My doctor called me a beast.

Last week I saw a new pain management doctor for a chronic pain in the neck. (Not a person, i.e., Not this:  “that guy is a pain in the neck.”. I mean an actual pain in my neck.)  Doc thinks the pain is from muscle spasms. He did an evaluation of my overall strength and conditioning before injecting lidocaine and steroids into my shoulder muscles. He said they were in constant spasm, which can be a Parkinson’s symptom. There is no way to be sure of why these muscles spasm.

While Doc was checking my strength he asked me to push him away from me towards the wall. I did what he asked. I think I took him by surprise as he flew across the room. He then called me a “beast.” He said he meant it as a compliment and I knew that; but it was also confirmation that I am accomplishing something with my intense exercising that surprises even my  doctor. I’m happy to be a beast. Try it. It feels good!

George Washington Bridge at the Manhattan night skyline

Doc said there were no limitations to any exercise I wanted to try, other than that imposed by the pain levels in my neck. So I am free to crank it up with my TRX system.

Well he did say to avoid juggling bowling balls. (He had a sense of humor.) Don’t repeat this but I’m going to try that once the pain in the neck is gone (the actual pain. Not the person.) 

Photo is taken looking under the George Washington Bridge at the Manhattan night skyline in the distance. More at NYUrbanimages.com

I am still really pissed off at this!

If I’m going to preach to you and others with and without Parkinson’s disease about taking responsibility for an aggressive approach to fighting for your health, in my case the encroachment of PD symptoms, in your case maybe whatever is out to get you, then you expect me to practice what I preach. Right?

Well I’m on it. It seems to be time to take another step. While I have been pretty satisfied with my current PD doctor, he is a single practitioner who is very good at designing the just right balance of medications but is totally focused there. Because of the effectiveness of my intense physical fitness program with reversing almost all symptoms as they tried to occur, I have been able to minimize the impact of Parkinson’s on my daily life so far

But now, before things get beyond my control, I want a more balanced program that attacks PD before it knows I’m coming at it.  So I have been looking for a comprehensive Parkinson’s medical group. to help me continue to kick the shit out of PD.  In this search I have noticed the growth of “centers of excellence” (COE) , a designation by the Parkinson’s Disease Institute, for the treatment of Parkinson’s and movement disorders. 

These COE’s  encompass all or most of the specialties I am looking to have available when and if I need them including  Parkinson’s neurology expertise,, physical therapy, physical training, speech pathology, , neuropsychology, diet and genetic analysis and treatment trials. While I am pleased to find this resource in my backyard, New York City, the bigger question is why does it  continue to be incumbent on a Parkinson’s disease person to uncover this type of help? With all due respect to qualified Parkinson’s doctors and those organizations raising funds supporting PD research, clinical trials, etc., there is a communication problem that needs addressing and it requires focusing on those practitioners not qualified to treat Parkinson’s patients.

Why do so many general practitioner doctors and general neurologists untrained in the treatment of Parkinson’s ignore the needs of their Parkinson’s afflicted patients and continue to provide inadequate medical advice. The more I think about this, the more pissed off I get. Bear with me while I try to refocus away from anger.

Okay. I’m refocused. (Not really. But I tried.)

I’m not bashful when it comes to fighting to make sure I get the best chance of living as well as I can. I have stuck an elbow here and there as necessary. As a result, I have nothing to complain about when it comes to PD. Not so for so many others. I don’t even want to think about how many PD people sit in nursing homes when this may not be necessary at all. If it is more than zero, it’s way too many. I am happy to share what I learn in my daily PD battle. Please  help me by sharing my posts and following this blog. You never know whom you might help and how that simple act may pay itself forward.

But at this moment, I’m still pissed off.

 The 9-11 Museum. NYUrbanimages.com

911 Museum more at NYUurbanimages.com

My favorite and least favorite Parkinson's disease symptoms

Brooklyn Bridge taken across from the Manhattan Bridge

Yes, boys and girls. I do have a favorite Parkinson’s symptom. It is the loss of smell. I appreciate losing this sense whenever I get on a very crowded New York City subway car on a hot and humid summer day. A rare benefit of having the disease.

