How Parkinson's was detected ( 1991- 95 )

1991, 22nd Nov

On 21st November 1991, my wife decided to open her Beauty Parlour and a deal was to be signed on 22nd i.e the next day, to take a shop on rent but it was strange to note that she slipped in the bathroom in the morning of that very day. Acute DISC prolapses were declared by Dr. Shashi Kant orthopedic surgeon (1).

She was confined to bed rest and partially recovered in the next two months. On our 25th marriage anniversary i.e. on 8th December 1991, we did not invite our relatives as she could hardly sit on a stool thus only the Puja ceremony was performed along with the local relatives. She was on physiotherapy for some months in Vivekanand Hospital Lucknow.

1993

Her Disc prolapsed and relapsed again on 28th Aug 1993. The real problem started from thereon. She had permanent pain in both shoulders and elbows and showed an inability to work with her right hand. After doing one signature, she had to wait till she recovered strength again in her right hand.

1994

Consequently, on 16th May 1994, I consulted rheumatologist Dr. Dass & his prescription is as given below (2) :

Dr. Dass could not find the cause and referred the case to Dr. Atul Agarwal, a Neuro physician of K.G.M.C. Dr. Atul who after a few tests like an x-ray of the cervical spine and NCV test, could not find the cause either. For the pain, he prescribed the pain killer medicine Voveran SR (3).

Now again, physiotherapy was started at Vivekanand polyclinic on 25th October 1994. (4)

On 30th December 1994, Dr. Shobha Arora M.S. of Guru Tag Bahadur Hospital Shahadra, Delhi was consulted. She referred the case to some Sr. physician whose prescription is attached below (5):

Seeing the prescription, the Dr. observed some tremors with grip weakness in the right hand. But the Dr. could not find the reason or declare Parkinson's disease yet. He suggested hot fermentation with tab Brufen 600mg three times a day. Seeing the prescription now, it can be presumed that Parkinson's disease started much earlier and the symptoms shown in the prescription were of Parkinson's disease.

1995

Time went by, and one day on 20th January 1995, when she woke up in the morning, she felt giddiness for which I consulted nearby Dr. R.K. Singh MBBS who after checking, found some problem in her ear. While checking, he observed some other activity and said in a low tone that he suspects PARKINSON'S disease. This ailment was strange to me as I had never heard of PARKINSON'S before. I approached my family Dr. Vikram Mehta who suggested consulting Dr. Sunil Pradhan, a famous Neuro physician of SGPGI Lucknow, as early as possible. He also gave a reference letter for SGPGI for registration.

On 23rd January 1995, with Dr. Sunil Pradhan of SGPGI Lucknow: Finally, on 23rd January 1995, I took an appointment at SGPGI Lucknow with Dr. Sunil Pradhan who after a thorough checkup declared that she had PARKINSON'S disease as very subvisual slight tremor with rigidity was felt in her right hand. To assess the reason for the tremor, he further prescribed a CT SCAN of the brain. No abnormality was found in the CT Scan. The result is shown below (6):

The first prescription given by Dr. Pradhan is as follows:

1) HP200-1/2 spoon Three times
2) Selegiline 5mg -1/2 TAB two times

HP200 is an Indian Ayurvedic medicine and can be used for Parkinson's medication but it gave nausea and vomiting to my wife.

27th March 1995 at SGPGI:

HP200 did not suit my wife so, after two months, I again contacted Dr. Pradhan who after discussion changed the prescription on 27th March 1995 as follows.

This was then the first prescription of PARKINSON'S (7):

1) Sinemet 110- ½ Tab three times a day   
2) Pacitane - ½ two times a-day  
3) Selegiline - 5mg one tab which is an (MAO-B) inhibitor that reduces dopamine metabolism early.

The effect of these medicines was on the positive side. Though the quantity of Sinemet 110 was kept minimum, after taking the first dose she felt that her Parkinson's was almost cured as there was no tremor and rigidity in her right hand at all. But there was an on and off period of tremor and rigidity during the whole day. The effect of one dose lasted for about 2-3 hours. It took half an hour for medicines to take effect and it finished within 2-3 hours. In layman’s voice, the effect of Sinemet was just like a dancing doll that starts dancing when winding and switching the key but stops when the key is off. This effect of on & off (called motor fluctuations) continued after each medication. In the initial period, she was somewhat comfortable in the off-period, doing all the domestic work but at a slow pace.

Note: I am not a doctor, please consult a Neuro physician for diagnosis and treatment for Parkinson's, here I have narrated the journey of my wife's Parkinson's journey.