Johann Stoltz, from Brakpan, writes by email:
It’s 5am in the morning – the ordinary person wakes up, gets dressed, has his or her breakfast by 6.30am and by 7am goes to work, and so the day starts.
Well, not everyone has the same routine.
As a matter of fact, people who live with Parkinson’s disease, or any movement disorder, have quite a different and more challenging routine, which can sometimes be very strenuous.
My day, for example, starts off like this: when I wake up in the morning my whole body is aching with rigidity and, because everything is stiff and rigid, I have to slowly manoeuvre my body into a upright position, from where I have to slowly but surely move my legs down one after the other.
Once both feet are on the ground, I have to slowly start a rocking motion in order to stand up, because my back is cramping.
Once I am on my feet I have to carefully walk to the bathroom to brush my teeth, which sometimes feels impossible to do due to the lack of motor control in my wrists.
For some, brushing teeth properly can take up to 15 minutes.
Then, getting dressed can also be an incredibly difficult task, which can also take up to 30 minutes.
Now combine that with struggling your way through breakfast issues with balance and every other symptom of Parkinson’s and you have the basic morning routine for someone, such as myself, with Parkinson’s disease.
April is International Parkinson’s Disease Awareness Month and a lot of people don’t really know much about this disease.
When talking to the general public I sometimes find it interesting that most people believe that it affects only the elderly, or that people associate it only with shaking and tremors.
With this in mind, here is a quick run-down:
Parkinson’s is a neuro-degenerative disorder where the dopamine producing cells in the Substantia nigra (the area of the brain that is responsible for motor movement) start dying.
Currently there is no known cure, as scientists are still doing research into what could be the cause.
It not only affects the elderly, but young people too.
The most common effects are:
• Tremors in the limbs
• Rigidity in the muscles
• Bradikinesia or slowness of movement
• Parkinson’s gait or freezing
• The masked face or lack of facial expression
• Shuffling of feet while walking
• Postural instability or lack of balance
• Speech difficulty and voice volume issues
• A stooped posture
• Arms don’t swing any more
In South Africa, we have the Parkinson’s Association of South Africa, which is a non-profit organisation dedicated to helping patients with Parkinson’s in their daily battle with the disease, by offering support and information.
They are also dedicated to raising public awareness, which not only informs the public about the disease, but ultimately might help to find a cure.
If anyone would like to make a donation or would like more information, feel free to go to the website at www.parkinsons.co.za, or contact Karin Willemse, the national director, on 084 650 6500.