Least favorite symptom. The loss of my sense of balance, especially on a crowded New York City subway car (again) if I lose my grip on the pole and end up crashing on top of the people next to me. So far, when that has happened once or twice or so, in unconventional style, my fellow New Yorkers seem to understand. They just prop me back up and continue to listen to their Spotify mix, like nothing happened. Nobody says a word. I do the same. I act like everybody should know that I do that once in a while, so get over it. (Sometimes tourists get startled when I fall on them. What is wrong with these people?)

Like I always say, it is what it is, so deal with it. Complaining doesn’t change a thing.

Photo is another of my favorites taken from the Manhattan Bridge looking across to the Brooklyn Bridge and a tourist boat. Extraordinary detail and color. Printed on metal.

More at  photography website:   NYUrbanimages.com

After writing this, I thought about apologizing.

Another good news; bad news scenario. This time it is the evaluation of the TRX exercise system that I bought to add to my arsenal of weapons to resist Parkinson’s disease. First the good news. I love TRX. It is just what I was looking for in a new exercise tool. It uses muscles in a new and higher intensity  way in order to increase strength and endurance in the expectation (and hope) that this will get more control over PD symptoms. Yes, it’s too  early to reach this good news as a conclusion, but it feels that way. We’ll see.

Now the bad news. TRX is so good  at what it does that unless you are already in above average shape, you will have a tough time using it. Therefor, you will most likely not be able to take advantage of the main benefits of TRX because it may be too hard for most PD people. However, what you might be able to do is get fit and go beyond so that eventually you may be able to use TRX to your benefit. I don’t believe in limitations.

Based on how much better I felt after just a few weeks of higher intensity exercise in response to creeping Parkinson’s symptoms, I am more convinced that the strongest defense against Parkinson’s is a strong and fit body which comes from vigorous exercise.

If I knew that and I did not have PD, but knew that I could get it later in life, I hope that I would be diligent enough to get into, or stay in,  shape so I could put up a good resistance when and if Parkinson’s came knocking at my door.

Not to worry.  I promise I will never say I told you so. And I hope to never have reason to even think that. Take care of yourself. (I wonder what I would think if I didn’t have PD but just read this annoying blog. Should I apologize? If you think I should, then I do. If you don’t think it is necessary, then forget about it.)

No apologies for one of my favorite photos? Can you ID it?

In the grand scheme of life, tiredness is not all that bad for a Parkinson's disease symptom.

My body does not respond well to heat. What seems to happen is that whatever Parkinson’s disease symptoms, which pop up every once in a while, will amplify because of intense summer heat. The overriding symptom for me is a debilitating tiredness. But I know how to handle and make it disappear. This sensation is also a medicinal side effect of PD fighting drugs. Fact is I don’t need to know where symptoms or side effect comes from, just how do I manage around them if I want to experience a normal day. Of course, removing the heat by moving to Alaska would most likely reduce or eliminate the annoyance of tiredness or, putting it another way, a lack of energy. But my grandchildren don’t live in Alaska.

Strangely enough, it is exercise which uses energy that works to provide energy. I think the energy is  ready and waiting to be tapped. Exercise seems to stimulate the nerve paths from the brain to the muscles and the muscles provide feedback to the brain that says we are not really tired. It’s just the nerve message system that doesn’t work when it is hot.

Yesterday the hot and humid weather let up a bit and temps were in the  70’s. Not cool, but not as hot as last week. My sluggish muscles which apparently had not been working because of the heat, were working almost 100% normal. It was very clear that this symptom was gone yesterday because I had to walk to a dentist appointment and walking as fast as I could took 30 minutes. But I am not 100% sure that the slightly cooler temps were the reason. It was just a bit cooler; it wasn’t cool.

Over the last 4 days I had also changed my exercise routine to almost exclusively the TRX system. It is possible that the new and extremely intense system also contributed. There is no way to tell yet for sure.

There is possibly some good news and bad news. Good news could be that TRX works at a higher level of intensity for people like me who are still fit and strong enough to use it. The bad news is that it could be too strenuous for a lot of people who have to manage their Parkinson’s exercise program to their capabilities.

