Is leg pain a symptom of Parkinson’s?
Leg pain can be significant and have many causes; some related to Parkinson's disease, some that increase in frequency with age and others that are more common in both conditions. Here are just a few:
Pain associated with Parkinson's
Musculoskeletal
Neuropathic
General Pain
This information does not represent all types of pain that can occur. As always, be sure to talk with your healthcare provider if you are experiencing pain in your legs.
With many Thanks to Monique L. Giroux, MD
Medical Director, Northwest Parkinson's Foundation
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Muscle cramps facts
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https://www.the-scientist.com/news-opinion/adult-humans-can-regenerate-cartilage--study-66558
Adult Humans Can Regenerate Cartilage: Study
Collagen inside ankles has more turnover than that in hips, thanks to the action of microRNAs.
Oct 10, 2019
SHAWNA WILLIAMS
Humans, unlike some lucky members of the animal kingdom, have a very limited ability to regrow damaged or missing body parts. But a study published yesterday (October 9) in Science Advances finds that we can generate new proteins in joint cartilage, and this ability is more pronounced in joints farther from the center of the body, such as the ankles, than in those nearer in, such as the hips. The mechanism for this ability resembles that used by animals such as salamanders and axolotls to regrow lost limbs.
“We believe that an understanding of this ‘salamander-like’ regenerative capacity in humans, and the critically missing components of this regulatory circuit, could provide the foundation for new approaches to repair joint tissues and possibly whole human limbs,” says coauthor Virginia Kraus, who researches osteoarthritis at Duke University School of Medicine, in a university press release.
Kraus and her colleagues analyzed proteins from cartilage tissue from human hips, knees, and ankles for changes to amino acids that occur with time. “We suddenly started noticing that the ankle proteins tended by and large to be much younger than the same proteins in the knee and the same proteins in the hip,” Kraus tells The Guardian.
The researchers found that the prevalence of younger proteins was tied to the abundance of a microRNA that blocks the action of a messenger RNA that inhibits the production of new collagen proteins. Similar microRNAs are active in animals that can regrow limbs, the authors note—and, as in humans, the animals’ regeneration ability is greater in distal parts of the body than in more central ones.
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Interestingly, inclining the head of your bed by just six to eight inches (15 to 20cm) at the head seems to generate remarkable improvements for many people suffering conditions such as circulatory and respiratory issues, diabetes, leg ulcers, migraines, multiple sclerosis, oedema, Parkinson's disease, skin problems, spinal cord injuries, varicose veins and many more.
Have a look at inclinedbedtherapy.com for some suggestions. Simple to do. For a fun look at the inclined bed!
For many years, I had the head of our bed inclined, then as the disease progressed and Don wanted a hospital bed, I placed the raisers under the top legs of the bed. Even in the nursing home, I noticed that Don's electric bed was raised at the head. Although Don was originally diagnosed with Parkinson's, it became clear that he was ticking the boxes for Lewy Body Dementia. This was a breakthrough for his neurologist. His disease lasted 23 years, until he gently went to sleep...
Leg pain can be significant and have many causes; some related to Parkinson's disease, some that increase in frequency with age and others that are more common in both conditions. Here are just a few:
Pain associated with Parkinson's
- Off related pain - diffuse aching and/or throbbing pain that increases at end of dopaminergic medicine dosing or when medication levels are low. Unlike joint pain, this pain is often located in the muscle such as the thigh or calf but not the knee of ankle. PD medications can often improve this pain.
- Restless leg syndrome - uncomfortable sensations most commonly felt in legs that is worse at night and while resting and relieved with movement. See related post on restless leg syndrome for more information.
- Dystonia-involuntary contraction of muscle. This can be common as a symptom of PD, an off related symptom or as a form of dyskinesia from medication. An example is early morning foot dystonia described as painful cramping of the toes and feet. Botulinum toxin (Botox, Myobloc) therapy can help
Musculoskeletal
- Arthritis of the knee, hip or ankle typically causes pain in the join and not muscle. Although this is unrelated to PD, arthritic pain can worsen when the natural biomechanics of the joint is altered with PD rigidity, loss of strength and loss of flexible. Physical therapy and anti-inflammatory agents are an important treatment for this and the condition described next.
- Achilles tendonitis is pain located at the ankle and plantar faciitis is pain located under the sole of the foot. Both conditions can flare with a change in exercise routine, with improper stretching and secondary to the tightness of the ankle and foot often found in PD.
