even finding the real motive behind whatever I'm doing. I confess to being honestly fearful of my 'hidden agendas'. Whom do they serve? Am I 'righteous'? Or am I self-serving, egotistical...'just wanna be in pictures' as the song goes. It really bugs me - a lifetime of questioning myself. There again, I have friends that will say I 'think' too much....ha!! With that in mind, I feel the need to 'fes up to the story behind my Parkinson's posts. Why? Because sometimes you need to bounce ideas like a sonar...see what comes back. Like everybody else here on LinkedIn, I need accountability. If you're one of those people who think you're immune to cause and effect, culpability and responsibility for your actions, I'm tempted to say 'good on you'! Except i...

google.com/+LisaVanderburg Almost titled it ‘The Grave, Ground Realities’, but as my husband said, some words just shouldn’t be put together…… This is the most important and final addition...probably: it’s for the PATIENT and their families. That is my hope and my sole raison d'être. I do have an axe to grind, but with no one specific, and I don’t ‘make’ anything from this. (Actually…does a Boston Scientific pen count?? ‘Cos mine’s broke.) In fact, doing this has prevented me from making any money, so I hope that helps in what I said above: It’s for the PATIENT . Why? Because if you don’t know; you can have a voice. First, let's address all the many, many PD Foundation, Association, Group etc.: I salute them – all that they do is noble, wonderful and worthy. The peeps that run them are right up there with the angels (but their job is harder...can't just take off when they feel like it). Their fight for YOU is nothing short of pure altruism. Millions volu...

This post is for Parkinson's patients, family, carers, or anyone who knows someone with the disease. My husband, Pete, is into his 15th year. In 2012 things had begun to unravel - he'd reached the end of his 'honeymoon' period with his meds, and was in a pretty awful state. Thankfully, he was eligible for DBS (Deep Brain Stimulation) and happened to be offered the new system from Boston Scientific. This was done under the absolutely amazing Neuroscience department of Frenchay hospital in Bristol. We've not looked back; so profound was the change. We owe a great debt of thanks to Dr. Whone and Prof. Gill, and of course Boston Scientific. Over the next two years, I became very curious about the whole DBS thing for PD patients, and with Boston Scientific well under way now in the US to get FDA approval, I wrote a three part paper for those that will be facing this huge - and hurried - decision. I hope it helps! All facts have been checked and I have my sources secure...