My peculiar Parkinson’s disease symptom: ‘The Claw’
On the magical twists of my fingers that just appear without my awareness
Parkinson’s disease can be a tricky opponent. Its path and progression, as well as the timing and nature of its symptoms, vary from person to person and can change within an individual from day to day. That can make diagnosis complex and confusing for everyone.
One of the quirks of how my Parkinson’s shows up is what I call “the Claw.”
From the beginning, when I noticed the symptoms that eventually led to my diagnosis, my left side has been more problematic. My first noticeable tremors were in my left pinky. I experienced more slowness of movement, or bradykinesia, on my left side. I’ve since learned that in early-stage Parkinson’s disease, symptoms often show up on one side or the other before moving to both sides.
For me, my left side has continued to show more symptoms even 12 years after my diagnosis. I often experience more tremor or gait issues on my left, and in the six years I’ve have had my deep brain stimulation (DBS) system in place, my settings for the right side of my brain — which controls the left side of my body — have been higher. Even my battery on that side is draining more quickly.
Witch hand
Fortunately, the right mix of DBS and medication is managing both sides quite well these days, but I still often notice “the Claw.” It’s something that happens when I’m focused on something else, like eating or watching TV, and not paying attention to my left hand. All of a sudden I’ll glance down and realize my first two fingers are stiff and straight, and my last two are all curled up. It looks a little like I’m about to attack someone, or at least cast a dastardly spell on them.
Sometimes my husband will notice it before I do and just say “Claw again,” and there it is, totally without my knowledge. It sneaks up on me and takes over, and there I am with a witch hand, totally without my knowledge.
It doesn’t hurt, and so far I haven’t turned anyone into a toad. Usually, I can just shake it off, and my hand will go back to normal (or as normal as I get these days!). Sometimes it gets a little stuck, and I have to help the knuckles bend on those first two fingers. And often it’ll come right back again until I can get it to submit to my will by consciously relaxing my whole left arm.
As Parkinson’s disease symptoms go, it’s not the worst. But it’s a reminder that this opponent will always have tricks up its sleeve. It’s another sign that I can’t outthink my brain. As it turns out, the brain is in charge of everything. For now, all I can do is shake it off, have a laugh at myself, and maybe use my Claw to cast a hex on this awful disease that never lets go.
Note: Parkinson’s News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Parkinson’s News Today or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to Parkinson’s disease.
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