Accepting the diagnosis and treatment of Parkinson’s disease is not easy for anyone. In fact, it places such a heavy weight on a person emotionally, financially and of course, physically. But the earlier the disease is dealt with, the greater the chance the patient has to prevent complications.
Diagnosing Parkinson’s Disease is, as with any other condition, a complex and uncertain process. With symptoms very similar to that of other neurological disorders, including a variety of different forms of the disease itself, the Parkinsons diagnosis requires an physician experienced in dealing with the condition first hand, and an ability to differentiate between the symptoms set synonymous with this and other conditions. Some related conditions take their course very rapidly, whereas some take time to develop. Similarly, some conditions are always present, whilst some are acute, therefore it is essential for the initiation of treatment that patients are diagnosed effectively and correctly. The patient may require observation for a period of time before proper Parkinsons diagnosis can be made, as there are no laboratory tests which can indicate its presence for certain.
The diagnosis of the Parkinson’s disease is complex. There are no ways that a person may be identified as a patient with blood tests and x-rays and other conventional methods of diagnosis. Often, a neurologist may only arrive at a result once a thorough MRI or Magnetic Resonance Imaging is complete. However, MRI is helpful only in separating the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease with other neurological and brain disorders.
Since there is no specific test or marker for PD, diagnosis is by a physician and depends on the presence of at least two of the three major signs: tremor at rest, rigidity, and bradykinesia, as well as the absence of a secondary cause, such as antipsychotic medications or multiple small strokes in the regions of the brain controlling movement. Patients tend to be most aware of tremor and bradykinesia, and less so of rigidity.
The latest news is that new treatments for Parkinson’s disease are at the leading edge of current studies, with experiments being carried out with stem cells and gene therapy. The diagnosis of Parkinson’s is a distressing time for any patient and anybody close to them. As a progressive condition, patients suffering with the condition have to come to terms with the fact that there is no hope of recovery, but rather a gradual process of loss of movement and co-ordination. An early diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease is vital to the patient being able to keep some independence, and a decent quality of life for a reasonable length of time.