Need more time to evaluate the TRX system. One very positive that is important to me is the large number of balance improvement exercises available. I will focus on evaluating these for Parkinson’s people.

Photo is the church across Church Street from the World Trade Center site in New York City.

Read about a trade I would make all day long.

I’m going to assume that, if you have PD,  (and of course you are reading this blog), by now you are at least in the  early stages of figuring out how to exercise to effect maximum available benefit. Actually, you can and should do that even if you do not (yet) have Parkinson’s just in case you do come down with it at some point in the future. You never know.

Symptoms you can expect to reduce or eliminate with exercise may include limp leg (not a medical term, but you can figure it out), general muscle weakness, tremors of various types, inability to move your body in bed, a  limp handshake (hate shaking a limp hand. So does just about everyone else.), poor sexual performance, (AKA limp dick? sorry. Could not resist.) (Denied by virtually every male animal on Earth. I just wonder who is buying all those little blue pills. Must be our friends.)  tripping and stumbling, shortness of breath, insomnia and, although not a symptom and more like a consequence, feeling badly about your overall physical appearance. Plus, sometimes you can’t tell if certain physical deterioration is from PD or simply aging. Doesn't matter to me either way because I believe that exercise slows down the aging process  as well as Parkinson’s.  

I bet you can get a sense of feeling what it is like to have Parkinson’s if you can imagine what it would be like to go to sleep at 60 years old and suddenly you wake up and find that you are 80 with all its accompaniments. It might take you only  a couple of months to acquire all the infirmities of 80 years of age as Parkinson’s symptoms.   That’s how fast some people pick up the symptoms of PD. But not if you exercise intensely. That is a promise. And if you have PD and are capable of exercise but choose to not exercise, close the blog. I don't speak that language.

If I had not been in pretty good shape 14 years ago  when my Parkinson's first came calling and started to increase the intensity of my exercise as symptoms started, shifted or progressed, I would not have been able to live my life exactly as I would have had I not had Parkinson’s. The “net net” is that for me, exercise mostly cancelled out Parkinson’s effect on me.. Now that’s a trade that I would make all day long.

NYC Urban Images 

That is my reality. It is why I write this blog. In my next post, I will let you in on what I have been experiencing with symptoms recently, what I have done in response and the results so far.

Before I forget, I have an active photography web site where you can see my photos (mostly architecture and other urban images). If you see something that you like, send me a message or email and we can discuss.  The site is

NYUrbanimages.com

The photo shown with this post is from my library. Enjoy.

Ludwig, you must exercise. TRX can help you reverse Parkinson's disease symptoms.

I thought I was in tip-top condition. After all, with averaging almost two hours a day of gym time virtually every day, I was working hard and my body was showing results. My weight was down to 174 from 195 at the beginning of this year and my waist was down to 33 from 36”.. My body was the size it was in high school. Then I tried the TRX system. That’s when I realized that my exercise program needed a makeover. TRX is a simple, inexpensive and time effective exercise system used by the military (according to the sales material),

The system depends on a single strap which connects to a stable point in your gym (which could also be your living room, bedroom or kitchen, or that tree in your backyard.)  That strap then connects to two straps, one for each arm, and occasionally for each leg. It is a lack of rigidity that causes your body to continuously work hard to stabilize and balance itself.

Now pay attention, Parkinson people. If you are not yet challenged by your body to maintain balance, you probably will be. And when that happens, occasionally you will find yourself looking up at people looking down at you and trying to help you up because you fell. It’s one of the more unpleasant symptoms of PD, notwithstanding the helpful nature of New Yorkers willing to lend you a hand. (That’s not sarcasm. New Yorkers are ready to spring into action whenever a fellow human is in trouble. I have experienced it on two memorable occasions. Once when I was hit by a truck while crossing Second Avenue and a crowd of people all tried to help protect me as I laid in the gutter from cars in the street and kept me dry under their umbrellas while they stood in the pouring rain until an ambulance arrived. Another time, I fell down a flight of stairs in the 63^rd Street subway. A young man not only picked me up within one second of my fall, he helped me on my train while telling anyone who would listen what a tough old man I was., but I digress…) Knowing how to remain upright can be important. My Dad fell down a flight of concrete stairs mostly using his head to absorb the impact in his 80’s, and while he lived to 90, I know his last years would have been a whole lot better (and so much easier on my Mother) had he not fallen. I don’t know if it’s possible to teach your sense of balance to do it’s job once Parkinsoln’s tries to take it away. But I’m not going to wait until someone figures that out. It looks like the TRX system can help train my sense of balance. If it does not, I haven’t lost anything because the rest of the system is worth the price.

