A man from the Schwalm-Eder district was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. His life has changed considerably since then. How the disease behaves?
Treysa – "Something wasn't right when he walked, I suddenly noticed that," says Susanne S. Her husband Norbert was 59 years old, an authorized signatory in a medium-sized company, active, out in nature a lot. "Norbert bent his upper body so far forward that I was afraid he would fall down. But he himself did not perceive it that way."Neither of them thought of Parkinson's, but rather of back problems.
"My legs often hurt. I had neck and shoulder pain almost all the time, but I didn't take it too seriously," says Norbert S. Today they both know that these can be typical signs of Parkinson's disease. And it is also typical that first relatives notice that something is wrong.
"Very few people think of Parkinson's" – How does the disease manifest itself??
"Parkinson's disease is progressive, but usually also gradual. Most sufferers notice the first symptoms when they are over 50 and think they are signs of aging," says Dr. Bernd Schade, neurologist and head physician at the Hephata Clinic in Treysa. "Very few people think of Parkinson's because many people associate it with shaking hands and legs. These can be signs, but often unspecific symptoms are in the foreground at the beginning, such as shoulder and back pain, a forward bent gait, a small-stepped gait pattern, sleep disturbances or also problems with the sense of taste and smell."
As a result, most of those affected do not receive the correct diagnosis for five years on average. With Norbert S. it went faster. His wife insisted that he see his family doctor, who referred him to the Hephata Clinic as a specialist clinic for neurology, psychiatry and psychotherapy. Here, the Parkinson's disease was described on the basis of the symptoms. An MRI scan to rule out other causes found. And since then, he has been cared for here by a team of specialists, nurses and therapists.
Man gets Parkinson's diagnosis: How to live with the disease
"I was shocked at first. I thought this was the end. It was clear to me that I was losing control of my body and mind and would not live much longer," says Norbert S. In his case, it has now been 15 years, although the limitations have become more severe: The 74-year-old now needs a rollator and a wheelchair for longer distances. He can only climb stairs with difficulty, his facial expressions and fine motor skills have deteriorated. When he sits at the table, his right arm trembles noticeably, his left arm a little.
But: He still lives at home with his wife. He can eat, groom and dress himself on his own. He is politically interested and spends a lot of time with his grandchildren – even if it takes a lot more time and energy than before. "I have to put up with these limitations, but I'm living my life."Once a quarter, Norbert S. for an outpatient check-up at the Neurology MVZ-Hephata. "Unfortunately, the corona pandemic has left its mark here as well. When my door opens, I can tell whether patients have received physiotherapy or not.
Unfortunately, too many people don't make any therapy or checkup appointments at all because they're afraid of Corona," says Schade. Norbert S. will soon be temporarily admitted to the Hephata Clinic as an inpatient and will be given new medication: "My goal is to retain as much independence as possible for as long as possible. Parkinson's is a chronic. Progressive disease. Nerve cells that produce dopamine die off in a part of the brain. According to the German Federal Ministry of Education, Parkinson's is. Research after Alzheimer's disease the second most common neurodegenerative disease of the brain. Men are affected more frequently than women. In 2016, there were around six million Parkinson's patients worldwide, and 400,000 people in Germany, according to current estimates. Ten percent of them get the diagnosis before the age of 50. Parkinson's is diagnosed on the 20th birthday, most of them beyond 60. The disease is not curable, but the progression can be slowed with medication and other therapies.
The English physician James Parkinson first described the disease a good 200 years ago. On his birthday, 11. April, World Parkinson's Day is organized to raise awareness of the disease among the general public. A renowned Parkinson's expert comes from Kassel, Germany. One of the most cited scientists in the world. A three-year-old girl from the Kassel district was diagnosed with an extremely rare disease.