What are the most common symptoms of parkinson's disease?

Slowing: Parkinson's disease is identified by a resting tremor, shuffling gate, rigid extremities, slow movements, and an flat affect (emotionless expression). These symptoms may appear differently during different stages of the disease. A neurologist can evaluate you for Parkinson's disease, and prescribe medications that can help with the movement disorder symptoms.

Several..: Parkinson's is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system.The motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease result from the death of dopamine-generating cells in the substantia nigra. Early in the course of the disease, the symptoms are movement-related; these include shaking, rigidity, slowness of movement and difficulty with walking and gait. Later, cognitive issues: dementia and depression.

Further detail: Before overt physical symptoms begin, one can experience pre-motor parkinson's issues: the most reliably reported 4 are chronic constipation, chronic depression, anosmia (part or complete loss of smell--which also effects taste appreciation) & rbd. Rbd stands for rem behavior disorder. Rem (dreaming stage sleep) can be accompanied by acting-out of dreams: talking, kicking, punching, running, etc.

Further Rx Detail: Dopamine meds are mainstay of treatment. Modern therapy recommends longer lasting, milder potency meds first: Azilect (mao-b selective inhibitor) & Dopamine agonists (requip xl/mirapex er/neupro). After they've been maximized & stronger meds are needed to adequately manage symptoms, then sinemet +/- Comtan (stalevo (carbidopa and levodopa and entacapone) is both together) are begun. Tailor rx with side effects in mind for each person.

Clinical Detail: Physical symptoms can include tremor of limbs at rest>in posture or in action; slow movements & stiff (rigid) muscles causing quiet facial emotions, softer voice, bent forward head & neck posture, decreased arm swing, slow-shuffled walk, small/scratchy penmanship, etc. Non-physical symptoms can include cognitive decline, depression, anxiety, sleepiness, constipation, ed, low bp, acting-out dreams.

See below: Tremor especially at rest, rigidity and poverty of movements.

Further Details.....: Physical symptoms can include tremor of limbs at rest>in posture or in action; slow movements & stiff (rigid) muscles causing quiet facial emotions, softer voice, bent forward head & neck posture, decreased arm swing, slow-shuffled walk, small/scratchy penmanship, etc. Non-physical symptoms can include cognitive decline, depression, anxiety, sleepiness, constipation, ed, low bp, acting-out dreams.

Motor manifestations: Tremor involving extremities at first, often progressing to trunk and head, reduced facial expression, shuffling gait, difficulties initiating behavior, and "freezing" episodes are typical. Medications help, and in some cases deep brain stimulation is considered. Activity therapy can also improve quality of life. See http://cpancf.Com/articles_files/motivationandinitiativeparkinsonsdisease.Asp.

Here's a Brief list: Physical symptoms can include tremor of limbs at rest>in posture or in action; slow movements & stiff (rigid) muscles causing quiet facial emotions, softer voice, bent forward head & neck posture, decreased arm swing, slow-shuffled walk, small/scratchy penmanship, etc. Non-physical symptoms can include cognitive decline, depression, anxiety, sleepiness, constipation, ed, low bp, acting-out dreams.