| While Parkinson's disease has very | | | | Because there are a range of neurological |
| distinctive features, it is rather a | | | | disorders that have similar characteristics |
| difficult disease to identify, particularly | | | | to Parkinson's disease, it's not very |
| while it is in its early stages. | | | | surprising that Parkinson's disease is so |
| Unfortunately there are no precise tests, | | | | regularly misdiagnosed. If you or a loved one |
| which doctors can do to establish an exact | | | | has been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, |
| diagnosis of Parkinson's disease and | | | | it doesn't always hurt to ask your doctor for |
| regrettably especially in its early stages it | | | | a second opinion or even better to request to |
| might be mistaken for other diseases. If and | | | | be referred to a physician who specialises in |
| when this happens, it delays or prevents the | | | | this kind of disease. |
| appropriate action being administered in the | | | | |
| quickest feasible time. | | | | An early accurate diagnosis of Parkinson's |
| | | | disease is normally the key to the sufferer |
| The trouble with diagnosing Parkinson's | | | | being able to preserve their independence and |
| disease accurately is just that the symptoms | | | | a decent quality of life for fairly a long |
| are not always as clear as doctors would like | | | | time. |
| them to be, Actually there are suggestions | | | | |
| that up to 25% of those people presently | | | | Some neurological conditions that are |
| being treated for Parkinson's disease might | | | | regularly confused with Parkinson's disease |
| have been wrongly diagnosed and are thus | | | | include: - |
| getting inappropriate treatment. | | | | |
| | | | Multiple system atrophy |
| Generally patients that are suspected of | | | | |
| suffering from Parkinson's disease are given | | | | Supranuclear palsy |
| tests to guarantee they are certainly not | | | | |
| suffering from an illness that can be | | | | Benign Essential Tremor |
| diagnosed using common methods such as CT | | | | |
| scanning, urine sampling X-ray and blood | | | | Multiple Sclerosis |
| tests etc. However just because these tests | | | | |
| may have an inconclusive answer, it doesn't | | | | Huntington's disease |
| always mean the person is definitely | | | | |
| suffering from Parkinson's disease. | | | | Striato-Nigral Degeneration |
| Regrettably some doctors think this is the | | | | |
| case, and will automatically offer a | | | | Brain tumour |
| diagnosis of Parkinson's disease. | | | | |
| | | | Remaining as independent as feasible is vital |
| Tests that can be carried out to test for | | | | to the wellbeing of most sufferers of |
| Parkinson's disease involve systematic | | | | Parkinson's disease, and ensuring the |
| neurological assessments that comprise | | | | symptoms are kept to a minimum by both an |
| testing the person's reflexes, balance, | | | | accurate diagnosis and treatment is the key |
| muscle strength walk and common movement. | | | | to achieving this. |