hi, My partner has been suffering from parkinsons for some time. He has early onset Parkinsons for the last 10 years. In the beginning the medications seemed to work and he was able to lead a pretty normal exisitance. But we have now hit a bit of a brick wall. For some time he has now been suffering from a great deal of pain within the chest area. There have been many suggestions on how this may be coming from Parkinsons but none of the medication seems to be able to clear it. The only things seems to be diazepan. I would like to know if anyone else has heard of this area being a reflection of the parkinsons symptoms or if this is an unrelated dimension to his illness. the pain attached around the check area and he describes it as if someone had a belt around that area and they were tightening it up bit by bit until the pain is so unbearable that he thinks he may pass out or have a heart attack. if anyone can shed light on this we would be very grateful. in addition we have recently been experiences a great deal of medidation misses. ie he take the medication but it does not appear to do anything to any of the parkingsons symptoms of tremors and or rigidity. I would also like to know if when then medication criteria is changes from one kind of dose to another, how long this should be continued or tried for before giving up if it does not work.
any information and or support would be truely welcome.
I'm also at the 10 year stage but have not experienced or heard of chest pains related to PD.
Certainly, there have been periods of meds not being effective that I have found are sometimes down to eating protein within an hour before taking meds. Maybe your PD nurse can suggest better timings linked to anticipated extra activity or exercise.
I'd get the chest pains checked out soon, if only to see if they could be severe heartburn due to mixing meds with food at the wrong time.
Just found this on the Parkinson's Disease Foundation website
Myth/Misconception
You can blame PD for everything. It is easy for you — and for your doctors — to blame PD every time that you are not feeling well.
Reality
Certain symptoms should never be attributed to PD. Fever, for example, is not a symptom of PD, and usually means an infection. Headache, vision loss, vertigo, loss of sensation, loss of muscle strength and chest pain are not symptoms of PD.
Secret
Your doctor should rule out other causes for your symptoms. Sudden-onset symptoms — such as chest pain, shortness of breath, weakness, difficulty with speech, or vertigo — warrant immediate medical attention to rule out a medical emergency.
