What Are the Most Common Symptoms of Parkinson’s?

More than 60,000 people are newly diagnosed with Parkinson’s each year, so if you are in middle or late age, it’s natural to wonder if that tremor in your hand could be a sign of Parkinson’s. Today, we’re diving into the most common symptoms of Parkinson’s and explaining how you and your doctor can work together to determine if your symptoms are Parkinson’s or not.

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What Are the Most Common Symptoms of Parkinson’s?

There are four main motor function symptoms of Parkinson’s. The symptoms that you need to watch out for are:

1. Tremors: These muscle shakes can appear anywhere in the body but often start in the hand or the arm. The tremors can also manifest in the legs, jaw or head, however. Note that having a tremor is relatively common and does not automatically mean that you have Parkinson’s, which is why it’s important to see a doctor if you start experiencing it.
2. Rigidity of the muscles: The muscles of the arms, legs and/or torso may become rigid and stiff to the point where movement becomes limited or painful.
3. Bradykinesia: A term that means “slow movement,” bradykinesia occurs because of delays in transmitting nerve signals from the brain to the body. One moment you may be moving normally and the next you feel like you are swimming through molasses — or you may even be unable to move at all.
4. Postural instability: As a result of these other changes, many people with Parkinson’s develop a stooped posture and/or balance issues. This can make it difficult to stand, walk and move around.

In addition to these four signs, there are also additional symptoms that may develop, especially as the disease progresses. For instance, they might speak more softly and with less inflection, and their handwriting might become small and cramped. Their facial expressions often become less pronounced and lack animation. Many people with Parkinson’s also develop a very distinctive walking gait, whereby they lean forward, shuffle their feet in short strides and reduce the swinging of their arms.

People with Parkinson’s often develop symptoms on one side of their body first. Even after symptoms spread across the body, they usually remain worse on one side. Many people report that they had other health issues before they developed the “classic” neurological symptoms of Parkinson’s, including restless legs, sleep issues, constipation and the decreased ability to smell. These symptoms usually continue after the neurological signs start and often become worse over time.

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How to Know If Your Symptoms Are Parkinson’s

Diagnosing Parkinson’s is a complex and sometimes difficult process. For one, the symptoms are often mild to begin with and progress quite gradually. Many people dismiss them as normal signs of aging and, in some cases, family members and friends are the first people to notice the difference in reduced motor function and lack of animation. Thus, many people don’t see a doctor as early as they could.

When you do finally see a doctor, they will need to run multiple tests and assessments in order to rule out other underlying causes. That’s because Parkinson’s has very similar symptoms to a variety of other neurological diseases. In fact, the medical community has even devised a catch-all term to refer to the entire category of conditions that cause symptoms like Parkinson’s: Parkinsonism.

Because the signs of Parkinson’s overlap with so many other neurological conditions, and because there is no single blood or lab test that can confirm Parkinson’s, a diagnosis is usually a process of elimination. Most initial diagnoses are made by a family physician or internist, but most patients usually get referred to a neurologist specializing in Parkinson’s to get a second opinion and to devise a course of treatment.

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If you are experiencing any of the four main symptoms above, you should definitely see your doctor to get screened for Parkinson’s and other potential neurological conditions. However, it’s also important not to panic just yet. Somewhat decreased motor function is a natural side effect of aging, and your occasional tremor might be just that.

If you are diagnosed with Parkinson’s, there are multiple medications that can help manage your symptoms. Making lifestyle changes, such as anti-tremor cutlery and easy-to-put-on clothes for the elderly, can make it possible for you to maintain a level of independence for some time yet.

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