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, I suggest you first discuss the dosage you were on with your primary care physician or rheumatologist. Cut the dose and perhaps you will benefit from the modification.

Massage therapy will certainly make you feel better and is worth a try. I suggest you find a therapist who has worked with other PMR or fibromylagia sufferers. You may wish to experiment with acupuncture. Be sure to find a certified individual who practices in a clean office and uses sterilized needles. If you don’t wish to be stuck with pins, you may prefer acupressure. This is similar to acupuncture but doesn’t involve needles, rather the therapist uses his or her hands to apply pressure to certain areas of the body believed to relieve pain, increase circulation and more.

Relief may be found with acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or naproxen sodium (Aleve) that reduce swelling and pain. Unfortunately, most individuals do not respond well to this therapy and require prescription pain relievers such as Lyrica and steroids such as prednisone.

Modify your diet to include garlic, nuts, grapes, curry, cherries, omega 3’s, and green tea. All these items have been purported to relieve some forms of arthritis pain.

Formulate a plan of exercise. You might even ask your physician for an out-patient referral to a local physical therapy group at your nearest hospital or sports medicine center. By obtaining professional assistance, you will not overdo, but will be able to incorporate what will work best for the degree of PMR you have. Should you have access to a swimming pool, fitness center or YMCA in your area, water therapy is an excellent indulgence for individuals with arthritis pain. Water aerobics provide gentle range of motion exercise and provide relief for several days following therapy. You might consider a whirlpool mat in the bottom of your own bath tub where you can do limited exercise right at home.

Barring unknown medical problems, the above suggestions should work toward relieving the pain and suffering you are experiencing.

Because I am not familiar with the community in which you live, I recommend you contact the Arthritis Foundation toll free at 1-800-283-7800 or go online to www.arthritis.org to determine the nearest support group in your area.

To give you related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report “Managing Chronic Pain”. Other readers who would like a copy should send a self-addressed, stamped, number 10 envelope and $2 to Newsletter, PO Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure to mention the title.

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 slowing the progression of the disease with the use of co-enzyme Q10. It should be noted, however, that larger studies and double blind studies on humans must be coordinated to determine the validation of such results.

From what I can determine, this product is effective in working to lower cholesterol levels and also appears effective in slowing the progress of symptoms. Speak with your neurologist regarding his views and recommendations for this supplement. If he is in agreement and you continue to experience positive results, I suggest you stick with it.

This is a good time for me to clarify something I said in a past column regarding Parkinson’s disease. When discussing advancement of the disease, I indicated that some people are blessed with a complete cure within months. What I should have stated was that some people go into remission without advance of symptoms, giving the appearance of a “complete cure”. I apologize for misleading my readers.

To give you related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report “Parkinson’s Disease”. Other readers who would like a copy should send a self-addressed, stamped number 10 envelope and $2 to Newsletter, PO Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure to mention the title.