I have now used the TRX two days in a row. The typical (if there is such a thing) workout lasts just between 15 and 30 minutes. minutes. Since my muscles work better if I exercise every day, I plan to alternate between my gym equipment as described in last night’s blog and TRX:. Unlike the way my gym stuff works with no effort other than you isolating a muscle or three and working that, with TRX you have to strain virtually every muscle just to keep your balance. This uses so much more effort that after 15 minutes, you will looking for an excuse like tying your shoe just so you will be able to sneak a little recovery.

I’m going to explore those exercises that seem geared to help with Parkinson’s symptoms and report back.

And, of course, don’t forget the aerobic exercises. There is no stopping the progression of Parkinson’s disease symptoms EXCEPT IF YOU EXERCISE.

 ITS UP TO YOU.

ee you soon.

JP

If you have Parkinson's Disease, never, ever complain. Read why in my blog.

I will admit it. Researching Parkinson’s disease for this blog is a lot of work. I just can’t write about my experience AND do the necessary research and prep to do all this right. (Well I probably could if I weren’t so lazy.) Fortunately, I have an inhouse research department consisting of my mother (96 years of age and sharp as a tack. She reads the Wall Street Journal cover to cover every day (along with two local newspapers) plus a few books a month for good measure.) and a sister (a year or so older than me. She ran a elderly day care center in New England for about 25 years before selling the business and retiring to Florida. She knows more about this stuff than she gives herself credit for.) who pitch-in to help with research and provide me with leads. They both don’t realize how much I appreciate them.  Just knowing they are behind me is enough to make me feel good. My sister has sent a number of articles on exercise and its benefits for Parkinson’s patients. Recently, my Mother came across a very relevant article in a New England newspaper describing the work of a company founded by a personal trainer and a nurse. Together they have put together books and DVD’s on how to fight those annoying PD symptoms with exercise. Google “Delay the Disease” or search that phrase on Amazon. I have not yet looked into the details, but it appears as though that program and my exercise recommendations are very similar. Is anyone familiar with Delay the Disease? I would like to learn more. I will report back to you when I do.

I am also researching for the best exercise equipment for PD people. Right now I am using a multi-station universal with adjustable weight stacks. I bought it new but the seller got confused and sent two. After trying for a week or two to give one back, the Chicago based company told me to keep it. I gave it to a friend. But he doesn’t look like he uses it. Sorry, got off track. I also use an elliptical trainer,, free weights and an recumbent bike. Oh, plus a mat for ab work. That’s a healthy amount of gym equipment, way more than the average American amateur athlete, let alone that I am a crotchety old guy . Cost and space required are  more than considerations. They are battle cries between spouses. My wife is slowly but surely plotting to overthrow my gymnasium empire. If she actually tries, you may see me on the evening news. (just kidding honey.) My wife would never try do that. But I’m smart enough to  never say never.

So in self-defense and as a public service, I had Amazon deliver a simple canvas belt system called KTX. Early trial are promising. That’s me in the photo trying it out

Full report coming your way soon.

Lastly, on the CBS Sunday Morning Show this week there was a story about a medical device that enables people paralyzed from the waste down to sort of walk. A woman whose legs and bladder recently became paralyzed due to a botched medical procedure said she was grateful and fortunate compared to someone who is quadriplegic and mentally disabled. And I’m thinking about the minor inconveniences of Parkinson’s such as difficulty standing up. Hell, I can not only standup, I can walk! I have absolutely nothing to complain about. 

Nothing.  

KTX Belt system to beat Parkinson's Disease 

Compared to what this woman goes through each day, Parkinson's is just a little worse than a mosquito bite. No complaints allowed. It's not that bad and frankly, my dear, I don't give a shit

If you have PD, be well and never, ever, complain.

