Parkinson’s Care To Help You Feel Whole
As we age, we expect some daily muscle aches and stiffness in our joints. But if you’re beginning to regularly feel tremors in your limbs and extremities or your arms and legs have trouble fully relaxing, these may be early signs and symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. If you’re experiencing Parkinson’s symptoms, rest assured that compassionate care and support are right here in the western suburbs.
Our neurology experts at UChicago Medicine AdventHealth will put a name to your symptoms and provide the medications, therapies and surgeries to improve your quality of life. You and our highly skilled team members will work together to help you approach your daily tasks with more confidence and ease. Navigating the road to relief with Parkinson’s disease treatments goes more smoothly when a knowledgeable team of experts is by your side.
We’re here to help you find the right neurologist or a location that’s convenient for you.
Treatments To Help You Thrive With Parkinson’s
- Accurate Diagnostic Testing Leads to Better Care
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Body tremors can signify a genetic condition or simply a temporary side effect of certain medications. But if you also experience stiffness, difficulty balancing or abnormally slow movements, these combined symptoms might indicate something more serious.
While there’s no definitive exam to diagnose Parkinson’s disease (PD), our neurological experts can eliminate other causes of your tremors by conducting several screenings and tests, including:
- Blood panels
- Imaging tests like computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans
- Physical and neurological exams
- Trial doses of Levodopa (L-Dopa), a medication known to relieve PD symptoms
- Early Parkinson’s Symptoms
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Your ability to find relief from your Parkinson’s symptoms begins with knowledge. Our neurology specialists at UChicago Medicine AdventHealth can help you confidently move forward. Parkinson’s disease — most common in people ages 60 and over — affects more than 1 million Americans. It’s a slow-moving, degenerative condition that occurs when the nerves in the brain that produce the chemicals that help you move are damaged.
Parkinson’s looks different for everyone and progresses in stages. Because your condition is unique to you, we’ll create a Parkinson’s treatment plan that considers your whole-person health.
If some of your Parkinson’s disease symptoms seem to worsen — constantly wringing your hands, repeating facial gestures or excessive blinking — you may have a condition called dyskinesia. Related to Parkinson’s, dyskinesia is caused by long-term use of the PD medication Levodopa. Your team will closely monitor your symptoms, adjusting your medications to eliminate or impede unwanted side effects. Your comfort is our priority. We help you achieve it by tailoring our care to you, adapting at every step to help you live your best possible life.
- Parkinson’s Disease Treatments
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You enjoy being active and approaching life with enthusiasm. Your energy will go a long way in helping you manage the symptoms of Parkinson's, as one of the most effective PD treatments is exercise. Regular movements like jogging, lifting weights, swimming and dancing can relax your muscles and increase overall strength.
And if you need a guiding hand, we provide comprehensive physical therapy services to help you develop a plan to keep moving.
Your team can also help calm your Parkinson's symptoms with a range of medications, including:
- Anticholinergics that reduce tremors in about half of cases
- COMT inhibitors that help slow the breakdown of dopamine
- Dopamine agonists
- Levodopa (L-Dopa), the primary medication for Parkinson's
- MAO-B inhibitors that prevent the breakdown of dopamine in the brain
However serious your symptoms, we'll find the Parkinson's treatment that's right for you, develop a plan to continuously monitor your progress and provide support to help you live each day with a calmer mind and stronger spirit.
Expert Care to Get Back to a Life You Love
When it comes to finding the right expertise for Parkinson’s disease, you’ve got this because you’ve got us. Get the expert care and support you need and reclaim your life.
A Connected Network of Care for Parkinson’s Disease
Your brain and body are a connected system, and so are we. With a multidisciplinary approach to care, we reach across specialties to give you the support you need for Parkinson’s disease. You can count on us to listen to you, respect your time, compare notes and make treatment decisions that meet your personal needs and goals. No matter what’s on your chart or your mind, we’re here for you at every step.