DO NOT TAKE ANY DRUGS WITHOUT TALKING TO YOUR DOCTOR FIRST
Soania Mathur,
MD - Reviewed by a board-certified physician.
July 15, 2016
In the past, many descriptions of
Parkinson’s disease didn’t mention pain as being a significant symptom, the
standard explanations usually focusing on the motor aspects of
the disease. Of course, these definitions are not incorrect but this
disease challenges us in many ways and dealing with
pain, is no exception. And it is one issue that often
significantly affects the quality of life, which is something none of us want
to lose…it is much too important and unfortunately very often, difficult to
maintain.
Yet we continue to pursue
it, committed to remaining as active and productive for as long as this disease
allows.
Pain, in fact, is a frequent
complaint in PD. It is estimated that 35 – 80% of Parkinson’s patients
experience significant discomfort. This statistic represents quite a wide
variability due to difficulty in studying something as subjective as pain –
lack of standardized definitions and consistent assessment tools being real
challenges. Regardless of its prevalence, by restricting mobility,
interfering with sleep and affecting mood among other issues, pain in
Parkinson’s can interfere with an individual’s daily functioning and life.
Most of the time, discomfort in
muscles and joints is secondary to the motor features of Parkinson’s - lack of
spontaneous movement, rigidity, and abnormalities of posture –what is known as
musculoskeletal pain. The most commonly painful sites are the back, legs,
and shoulders and it is usually more predominate of the side more affected by
parkinsonism.
But there are many other
categories of pain associated with Parkinson’s disease. Radicular or
neuropathic pain is experienced as numbness or tingling, or a sensation of
coolness in a part of the body, usually secondary to a pinched nerve because of
something like a slipped disc or in some Parkinson’s patients is due to the
strong and prolonged muscle spasm that can occur. KEYTRUDA is a medicine that may treat your melanoma by working
with your immune system. KEYTRUDA can cause your immune system to attack normal
organs and tissues in many areas of your body and can affect the way they work.
These problems can sometimes
become serious or life-threatening and can lead to death. BEFORE TAKING DRUGS, HERBS OR VITAMINS- TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR FIRST!
Call or see your doctor right
away if you develop any symptoms of the following problems or these symptoms
get worse:
Lung problems (pneumonitis).
Symptoms of pneumonitis may include shortness of breath, chest pain, or new or
worse cough.
Intestinal problems (colitis)
that can lead to tears or holes in your intestine. Signs and symptoms of
colitis may include diarrhea or more bowel movements than usual, stools that
are black, tarry, sticky, or have blood or mucus; or severe stomach-area
(abdomen) pain or tenderness.
Liver problems (hepatitis). Signs
and symptoms of hepatitis may include yellowing of your skin or the whites of
your eyes, nausea or vomiting, pain on the right side of your stomach area
(abdomen), dark urine, feeling less hungry than usual, or bleeding or bruising
more easily than normal.
Hormone gland problems
(especially the thyroid, pituitary, adrenal glands, and pancreas). Signs and
symptoms that your hormone glands are not working properly may include rapid
heart beat, weight loss or weight gain, increased sweating, feeling more hungry
or thirsty, urinating more often than usual, hair loss, feeling cold,
constipation, your voice gets deeper, muscle aches, dizziness or fainting, or
headaches that will not go away or unusual headache.
Kidney problems, including
nephritis and kidney failure. Signs of kidney problems may include change in
the amount or color of your urine.
Problems in other organs. Signs
of these problems may include rash, changes in eyesight, severe or persistent
muscle or joint pains, severe muscle weakness, or low red blood cells (anemia).
Infusion (IV) reactions, that can
sometimes be severe and life-threatening. Signs and symptoms of infusion
reactions may include chills or shaking, shortness of breath or wheezing,
itching or rash, flushing, dizziness, fever, or feeling like passing out.
Getting medical treatment right
away may help keep these problems from becoming more serious. Your doctor will
check you for these problems during treatment with KEYTRUDA. Your doctor may
treat you with corticosteroid or hormone replacement medicines. Your doctor may
also need to delay or completely stop treatment with KEYTRUDA if you have
severe side effects.
Before you receive KEYTRUDA, tell
your doctor if you have immune system problems such as Crohn's disease,
ulcerative colitis, or lupus; have had an organ transplant; have lung or
breathing problems; have liver problems; or have any other medical problems.
If you are pregnant or plan to
become pregnant, tell your doctor. KEYTRUDA can harm your unborn baby. Females
who are able to become pregnant should use an effective method of birth control
during treatment and for at least 4 months after the final dose of KEYTRUDA.
Tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant during treatment with
KEYTRUDA.
If you are breastfeeding or plan
to breastfeed, tell your doctor. It is not known if KEYTRUDA passes into your
breast milk. Do not breastfeed during treatment with KEYTRUDA and for 4 months
after your final dose of KEYTRUDA.
Tell your doctor about all the
medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines,
vitamins, and herbal supplements.
The most common side effects of
KEYTRUDA in people with melanoma include feeling tired, itching, rash,
constipation, diarrhea, nausea, and decreased appetite.
These are not all the possible
side effects of KEYTRUDA. Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that
bothers you or that does not go away. For more information, ask your doctor or
pharmacist.
Dystonia – related pain
occurs as its name suggests, at times of dystonia
(prolonged, painful contraction of a muscle) most often experienced in the
foot, neck or face and arm at different points in the dosing schedule,
particularly the “off” phase when there is not enough dopamine replacement but
can uncommonly also occur at peak-dose times. It can be one of the most painful
symptoms those with Parkinson’s can face.
Akathitic pain is experienced as
restlessness, a subjective inner urge to move, an inability to stay still and
the inherent feelings of discomfort that it brings. It is primarily
experienced in the lower limbs and can often be relieved by walking around.
Primary or central pain in
Parkinson’s is a direct consequence of the disease itself and is not due to
secondary causes. It can be described as a painful, burning, stabbing,
aching, itching or tingling occurring in undefined areas of the body.
This type of pain can be quite relentless and distressing.
Most often it is a combination of
many different causes (multifactorial) but regardless of the type of pain, its
presence can adversely affect health-related quality of life measures and in
some people can even overshadow the motor symptoms of the disease.
https://www.verywell.com/parkinsons-disease-and-pain-2612204
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