IN THIS BLOG: Two readers will begin the resisting Parkinson’s program to reverse symptoms this week. Why you should exercise without clothes. And perhaps you should start a blog about sex.

That is a lot to cover so let’s get right to it.

Great news. When I launched this blog I did so hoping to share my experience with Parkinson’s disease with someone who could benefit from what I learned over 14 years of trying to reduce symptoms by trial and error. I had heard about three people who had recently been diagnosed with Parkinson’s and were given ridiculous medical advice from their non-Parkinson doctors.. Advice like there is no cure and there is nothing you can do. This got me so angry and it motivated me to write a blog so that everyone who read it would understand a whole lot more than the doctors treating these  three poor victims of bad medicine. In an early posting I wrote that if I could have a positive affect on just one person, I would be happy. This week, I found out that at least two people with PD are going to try to follow what I have found to work for me. I will not identify anyone (if you have followed me you know that I do not name names) so they can use my program unfettered.  I will begin their program with at least one or two blogs a week that detail a specific action on  exercising, resting, stress relieving, taking medications, dieting, hydrating, concentrating and clear thinking; not to mention preparing for the worst but expecting the best. I will also offer advice for all readers that you can use to improve your strength and physique. I’m pretty sure that everyone who follows my advice will benefit. If not, you will get your money back. I promise. The rest of the blogs will continue with what it’s like to have Parkinson’s, on a personal level. And, of course, you will have to tolerate my sarcasm, absurdities and  strange sense of humor along with my lack of respect for conventional thinking and authority. Oh, and don’t forget my photography, which is the main passion in my life.

I will continue with stressing exercise as the base upon which Parkinson’s must be challenged. You cannot underestimate the need to keep physically strong and keep muscles from atrophying. Even if all you do is slow down the rate at which atrophy occurs, it is what I have found is most obvious and visible element of any anti-Parkinson’s program, therefor the most important psychologically.. I will offer still photos that will focus on specific muscles that are important in movement and balance.

In an anti-Parkinson’s exercise program, muscles, whether they be yours, mine or someone else’s, should not be hidden beneath a tee-shirt or gym clothes while exercising. You want to focus on what needs improvement and relate hard work with muscle size and shape. I find a great deal of motivation from watching my muscles flex when working out and beat back Parkinson’s for one more day. Try this bit of psychology and see if it works for you. If you can work out at home or in a private spot, exercise without clothes, or try wearing a bathing suit at your gym.. If anyone objects, tell them I approved it as part of your anti-Parkinson’s exercise program. If anyone still objects, suggest that they get a life. Then find a new gym. At first you will feel self-conscious, but you will eventually get familiar with those all important muscles and notice that your exercise program is working. This will also help you identify where atrophy is sneaking up on you and where you need to focus. Just yesterday, I noticed that my biceps have shrunk  (again), so  I’ll focus more  work there. This will keep you exercising. The motivational benefits are amazing.

Before we start specific exercises, I ask that you talk to your doctor about how to approach a new exercise program specifically for resisting Parkinson’s. I plan to build up to an intense program but it will take weeks to reach a level where you see tangible results because we need to get you up to a base level. If the doctor isn’t supportive of exercise. Find a new doctor. That’s not a joke. Do it.

For the next two weeks, your assignment is to do aerobic activity each day (no days off) that causes you to sweat and breath harder than normal. Start with an easy paced 7 to 10 minutes and add 2 minutes each day so that at the end of  2  weeks you will have 35 to 38 minutes. Then back it down to 20 minutes a day but at a slightly higher pace. Any type of aerobic activity will work. I either ride a recumbent bike or use an elliptical trainer. You can also jog, walk as fast as you can (with or without your cane or walker), bicycle, swim the English Channel,, climb Mount Everest, etc. Do something you will like. Yes, sex will qualify as aerobic but only if it last for 25 minutes at high intensity. (If you can do that consistently, you probably don’t have Parkinson’s disease and you should write your own blog on how to do that.)

Be well.

JP

Photo is another view of the covered bridge outside of Kingston, NY.

