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Parkinson's Disease Pain

Parkinson's disease is a debilitating disorder that causes the loss of dopamine-producing brain cells. People with Parkinson's usually experience tremors, stiffness, the inability to stand straight or impaired balance. However, more than half of individuals who suffer from the disease will also experience some form of pain. The pain can become unbearable and difficult to cope with. If you are living with Parkinson's disease, here are a few pain symptoms that may be experienced.

  1. Musculoskeletal Pain

    • When you develop musculoskeletal pain, one of the first symptoms you may experience is shoulder stiffness, which may be the first sign of Parkinson's. You may also notice hip pain, back pain and neck pain. As the joints and muscles become stiff from the disease, muscle movements become more awkward and movement becomes more difficult, until eventually your tendons will contract.

    Neuritic Pain

    • Neuritic pain is a type of pain due to a specific nerve within your body being irritated. Its most common manifestation is a condition known as sciatica. The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve root in the body, spreading (much like tree branches) throughout the spinal column, buttocks and upper legs. If one of the nerves gets pinched, it causes sharp shooting pains throughout the back, buttocks, and even in the legs.

    Dystonia

    • Dystonia is involuntary muscular spasms, which are often the most-associated symptom of Parkinson's. In various studies, many patients report some form of pain connected with the onset of dystonia symptoms once the disease was diagnosed. Symptoms of dystonia are forced movements of the body, where you may twist or jerk. Your neck, face, jaw, tongue and limbs may move jerkily beyond your control. Symptoms also included the painful curling of toes and forceful movements of the head jerking towards the chest.

    Central Pain

    • This phenomena is rare in Parkinson's disease, though it can occur. Patients with the disease may describe sensations of stabbing, burning and scalding upon central part of the body, usually upon the torso, mouth or genital regions.

    Depression

    • The debilitation and pain that is caused by Parkinson's disease can bring about depression. Pain is often associated with depression. Many patients with the disease are at a higher risk of developing depression, and about 40 percent of patients indeed do experience depression. The pain, along with the depression, may be so debilitating that the sufferer may no longer be able to cope or function.

    Treatment

    • It is important that if diagnosed with Parkinson's, you discuss treatments with your doctor to find the best option for you. While there isn't a cure for Parkinson's, you can get treatment to alleviate symptoms. A new treatment called deep brain stimulation was recently approved by the FDA where electrodes are placed into the brain, which is then connected to a pulse generator. Deep brain stimulation can decrease the loss of muscle coordination associated with the disease as well as the pain associated with Parkinson's.

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