Over-Coming Bradykinesia in Parkinson's Disease

outthinkingparkinsons/video-blog/strengthtostrength
It's now Sunday, 21st February 2016. Today I was heard to say in full voice "I feel fantastic". And I have felt so all day, with very few symptoms at all. This is the second day in the past week where I have been on an even keel with the medication - little bradykinesia, little dyskinesia. Feeling good in my own body this way makes me feel good about myself indeed.

All is not directly upwards, but the overall trend is sharply rising now. On friday, I had a marathon session of movement during a supposedly "off" period (by "off" I now mean periods that movement would "normally" be quite difficult due to bradykinesia). Ninety mintutes of work out of body with mind. I got into the flow of swordplay, playing catch and baton whirling. Then I danced to music in different ways. I danced free again. For me this was truly the equivalent of running a marathon after 6 years of inactivity.

But the marathon session took it's toll and yesterday I was very immobile. The over-exertion caught up with me. But interesting, I was not in pain, neither mentally nor physically. I also found myself content to just lie on the sofa all morning. This is unheard of for me too, because before I would have invariably got very mentally agitated that I was "losing time" to the disease. It does seem that all this Out-Thinking is having a calming affect on my mind too, which feeds back into the body.

Today, after a rest, I bounced back again and to prove it here is my video recording of today's play. Although it is getting harder to tell, please do remember that this is occurring under circumstances where conscious movement is hard for me. You can see in the video I am still affected by Parkinson's, especially before I start to get going. Watch how I'm shuffling near the start and look at my blank face for the evidence. Even during some of the more remarkable moments, the PD is apparent - for example, watch as I twiddle the pipe in one hand and enter a trance like state - the other hand becomes unconsciously retracted into a classic Parkinson's "claw", fingers completely still. There are also a couple of "sticky" moments, when I lose the flow, freeze momentarily and have to regather my mind set.

At the end of the video you will see the next step in the evolution of my movement, one which completely surprised myself too. Watch how I rise up on my tip toes, smoothly, with complete balance.

Twice.

It is no wonder I cried "I feel fantastic today", because for someone with Parkinson's, rising up on tip toes is something well worth recording.