I’ve what seem to be a collection of odd little niggles but putting them all together I keep coming back to possible Parkinson’s - I’ve not yet approached the GP as they all seem quite minor individually. Apologies for the long post but would be grateful to hear if these resonate with others on this forum
I have to consciously relax my shoulders but then they sort of creep back up until I relax again - same with my legs- if I’m just sitting or lying in bed then they feel “tight”, and my face the same - the weird thing is around my lips which feel as though they are made of cardboard - I can find information about facial masking but nowhere can i find what it actually feels like.
I have had hip pain in one hip on waking for a few months, and achey if I sit too long at work.
I sometimes feel as though I am shaking inside but there isn’t really anything obviously visible.
I’ve also noticed that I sometimes have to “bump” against the wall if I’m in my house and it just feels a bit like a weeble (remember them?!) .
Strangely a colleague at work who does have PD said to me a while back that I wasn’t expressing much facial expressions and actually said that it was like what they experienced - something they had had to work on after diagnosis - I don’t mention anything health wise at work so it was really out of the blue
Firstly, you don’t need to apologise, it’s completely understandable to try and join the dots when you notice changes in your body.
Some of what you describe (tightness, reduced facial expression, internal tremor sensations, balance feeling “off”) are things people with Parkinson’s sometimes talk about. But they could also be linked to other conditions, including musculoskeletal issues, anxiety, stress, or other neurological causes.
It’s really important to say that no one here can diagnose you. The best next step would be to speak to your GP and explain the full picture - sometimes it’s the combination of symptoms over time that helps a doctor decide whether a referral to a neurologist is needed.
You might find it helpful to keep a brief symptom diary, note when things started and whether they’re progressing, and mention your colleague’s observation about facial expression.
Whatever this turns out to be, you’ve done the right thing by reaching out.
If you’d like to talk things through confidentially, our free helpline, which is manned by trained experts and specialist nurses are also here to listen and advise: 0808 800 0303.
You’re very welcome here, and you’re not overthinking by wanting clarity
I have just caught up with your post, which I see was written a month ago, (so apologies if I’m not up-to-date with your circumstances) and that you have had a reply from from Candice one of the forum moderators which I hope you found useful
My personal view is that you should not delay making an appointment with you GP since it is clearly giving you cause for concern if not outright worry. It is difficult to make any specific comment on your symptoms because, as you will discover if you do have Parkinson’s, we may have similar symptoms but impact on us all differently.
You write that you have not seen your GP because individually they don’t add up to much and you may be right but your worry is that as a collection they add up to something more. You have written a very clear description of your symptoms for this post, may I suggest you print it off and take it with you when you go to see your GP and let him or her read it and take ir from there. It would be a way of opening the discussion whilst saving you from having to explain or remember it all. One way or another you need to find put what’s going on.
