So, for the record- I'm newly diagnosed (mostly bi-lateral tremor- postural and resting), no rigidity or slowness of movement yet. I haven't told my family yet as no one has picked up on it so I want to just enjoy the window of 'normality' while I can.
Anyway, I went boxing training last night for the first time in months which was great- I had been knee deep in my own misery and needed to get out- I got through the session well and I knew that there'd be a price to pay as my tremor gets so much worse when I use my hands intensely. As expected, my hands were shaking all over the place, but most prominently- it felt like there were sand bags tied to my hands (particularly my less-affected hand) so, when I tried to brush my hair from my forehead, my hand only reached my eyes. They didn't lose strength, I could still carry things but there was a delayed reaction. This lasted most of the evening and even today my hands feel heavier.
BUT today my tremor is 80-90% less apparent, I had peace, I could sit in college and enjoy the serene calm of stillness. So, I'm wondering has this happened to anyone else? Is it just the normal ups and downs of tremor or is it possible that intense exercise actually results in this side-effect?
Hi Paul. Certainly my tremor varies from day to day but I find that gentle exercise seems to help. Nothing too vigorous. Yoga type exercises involving gentle stretching and bending generally do the trick, although I don't know what the effects of intense exercise would be. I am 67 now and was diagnosed nearly 6 years ago. Parkinsons is such a complex condition and the symptoms can vary considerably from one individual to another. It is a good idea to keep a diary and record the symptoms on a daily basis together with a brief summary of your activities and see if any sort of pattern appears. Also don't forget to mention the symptoms to your neurologist or Parkinsons nurse specialist if you have one.
HI PAUL...YES I GET THE SAME SYMPTOMS, THE ARMS FEEL HEAVY AND ITS LIKE SLOW MOTION. EVERY TIME I EXERCISE I SHAKE LIKE IVE BEEN PLUGGED INTO THE MAINS!! BUT THE EXERCISE DOES SEEM TO HELP, STRANGE ISNT IT? SOME DAYS ANY MOVEMENT STARTS ME OFF OTHER DAYS NOT SO BAD. I DANCED FOR AN HOUR YESTERDAY AND WAS FINE THOUGH JUST GETTING OVER A CHEST INFECTION WHICH HAS TAKEN AWAY MY ENERGY LEVELS A BIT. iT WAS STILL ENJOYABLE BUT I FIND THE CHA CHA NOW DOES SHAKE ME UP WORSE. LITTLE AND OFTEN IS WHAT MY NURSE SAYS AND PACE YOURSELF...KEEP MOVING BUT DO NOT OVERDO IT.iF I AM ANXIOUS OR HUNGRY THEN MY TREMORS ARE WORSE...HAVE YOU NOTICED THIS AT ALL? KEEP SMILING MATEY AND KEEP MOVING!!! BEST WISHES TO YOU
Paul, I answered your questions on symptoms on another thread, but I wanted to weigh in on exercise, too. One neurologist told me to exercise as intensely and as often as my body could tolerate. Another doctor gave me advice more like that of Dollymaz's nurse. So I think you have to experiment and see what works for you. If you are the age of a typical college student, you are much, much younger than I (68 in two more weeks). But my experience has been that I am always a little shaky after intense exercise. Ordinarily, I have no tremor, so I do notice a difference. However, I also feel energized and generally better when I exercise a lot.
Try not to worry about the future, when you may have noticeable symptoms. For most of us this is a slow-moving disease. Besides, the more positive thinking you can manage, the more you are helping yourself. My doctor says he thinks my stability in the first stage of PD is due, at least in part, to my optimism and regular exercise.
Best wishes! And don't walk in front of any buses, please!
Paul, I suffer from stiffness practically daily and have slowed down considerably over the last year or so, I now stroll everywhere as opposed to walk with any meaning. When my symptoms got so painfull and the chiro/physio weren't working I gave up the gym, maybe 18month ago,started and stopped using wii-fit, started and stopped with the Parkinson's exercise DVD. Having read your post and Christos comment I am determined to get back into some sort of exercise routine again. I don't a usually tremor but I notice when I was labouring for my son who was laying us a patio, I used to be the master craftsman and he the labourer, when I rested and held my hands out I shook like billyo and couldn't hold a glass of g&t without losing half. Seriously thinking back doing the labouring invigorated me and it's a sensation I miss. My legs always feel heavy and I have lost the strength in my arms so I live with that anyway, out comes the wii fit tomorrow
Be positive, forget the bus, I told everyone I have PD and it makes life easier, I don't have to hide anything,my boss and the company know and they have been really accomodating, my mates know and when I stumble and fall they know it's the PD and not the beer, my family know and the grand children know when grandad sits quiet for 10 minutes it's OK. I intend to carry on as normal as possible for as long as possible, I intend to work as long as I can or PD allows me, unless a nice farewell package comes my way. I intend to holiday in the sun and I intend to live to a ripe old age. Shout out your different, real friends will still love you. Don't suffer in isolation.
I noticed increased tremors after my Pilates class. After a day or so I tend to feel the benefit. I am intrigued by your post.
I must make a mention to Teapots remark........at first I worried.......I now realise Teapots remark about real friends still love you rings very true. I have also found I have made new friends on here and also in my much altered lifestyle.
This site gives me confidence I badly needed. One lady in particular has been extremely helpful with information and encouragement as well as experience......we are not alone, as I at first thought I was going to be.
