Columns

Parkinson’s is a progressive brain disease. While symptoms and disease progression are unique to each person, knowing the stages of Parkinson’s can help. Some people experience changes over 20 years or more, while others find that the disease progresses more quickly. During the first five years after…

As my husband, Arman, our son, Jake, and I arrived at our local hardware store one day many years ago, I never could’ve imagined it’d still be a vivid memory for Jake, who was 6 and is now 19. We were likely looking for tools for a fun project he’d…

Author and neurologist Oliver Sacks used the term “crisis” to describe the episodes when Parkinson’s symptoms flare up. I’ve called these events surges, off periods, and bad days. In his classic “Awakenings,” Sacks describes the symptoms of one Parkinson’s disease patient by saying, “No…

Every November brings a rush of emotions for me, and Nov. 1 and 21 are the most emotional of all. On Nov. 1, 2011, my grandfather passed away. We had a close relationship, and losing him was absolutely devastating. Twenty days later, I was diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson’s disease at…

Do the people around you notice your Parkinson’s progression? Do you? It can look different for everyone. My progression has been slow, and the changes subtle. As a Rock Steady Boxing coach, I throw punches to manage my symptoms. However, I’m not the only one punching. My…

When I was a college student, my eyes were opened to the world of Parkinson’s disease when our beloved Michael J. Fox was diagnosed in 1991. At only 29 years old, he was barely even an adult and in the heart of a lucrative acting career. He…

Finding moments of calm during the chaotic brainstorm of Parkinson’s disease is crucial to my self-management. Before I was diagnosed, my best stretch of continuous calm was 14 days. Now, I get excited if I can maintain 14 minutes. I see getting to the calm state of…

My worst Parkinson’s symptom used to be pain. Now, it’s the “go, no-go” effect, which greatly limits my ability to function. “Go, no-go” is an urgency to move, a severe restlessness, followed by a severe resistance to moving. This experience — craving to move, mixed with dampened movement,…

What is happening to my toes and feet? While I love to dance, and while it’s been a theme in my column, “Life, Lemons, and Lemonade,” my feet and toes are taking it too far. Over the past few months, they’ve had a mind of their own. It’s frustrating, and…

During my recent time away from writing weekly columns, I was able to reflect on how often I fail at using my self-management toolkit for this chronic illness. I fail at least once every day. Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a noisy, intrusive brat that demands to get its…