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Karen Anderson of the American Parkinson Disease Association introduces speaker Dr. John M. Bertoni at the "Living with Parkinson's Disease" discussion Friday morning at Midland University.By Sam Pimper/Fremont Tribune
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A strong message of hope was given to people suffering from Parkinson’s disease Friday morning at Midland University.
More than 50 people learned the intricacies of the debilitating disease affecting more than 1 million people in the United States from Dr. John M. Bertoni, specialist and director of Parkinson’s disease Program at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.
The American Parkinson’s Disease Association reports that more than 60,000 will be diagnosed with Parkinson’s this year — about one person every 9 minutes.
Parkinson’s is a progressive nerve disorder that affects peoples’ movement, resulting in tremors, stiffness and slow movement that can affect posture, balance and cause many other adverse symptoms.
With 44 years in the medical field, Bertoni has seen the disease manifest in nearly every form. Parkinson’s ranges from minor symptoms that are nearly unrecognizable to those that hinder basic life functions on a daily basis.
The cause of Parkinson’s is unknown and a cure is still being worked toward. People suspecting they have Parkinson’s go through a variety of different tests and procedures, but definitively targeting the true problem is impossible in the living.
Bertoni’s main focus, though, wasn’t dwelling on the disease, rather, it was on how to deal with it and carry on with life as normally as possible.
With the disease hindering peoples’ movement and muscle use, it can feel like a hopeless situation, he said. But improving quality of life is possible if people are willing to put in the effort.
“There are as many ways as there are people out there,” Bertoni said of treatment options.
When it has been determined that a patient does in fact have Parkinson’s, it is crucial that treatment start as soon as possible. With delayed reaction to the problem comes an entirely new set of problems.
With proper medication — often times Levodopa — balanced with a controlled workout regimen, the disease is manageable and symptoms can drastically improve.
This doesn’t mean diving head on into physical activity, he said. Bertoni recalled an instance of a patient trying to attempt a physically demanding lifting regimen — he tore both of his rotator cuffs. The goal shouldn’t be facilitating change overnight, but rather progressively over time.
Understanding limitations is important.
“We are talking about the long haul here,” he said. “It’s not like you have to go out there and become 20 years old again tomorrow.”
Working with a team of medical professionals — generally occupational, speech and physical therapists — people will gain a general understating of what their best course of action is.
Physical activity is one of the most important undertakings someone with Parkinson’s needs to focus on.
While Bertoni’s patient not following a controlled workout regime wound up injured, another on a controlled workout regimen found great success.
Bertoni has a friend — and former physician — suffering from Parkinson’s who was nearly fully immobilized. Undertaking a monitored program, his muscles strengthened, and soon, was riding his bike again. Later he even started competing in bike races.
Just getting started is huge, he said, but taking it at a slow pace is a must.
“If you start on a treadmill and fall, you are like a piece of wood, and the belt is the sander,” he said.
Caring Senior Service, the event sponsor, hosts a support group the third week of every month between 10 and 11 a.m., featuring a speaker each session. Meetings are held at 1455 N. Bell St. in Fremont.
Next month, Terry Nelson, a physical therapist from West Point, will be the key speaker. Nelson started an exercise group for Parkinson’s patients and is seeing results.
Fremont is making a push toward bringing in someone to start a similar group, said Mary Hilgenkamp, a registered home care consultant.
While medication and physical activity help, nothing gets better without a positive attitude and a burning sense of motivation, Bertoni said.“In this situation you are like an athlete,” he said. “You are the only one who can run life’s race.
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