Neuropathic
- Peripheral neuropathy is caused by nerve damage that begins in the feet. Associated symptoms are pain, burning, numbness and tingling. The most common causes are aging, diabetes, vitamin B12, deficiency, thyroid deficiency and blood protein disorders. this condition not only causes pain but also can worsen balance. Blood tests can help identify the cause of this problem.
- Radiculopathy or sciatic nerve compression can cause pain in the thigh, calf in foot depending on the nerves affected. Causes could include arthritis and disk disease of the spin and compression of the sciatic nerve in the buttock region due to muscle tightness,
- Spinal stenosis is a problem of narrowing of the spinal canal. Often associated with back pain and pain in both legs. this type of pain often improves when a person is bent forward.
General Pain
- Leg swelling can occur with PD, medications and other medical conditions. Abrupt change in leg swelling associated with pain could be a sign of a blood clot requiring immediate medical attention. Lack of movement and dehydration can increase this risk in Parkinson’s disease.
This information does not represent all types of pain that can occur. As always, be sure to talk with your healthcare provider if you are experiencing pain in your legs.
With many Thanks to Monique L. Giroux, MD
Medical Director, Northwest Parkinson's Foundation
------------------------------
Muscle cramps facts
- A muscle cramp is an involuntarily and forcibly contracted muscle that does not relax.
- Muscle cramps can occur in any muscle; cramps of the leg muscles and feet are particularly common.
- Almost everyone experiences a muscle cramp at some time in their life.
- There are a variety of types and causes of muscle cramps.
- Muscle cramps may occur during exercise, at rest, or at night, depending upon the exact cause.
- Dehydration is a common cause of muscle cramps.
- Numerous medicines can cause muscle cramps.
- Most muscle cramps can be stopped if the muscle can be stretched.
- Muscle cramps can often be prevented by measures such as adequate nutrition and hydration, attention to safety when exercising, and attention to ergonomic factors.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
https://www.the-scientist.com/news-opinion/adult-humans-can-regenerate-cartilage--study-66558
Adult Humans Can Regenerate Cartilage: Study
Collagen inside ankles has more turnover than that in hips, thanks to the action of microRNAs.
Oct 10, 2019
SHAWNA WILLIAMS
Humans, unlike some lucky members of the animal kingdom, have a very limited ability to regrow damaged or missing body parts. But a study published yesterday (October 9) in Science Advances finds that we can generate new proteins in joint cartilage, and this ability is more pronounced in joints farther from the center of the body, such as the ankles, than in those nearer in, such as the hips. The mechanism for this ability resembles that used by animals such as salamanders and axolotls to regrow lost limbs.
“We believe that an understanding of this ‘salamander-like’ regenerative capacity in humans, and the critically missing components of this regulatory circuit, could provide the foundation for new approaches to repair joint tissues and possibly whole human limbs,” says coauthor Virginia Kraus, who researches osteoarthritis at Duke University School of Medicine, in a university press release.
Kraus and her colleagues analyzed proteins from cartilage tissue from human hips, knees, and ankles for changes to amino acids that occur with time. “We suddenly started noticing that the ankle proteins tended by and large to be much younger than the same proteins in the knee and the same proteins in the hip,” Kraus tells The Guardian.
The researchers found that the prevalence of younger proteins was tied to the abundance of a microRNA that blocks the action of a messenger RNA that inhibits the production of new collagen proteins. Similar microRNAs are active in animals that can regrow limbs, the authors note—and, as in humans, the animals’ regeneration ability is greater in distal parts of the body than in more central ones.
- = - = - = - = - = - = - = - = - = - = - = - = - = - = -
Interestingly, inclining the head of your bed by just six to eight inches (15 to 20cm) at the head seems to generate remarkable improvements for many people suffering conditions such as circulatory and respiratory issues, diabetes, leg ulcers, migraines, multiple sclerosis, oedema, Parkinson's disease, skin problems, spinal cord injuries, varicose veins and many more.
Have a look at inclinedbedtherapy.com for some suggestions. Simple to do. For a fun look at the inclined bed!
For many years, I had the head of our bed inclined, then as the disease progressed and Don wanted a hospital bed, I placed the raisers under the top legs of the bed. Even in the nursing home, I noticed that Don's electric bed was raised at the head. Although Don was originally diagnosed with Parkinson's, it became clear that he was ticking the boxes for Lewy Body Dementia. This was a breakthrough for his neurologist. His disease lasted 23 years, until he gently went to sleep...