Bridge in Kingston, NY

This is the story behind my story. The moment Resisting PD was born

If you were as fortunate as me and crossed paths with someone who changed your life when you were starting to doubt your future, you would want to recognize him or her and would remember them always. With that thought, I will share a story in this blog because someone may be inspired to pay it forward elsewhere and change somebody else’s life. I hope so.

Bridge in Kingston,  NY

The story is about an anonymous hero, hereinafter referred to as AH, and it begins a few years ago when I got a phone call from a very good friend with whom I had worked at several New York based real estate companies. I had been out of work for over a year; I was feeling like I had Parkinson’s because I had Parkinson’s.   I had given up looking for the type of opportunity I had enjoyed for all of my career. At that time I was negotiating a position with an energy management firm  that would allow me to at least stay active, but it was not a great opportunity for someone with 20 plus years of experience in New York real estate. My friend knew I was pretty discouraged with my career and my health. He knew I had Parkinson’s disease. Nevertheless, he offered to introduce me to AH, the anonymous hero mentioned above. I accepted the offer. One conversation led to another and to a job offer that turned out to be beyond my expectations. AH told me that I did not need to provide references because he checked me out himself. Because it was such a senior position and a great opportunity, I felt I had to let AH know that I had Parkinson’s. Truth be told, at that time, I did not have a whole lot of confidence that I could carry the workload. PD had taken control of my attitude, if not some of my physical abilities. AH was taken aback by my PD disclosure. He said a friend of his had PD for just four years and was confined to a wheel chair. He was surprised that I was looking for a job, let alone his job offer. He said he would have to hold the job offer until he checked with his lawyer on what to do. I knew that any good lawyer would not allow his client to hire someone with PD for a senior position with major responsibilities and a heavy workload. I was right, but after AH told me his lawyer told him not to hire me, he hired me. That was the moment that I knew AH was a special kind of person. It was also the moment that changed my life. Here I am years later, still thinking about and appreciating that moment.

Now the pressure was on me. Not by AH, but by me. I had very little confidence that I could carry the workload and set my first goal as just getting to work for two weeks. Well, two weeks became two months became two years became several more years of challenging and rewarding real estate opportunities, including investing in real estate along with AH. As I told him, I only wish we had crossed paths when I was at my peak in career performance so he could have seen what I could have done working with him.

When I decided to leave the New York real estate world to devote more time to my growing photography career, it was a very difficult decision. AH helped by supporting my photography in a big way, buying and displaying a lot of my work. And he was there at my first gallery exhibit at One Art Space in Tribeca.

AH was and still is a big part of my success in dealing with and resisting Parkinson’s. It was his taking a risk against his lawyer’s advice to hire an old guy past his career prime with PD. It was seeing someone put more faith in me than I had in myself. I couldn’t not succeed. AH didn’t allow me the opportunity to fail. I didn’t realize it at that time, but my program of resisting Parkinson’s disease  was born on that moment when AH offered me that job. It was that moment that changed my life.

In those years since that moment I have proven to myself and others that PD symptoms can be beaten into submission. And while it is hard work, knowing that I have recaptured parts of my life that I thought were forever gone gives me more satisfaction than I deserve.

Jim, thank you.

What Parkinson's disease is not...

Beautiful Scenery

I have never been able to accept that I have Parkinson’s disease and I don’t expect I ever will. Instead, I am now able to accept what it is not and be grateful for my life as it is.

Here are some things PD is not. It is not pancreatic cancer. Or any other cancer. I think that people who have a diagnosis of cancer and face it head on daily with chemo, radiation, surgery, etc., are the bravest people I will ever know.

Parkinson’s disease is not coming back from a war in the Middle East with both legs blown off and facing the rest of your life with no legs. It is not ALS, Lou Gehrig’s disease. It is not a car accident or heart attack or terrorist bomb or hijacked plane crashing into a tower that kills a loved family member. It is none of these.

Parkinson’s disease is not a lot of things. Things that affect others.  Before PD, I never thought much about the strength shown by those affected by things much worse than PD.

Parkinson’s has enabled me to do that.

The photo was shot from the balcony of a friend's home and processed with Lightroom. . It represents something unexpected but now compelling in its own right. Much like the philosophy of this blog post.

