The Parkinson's Disease Treatment Book: Partnering with Your Doctor to Get the Most from Your Medications

About this book

Nearly one million Americans including Michael J. Fox and Muhammad Ali suffer from Parkinsons Disease. Now a leader in the fight against Parkinsons Dr. J. Eric Ahlskog of the Mayo Clinic has written the definitive guide for patients and their families. Dr. Ahlskog offers a crystal-clear nuts-and-bolts approach to the treatment of PD distilled from over twenty years of experience as a clinician and researcher. His goal is to educate the patient so that they can better team with their doctor to do battle with the disease streamlining the decision-making process and enhancing their treatment. To do this Dr. Ahlskog offers a gold mine of information: How do I know if I have PD? What kinds of tests can I take? What medications slow the progress of the disease? What if medications dont help my tremor? What kinds of movement problems may develop later? How can I cope with insomnia and daytime sleepiness dizziness and depression memory problems paranoia and delusions? Indeed the book covers virtually every topic related to Parkinsons from sexual impotence and skin rashes to the role of nutrition exercise and physical therapy. In addition Dr. Ahlskog discusses brain surgery (though he urges that patients only consider this as a last resort) and such experimental therapies as stem cell transplantation and gene therapy. There are also lists of support and advocacy groups and Internet sites that focus on Parkinsons. The ultimate guide to symptoms and treatment this superb book is the first place patients should turn for reliable easy-to-grasp information on Parkinsons disease.