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What Causes Loss Of Balance While Treating Parkinson's Disease?
Posted on
Sat, 23 Jan 2016
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Sat, 23 Jan 2016
Answered on
Fri, 19 Feb 2016
Last reviewed on
Question : mine mother has had a stroke a year and half ago she also being treated for Parkinson but she cant balance her self to walk what could I do to help her walk again it is like she afraid to pick up feet up and balce herself but has good strength in her leg and all she is 83 and has her good mind still but can not remember which I think is cause the stroke
Brief Answer:
Rehabilitation is required
Detailed Answer:
If your mother has suffered a stroke and on top of that she is diagnosed with PARKINSON'S DISEASE, and she is 83 years old with probable dementia then, she has 4 very understandable reasons to be compromised in her balance.
And not only are those reasons legitimate but as well if she is on medication of any sort then, there are always the possibilities that changes in her blood pressure or other side effects could be causing or contributing poor balance.
How can you help her walk? Well, first the most likely causes need to be identified and addressed. If she has suffered from a stroke then, she will need physical therapy as well as vestibulotherapy (BALANCE THERAPY). She can be fully evaluated by physical therapy for her falls risk and if necessary have ordered devices or other interventions so that Parkinson's disease must be optimally treated with medications necessary to keep her as loose and functional as possible. And if the patient is suffering from dementia then, she should be checked for possible reversible causes such as thyroid hormone levels, Vit. B12, folate, and Vit. D.
I hope this addresses your concerns and that you'll keep me in mind for future questions regarding these or other neurological/medical issues I may be able to help answer. Feel free to upload more specific information regarding lab tests and diagnostic studies if done and I'll be happy to look at them.
Otherwise, I'd appreciate your rating this interaction with a HIGH STAR SCORE and would be grateful for a few words of feedback. In addition, I'd appreciate your CLOSING THIS QUERY if you're satisfied with the responses.
Write to me any time at: bit.ly/drdariushsaghafi for additional comments, concerns, or to provide status updates if you'd like.
This consult request has taken a total of 38 minutes of time to read, research, and respond.
Rehabilitation is required
Detailed Answer:
If your mother has suffered a stroke and on top of that she is diagnosed with PARKINSON'S DISEASE, and she is 83 years old with probable dementia then, she has 4 very understandable reasons to be compromised in her balance.
And not only are those reasons legitimate but as well if she is on medication of any sort then, there are always the possibilities that changes in her blood pressure or other side effects could be causing or contributing poor balance.
How can you help her walk? Well, first the most likely causes need to be identified and addressed. If she has suffered from a stroke then, she will need physical therapy as well as vestibulotherapy (BALANCE THERAPY). She can be fully evaluated by physical therapy for her falls risk and if necessary have ordered devices or other interventions so that Parkinson's disease must be optimally treated with medications necessary to keep her as loose and functional as possible. And if the patient is suffering from dementia then, she should be checked for possible reversible causes such as thyroid hormone levels, Vit. B12, folate, and Vit. D.
I hope this addresses your concerns and that you'll keep me in mind for future questions regarding these or other neurological/medical issues I may be able to help answer. Feel free to upload more specific information regarding lab tests and diagnostic studies if done and I'll be happy to look at them.
Otherwise, I'd appreciate your rating this interaction with a HIGH STAR SCORE and would be grateful for a few words of feedback. In addition, I'd appreciate your CLOSING THIS QUERY if you're satisfied with the responses.
Write to me any time at: bit.ly/drdariushsaghafi for additional comments, concerns, or to provide status updates if you'd like.
This consult request has taken a total of 38 minutes of time to read, research, and respond.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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