Daily Column

July 4, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I have a lot of health problems. One is polymyalgia that makes me stiff and in a lot of pain. I’ve taken prednisone but the side effects were terrible, so I stopped that drug.

I have sleep apnea. During my sleep test, they discovered my restless legs syndrome. I now take Mirapex and Clonazepam and that is controlled.

Would massage therapy be helpful in reducing my pain and stiffness? Also, I’d like to know if there’s a support group I could attend in my area with people who have these same symptoms.

DEAR READER:
Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is an autoimmune disorder that causes stiffness and pain in the muscles of the hips, neck and shoulders. The disorder occurs most often in women and in the elderly.

If you are willing to try prednisone again, [Read more...]

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Daily Column

June 12, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in June 2005. I take Mirapex which is prescribed and co-enzyme Q10 which is not. I read somewhere it was a good over-the-counter for people with Parkinson’s. Could you please comment on this?

DEAR READER:
Parkinson’s is a neurological disorder that results from the loss of brain cells that produce dopamine, a chemical substance that transmits nerve impulses. Dopamine is essential for normal functioning of the central nervous system. When the neurons that produce dopamine die, that part of the brain responsible for coordinating movement malfunctions and leads to tremor, rigidity, lack of coordination, sleep disturbances, difficulties with movement, and more.

Recent studies performed on mice have been extremely promising, revealing that the damaged area of the brain in Parkinson’s patients can be protected by [Read more...]

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