Many people living with Parkinson’s disease (PD) experience pain as a non-motor symptom. Pain can arise from stiff muscles, dystonia, nerve pain and even the disease progression itself. Such pain can cause sleep difficulties, worsen depression and increase isolation, affecting overall quality of life. Options for addressing pain while living with Parkinson’s can include adjusting medication; Botox injections are another method some use for easing the pain related to dystonia and muscle spasms. Other people find lifestyle adjustments or complementary therapies such as massage and physical therapy can reduce pain.
In audio from this Third Thursdays Webinar, listen to our expert panel of people living with PD, movement disorder specialists and an integrative pain specialist discussing pain and Parkinson’s – why it happens, treatments to reduce it and practical tips you can start incorporating today.
If you’d rather listen on the go, subscribe to our Michael J. Fox Foundation Parkinson’s Podcast on iTunes or your preferred podcast app. If you enjoyed what you heard, share it with a friend or leave a review! It helps listeners like you find and support our mission.
María De León, MD, a movement disorder specialist who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2008 and is a member of MJFF’s Patient Council, leads a discussion with panelists:
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Ethan Henderson, a member of MJFF’s Patient Council who was diagnosed with PD in 2016. He’s also senior associate director of advancement at MJFF and a Parkinson’s policy advocate.
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Indu Subramanian, MD, a movement disorder specialist and clinical professor of neurology at UCLA. She’s also a neurologist with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and director of the VA’s Southwest PADRECC (Parkinson’s Disease Research, Education and Clinical Center) Center of Excellence.
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Lillie Rosenthal, DO, a physical medicine and rehabilitation physician in New York City, and an expert in lifestyle management for injury prevention, pain management and integrative health.
View a transcript of the podcast.
Want to see the slides and other resources from the webinar? Watch on demand.
The Foundation’s landmark study, the Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative, also known as PPMI, is recruiting volunteers. Join the study that’s changing everything.