I’m so vain, I probably think this song is about me

Before you get frustrated that you do not see a reduction or elimination of Parkinson’s disease symptoms after a  couple of weeks of intense workouts, keep in mind that my success was built on a body that had spent a lifetime getting ready for this challenge through constant fitness activity (and an excess amount of vanity). Not to mention 14 years of trying to get it right.

Don’t get discouraged at all. You will get there on your own schedule. Try being vain by looking at yourself in a mirror and telling yourself that you see improvement in your biceps, triceps or any other muscle you happen to fancy. Get a hold of a book on body building and fixate on growing big muscles. If you are normal, you won’t be able to even come close, but I guaranty that even if you are 85, you can grow muscles and strength and improve your physique, feel better physically and feel good mentally because you are vain like me.

Also, do not underestimate the amount of commitment and pure over-the-top dedication your program of beating Parkinson’s disease at it’s own nasty little game will take. It will be the most effort you will have ever put into a physical and mental endeavor and you will need to endure a lot of pain. But in the end, you will also get more satisfaction than you will ever otherwise feel. You will be doing something no one else will ever understand, unless, God forbid, they take Parkinson’s home for a permanent visit.

That’s my pep talk for this point in anticipation (and hope) that at least one person is being motivated to get moving and regain the parts of their lives they once thought they would never experience again. Because now they can.

So please share this blog with someone who can use it. For everyone else, take from it whatever you like. Thanks for reading this.

Dallas,TX

Photo is downtown Dallas.

Nobody is getting out of here alive.

While I am a fanatic about fighting, resisting, kicking the shit out of and staring down Parkinson’s disease and I get carried away with maintaining and building muscles as a way to prove it to myself and anyone who will listen, I understand this is a futile spec of dust in the grand scheme of things. There are different ways to express it. Like the title of this blog. Nobody is getting out of here alive. The “here” referred to is this planet. There is a number, which is probably slightly over a hundred, that represents the number of years it will take before every living human creature now alive, including all people born in the last few hours, will no longer be alive. Dwell on that for a second.

Sorry. I didn’t mean to put a damper on the beautiful day. (I hope the pretty flower makes up for it.) What I am saying is that Parkinson’s is a challenge, but so is life. And everyone has a similar challenge even if you think you do not. If you are old, you will likely get sick before you die, and then you die. If you are young, you will soon be old. And then you will likely get sick and then you die.(Younger folks think being young is

permanent. It is not. . It is actually a lot less permanent than you think. You will realize this when you wake up in a couple of days and say “where was I when I was getting old?”

Sorry, but there are no other options available. What I am getting to is that you have only a finite time to live the rest of your life. I want to do things that I haven’t yet done. I don’t want Parkinson’s to get in my way. So that is why I am a little insane (maybe more than a little) about not letting PD slow me down.

And I need all the tricks and advice I can get. And when I can pass on anything helpful to others, if you would share it, it will help too. Thanks for helping me keep it in perspective but keeping it important at the same time.

Tired of taking shit from PD. Abs that are absolutely the best I ever had. And yes, that rumor is true. (Or how I got to be better in bed.)

Parkinson’s disease attacks the body through the brain by destroying the brain’s ability to send nerve impulses to the body’s muscles. Sounds nasty, right? (There is no pain involved, so it could be worse. Always look for the bright side.) However, what if you lose the ability to send muscles all the impulses needed to do certain things like flex or contract so you can move or pick something up, button your shirt, write, type, pour a glass of wine.? (Get the picture?)

When that happens, life becomes a little more challenging. If you simply don’t exercise or don’t exercise intensely enough, you are giving PD a head start at putting you in a wheel chair. Why would you do that? No, seriously. Why? When you look in a mirror at your naked body after you have had PD for a few years, remember what it looked like before PD decided it wanted you to look like a decimated cadaver. Then get pissed off and do something about it.

