Treatment & Care

Learn about the various ways Parkinson’s disease is treated, including medication and surgery. Also, get information about managing complications of Parkinson’s such as sexual problems and depression.

Treatment
1. Parkinson's Treament Basics Most Parkinson's disease treatments aim to restore the proper balance of the neurotransmitters acetylcholine and dopamine. This is usually done with medication, but some patients are candidates for implantation of a deep brain stimulator or DBS.
2. Treatment Options for Parkinson's There are tThere is no cure for Parkinson's disease, but it can be managed -- and the symptoms of the disease can be relieved or reduced.
3. Current Parkinson's Medications There are two general approaches to treating Parkinson's disease with medication. The first attempt is to increase levels of dopamine in the brain; the second attempt is to improve by other means.
4. Surgery for Parkinson's Generally, surgery is only considered as a treatment for Parkinson's disease when medication cannot adequately control symptoms. Two surgical approaches used for Parkinson's are pallidotomy and thalamotomy.
5. Deep Brain Stimulation Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a way to inactivate parts of the brain that cause the symptoms of Parkinson's disease.
6. Gamma Knife Treatment Not actually a "knife" at all, the gamma knife is a machine that emits hundreds of powerful, highly focused gamma radiation beams. It allows for a more precise and concentrated treatment than with other radiation treatments.
7. What to Ask Your Doctor About Parkinson's If you've just been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, here are 10 questions you should consider asking your doctor.
8. Alternative Treatment Options Vitamin E, coenzyme Q10, and uric acid are among alternative treatments that have been studied as treatments for Parkinson's disease. However, they were not found to be effective.
9. Parkinson's Disease Research Some Parkinson’s disease treatments currently being studied involve fetal cell transplantation, the use of stem cells, and gene therapy.
Symptom Management
1. Guided Imagery Guided imagery is a relaxation technique that uses positive mental images to influence how you feel. It can enhance, but not replace, traditional Parkinson's treatment.
2. Speech Therapy Difficulty speaking and swallowing can be severely limiting symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Both can be helped by seeing a speech pathologist or speech therapist.
3. Physical and Occupational Therapy Parkinson’s disease may cause you to move more slowly. You may also feel tightness, pain, and weakness, especially in the muscles and joints. Physical and occupational therapy may help with these symptoms.
4. Swallowing Problems Many people with Parkinson's disease have difficulty swallowing because they lose control of their mouth and throat muscles.
5. Sexual Problems Tips for coping with sexual problems if you or your partner has Parkinson's disease.
6. Depression With Parkinson's Depression and other mental health disorders can develop from Parkinson's disease.
7. Constipation and Parkinson's Constipation often affects those with Parkinson's disease. It occurs when bowel movements become difficult or less frequent.
8. Parkinson's and Lightheadedness Why is lightheadedness a common problem in those with Parkinson's disease? Learn more about orthostatic hypotension.
9. Counseling for Parkinson's-Related Issues Parkinson's disease, as with many chronic illnesses, will affect you both physically and mentally. If you need help coping with Parkinson's, consider seeking counseling.

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