My father has recently been diagnosed with Parkinson’s and prescribed Madopar.
Dad is 81 and has been in ill health for the best part of the last 5 or so years with seemingly one thing after another. After a long stay last year as an inpatient father came home with a care package from the council for 3 months or so. He has thankfully overcome the condition that was low iron and is back on the waiting list for a TEVI option of valve replacement for his Aortic stenosis which is currently managed with medications and a stent which was placed several years prior.
After father’s last admission to hospital he developed a tremor in his good hand. I have been hounding every medical professional since at every opportunity and thankfully he was seen and diagnosed with Parkinson’s recently after being on the waiting list for about a year though with pressure from myself, his GP, social services for hi, to be seen Urgently (I don’t know if that is a good turnaround or not but can say that I understand the NHS is stretched, I have a personal appointment this week where I have been over 5 years on a waiting list for example, grateful to finally receive help).
Some of the symptoms seem to have abated such as nocturnal hallucinations but I am wondering if there is anything further that can be done for the tremor in his good/writing hand.
I believe and hope that father has been diagnosed early and that the Madopar will slow the progression of the Parkinson’s.
I believe that there are possible treatments for a tremor and would welcome any recommendations on that front.
My main question though is should I encourage father to practice his handwriting. I have previously bought him crossword books which he does use when reminded.
I didn’t realise that his handwriting had degenerated so much but now it is pretty much illegible, he does not report any discomfort when writing. The handwriting is kind of all bunched together and illegible as he struggles to write on one line mixing the words up.
Should I just accept this as part and parcel of my father’s condition or is there something that can be done. I have been tentatively trying to get father to Excercise, heat healthy food and interact socially. I have this feeling that all of these skills should be preserved where possible to promote his independence.
What should I do about my father’s loss of the ability to write legibly, should this be something to challenge and try and remedy or should I just accept it for what it is?
Hello Hillary, and welcome to our community forum.
We’re heartened to hear your dad is seeing improvements and appreciate all you have done in getting him the necessary treatments despite the obstacles to it. As you will hear from our community members soon, no doubt, the attention you’ve given and the fact that you’ve educated yourself on his condition is wonderful to hear. As an addendum to the community’s feedback, we’d just like to make sure you’re aware of the resources we offer.
Our website, Parkinsons.org.uk, is stuffed with data on medication, research, news, and archived forum discussions on a range of subjects. We feel as though you would appreciate the ease with which information can be gleaned from it. Added to this, we have a free and confidential helpline staffed with advisors who can help with everything from medication questions to finding emotional support for your dad – and carers like you. Do reach out to them on 0808 800 0303 as you like. They are happy even just to listen, if that’s what is needed.
We hope these tools will aid in your journey, and we offer our warmest welcome to our supportive, wise, and loving community.
Hello Hilary
What you describe is common in Parkinson’s it is called micrographia - I have it myself. If you observe your father when trying to handwrite ‘normally’ you will probably find he starts off ok but quite quickly, very quickly in my case, he can not move the pen across the paper so easily - I all but stop and of course the letters do indeed bunch together. Is he by any chance left handed? I ask because if he is as I am it can compound the problem. If you think about it but the world is built for right handers (although there is some recognition of us lefties these days) - ATMs card in slot is on the right for eg, Handwriting is harder for lefties who often use a crab like grip or as I do have the paper at an angle. The explanation is actually simple - a right handed person when writing moves the pen across and away from their body as they move their hand across the page. Lefties start in the same place on the page but their hand comes in front of the body when moving across the page so can’t see what is written.
To be honest it is a difficult thing to counter. I do better printing ie not joined up writing but I do very little because every letter takes concentration both to form the letter and move my hand, and is exhausting. Pens with a wider barrel giving a different grip can help as can a different ink type eg a gel pen. I mostly do it all online incl word searches etc but I don’t know if your father uses technology at all. This may help.
I hope this has been of some help at least even if not easily solved.
Fot
You say that your father has recently been diagnosed, and started on Madopar. Once the Madopar starts to take effect it may well improve his handwriting and tremors. - so my first piece of advice would be to be patient. I (personally) wouldn’t try to make him practise his writing as it may well improve with the medication.
I was diagnosed coming up for a year ago and started on Madopar - after a couple of months or so I noticed that my handwriting had improved (it became very small and almost illegible - not good when you’re supposed to be taking minutes of meetings). I can now write legibly for a while - it still deteriorates, but much more slowly (and I can normally still read my notes for minutes).
