To 44-year-old Linda B茅rard, Parkinson鈥檚 disease (PD) was a disease that struck old people, not physically active people like her in the prime of life. It was the tremors in her right leg that initially caught her attention. PD, she was to learn, struck younger people, too.
鈥淚 thought I was too young to have PD. We knew about Michael J. Fox but thought he was an exception. We knew of people whose grandfather or grandmother had it, but not people in their forties,鈥� recalls B茅rard, now 49, a wife and mother of two.
A family doctor in the Laurentians where B茅rard was living directed her to The Neuro where she came under the care of Dr. Edward Fon, a neurologist and world-class researcher in PD.
鈥淗e had me do many tests involving walking, dexterity and visual testing. And I also did many neuropsychological tests and magnetic resonance imaging.
In the five years since she first noted her muscle trembling, B茅rard鈥檚 symptoms have increased in variety and severity.
鈥淪peaking, remembering, moving, these various tasks have become arduous. The muscular aches have increased a lot, along with stiffness."
An office worker who enjoyed cycling, swimming, water skiing and the outdoors, she considers the loss of some of her cognitive ability, not her physical abilities, to be the most disturbing aspect of PD.
鈥淎bruptly I had to stop working, which was a major change in my lifestyle. I鈥檓 starting to get over it, but it was very, very difficult to accept.鈥�
B茅rard remains as active as possible, and she continues to drive a car.
鈥淚 passed the government driving test, though I drive less in the evening because I don鈥檛 see as well. And I have someone drive me when I feel as though I鈥檓 not in control of myself. That鈥檚 a decision I made.鈥�
Twice a year, B茅rard has a checkup at The Neuro鈥檚 Movement Disorders Clinic, where PD patients are observed and treated not only by physicians but by occupational, speech-language and physical therapists, among other specialized personnel.
Dr. Fon helps her to control her symptoms with the aid of PD drugs.
鈥淪ome drugs are more effective at times than others,鈥� says B茅rard. 鈥淒r. Fon is constantly making adjustments to the quantity and frequency of my drugs.鈥�
Some PD patients whose symptoms cannot be controlled with drugs are recommended to The Neuro鈥檚 PD neurosurgeon, Dr. Abbas Sadikot, who specializes in the use of Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS). A small electrode device is surgically inserted in the patient鈥檚 brain so that it can emit electrical pulses that act to relieve tremors and rigidity. A wire connects this device to a second device that is placed under the skin of the chest to control the level of electrical stimulation. Although not a cure, in some cases DBS can control symptoms significantly.
鈥淏ased on my neuropsychological tests, the doctors decided that DBS was not a good solution for me,鈥� says B茅rard. 鈥淎lthough I feel much better now, I was facing a major depression, and DBS is not recommended for patients who suffer from emotional distress.鈥�
B茅rard however, does benefit from excellent support from her family and network of friends. Furthermore, she and a friend who also has PD took the great initiative to form an organization, , that encourages PD patients to get out of the house and move about.