If you exercise intensely, (intensely is the operative word here) you can strengthen those parts of the muscle that still get impulses to offset what you have lost to Parkinson’s. I don’t care what your age is. You can regain muscle mass and strength. You can rebuild your body and feel good about it. Based on my experience, I firmly believe that you can teach muscles to develop new nerve paths and force them to do  what you want them to do. It just takes a lot of work. ( That is spelled “A LOT”)  I discovered the relationship between reducing or reversing symptoms and intense exercise when I decided to rebuild my muscles that were atrophied to the point of scaring me. And I don’t scare easily. (Not true.) I exercised longer and more intensely and as I rebuilt my muscle mass and strength, especially my abs.  I was amazed that some symptoms just disappeared. That’s right. Disappeared. As I did that, I realized that I was staring down Parkinson’s and putting years between me and a wheel chair. Maybe even never needing such a device.

Here is how I got better in bed. A typical loss of strength for an average PD patient is the strength to move your body in bed.  I know, this sounds strange, but it is very real and this symptom in the last two years became very problematic for me personally. “Do you have difficulty changing position in bed?” This is a  standard benchmark question doctors ask to check on PD progression. For me, over a period of time, it became very hard to change position and location once in bed. It looked like it was a battle that I was losing. I got fed up with this sympton and tired of taking shit from my little friend, PD. It was then I decided this had to change. So I tested muscles to isolate those used to move in bed and then set out to  double the strength of these through a very intense and extended routine focusing on building strength in my abs, triceps, legs  and shoulders.

As I developed new muscle and strength it was apparent that I needed even more improvement in my abs. So I went about developing abnormal abs. (That was too easy.) My abs were sore 24 X 7 and still are., but you can literally see the transformation in the attached photos. I’m feeling real good about building muscles beyond what they were before I had PD. Did you catch that? I have more ab muscle now than I  ever had with or without PD. Take that PD! More on the transition.  While I was at it, I thought that losing an additional 15 pounds can  be of help when I try to lift my fat ass and then move about the bed.  It took more than two months but I can now move so much easier when I want to change position in bed and also in general. This morning I weighed in at 174 pounds (at 6 feet tall), the weight I had as a sophomore in high school.  This entire experience is just more proof that if you are determined enough, you can reverse Parkinson’s symptoms. What do you have to lose? A wheel chair? Sure there are limits to everything. Don’t focus on the limits. Focus how to get to the limit and then focus on moving the limit.

Do it. Your body will thank you in more ways than one.

Abdominal muscle photos are discussed in the body of the blog.

Parkinson's Disease, Photography and the Life of Pi

I am obsessed with photography. I know that sounds like hyperbole or exaggeration. It’s not. I think about it, read about it, take private lessons for it, watch videos about it. Can’t get enough of it. The intensity grows in relation to the length of time I have had Parkinson’s disease. And I found that I can use this passion as a tool to help me ignore the inconvenience of my least favorite disease. Read on for more about how my photography is closely related to my PD.

On my last visit to my doctor, (done every 90 days) while he was explaining my case history to an intern visiting that day, I told them about my theory that my photography took a major leap in quality around the time  Parkinson’s decided to pay me a permanent visit. I was wondering if he has seen any other evidence of artistic or creative abilities improving with PD. He was indirect in saying that he felt that some Parkinson’s drugs could cause some brain stimulation that could have that effect.  PD drugs are all focused on making the brain produce, stimulate or retain neurons that help transmit nerve signals to the body. A sensory neuron is an electrically charged cell in the brain that receives, processes and transmits signals such as visual images of  light, color interpretation and other optical messages to other parts of the brain. Could it be that for some people PD drugs create a higher level of visual stimulation and the result is more creativity as manifested in photography? Some days it seems that I have a camera in my head that is composing everything I see into imaginary photos. Don’t worry about this. It’s a valuable tool to stare down PD with. It makes me feel better and forget about Parkinson’s altogether.

PD drugs as a recreational visual arts drug? No. I also doubt anyone would look forward to the possibility of contracting Parkinson’s disease on the oft chance that they could improve their photography. Ha! On the other hand, if you already have PD and you notice that you are producing better quality photos, you can thank me for pointing this out.

Oh, one more thing. It might or might not be a coincidence that I bought a new camera around the time we introduced my body to a new brain drug. It doesn’t matter. I just prefer the entirely plausible story that my PD drugs made me a better photographer. Sort of like the question at the end of the book, Life of Pi. Which story do you want to believe?

I believe.

Times Square NYC