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  ## Breadcrumb

- [Home](/)
- [Living with Parkinson's](/living-with-parkinsons)
- [My PD Story](/living-with-parkinsons/stories)
 
  

 

  # My PD Story

 

   ![Rex Polkinghorne Headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/470x550/public/images/Blog%20Previews%20%289%29.png?h=9105c3fe&itok=bq8nXyJ4)  

 People with PD 

##  Rex Polkinghorne 

 

  I was 42 years old and newly single. I had a high-pressure job I was excelling at, and my body was in top shape. But my left hip was so tight all the time, my tennis serve was off, and I was having a hard time keeping the rhythm in spin class.

I chalked it up to excessive exercise, or my new sports car with the heavy clutch. But then my toes started to move by themselves, which was curious. And a friend standing behind me mentioned that my [left arm was not swinging when I walked](/understanding-parkinsons/movement-symptoms/trouble-moving "Trouble Moving or Walking"). Soon I started to really have to think about picking up my left foot.

Even though my grandmother and aunt had Parkinson's disease (PD), and I was displaying the textbook [early signs](/understanding-parkinsons/10-early-signs "10 Early Signs"), I was flabbergasted at my own Parkinson’s diagnosis.

I found a great doctor whose treatment was heavy on [exercise](/living-with-parkinsons/treatment/exercise "Exercise"), and light on medication. I went to a [Moving Day, A Walk for Parkinson’s](https://movingdaywalk.org/events/), event, where I met people who were just living their lives, incorporating Parkinson's into their planning and decision making, but not being ruled by it.

I went to the World Parkinson's Conference and saw how many treatment options were available, or in development. I started medication, and continued to live my life, just with more pills and more exercise.

In the years that followed, I put a lot of work into my wellness to prove to myself that this wasn't a death sentence. I continued to excel in my career, make friends, I dated, I bought my dream house, I met the love of my life, we adopted a puppy and got married.

I'm retired now, to focus on my health, and spread the word that there is life after diagnosis. It's not easy, there are setbacks. I wish we as a community didn't have to do this. But with determination, pharmaceuticals and new technology, the future isn't as bleak as it may have seemed the day I was diagnosed.

Young-onset Parkinson’s disease (YOPD) occurs in people younger than 50 years of age. [Learn more](/understanding-parkinsons/what-is-parkinsons/young-onset-parkinsons "Young-Onset Parkinson's").

**Watch Rex's experience with the [PD GENEration](/advancing-research/our-research/pdgeneration "PD GENEration: Powered by the Parkinson’s Foundation") Testing and Counseling session below.**

  

   ##  Related Materials 

   Fact Sheets 

###  [ Pain in Parkinson's Disease ](/library/fact-sheets/pain) 

 

 [Read Now](/library/fact-sheets/pain) 

 Fact Sheets 

###  [ Occupational Therapy & Parkinson's ](/library/fact-sheets/occupational-therapy) 

 

 [Read Now](/library/fact-sheets/occupational-therapy) 

 Fact Sheets 

###  [ Nutrition and PD ](/library/fact-sheets/nutrition) 

 

 [Read Now](/library/fact-sheets/nutrition) 

 

  ##  More Stories 

 from the Parkinson's community

   ![Tamara posing for a picture in a blue dress](/sites/default/files/styles/340x400/public/images/tamara-zanvardine-pd-story-hero.jpg?h=c9aea1bc&itok=T3TnAZYR)  

 People with PD 

###  [ Tamara Zanvardine ](/living-with-parkinsons/stories/tamara-zanvardine) 

  READ NOW  

 

 ![Gary Krajewski headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/340x400/public/images/gary-krajewski-pd-story-hero.jpg?h=c9aea1bc&itok=jbMtYx20)  

 People with PD 

###  [ Gary Krajewski ](/living-with-parkinsons/stories/gary-krajewski) 

  READ NOW  

 

 ![Melinda Young headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/340x400/public/images/melinda-young-pd-story-hero.jpg?h=c9aea1bc&itok=IGUTuGIt)  

 People with PD 

###  [ Melinda Young ](/living-with-parkinsons/stories/melinda-young) 

  READ NOW  

 

 

 [VIEW ALL STORIES](/living-with-parkinsons/stories) 

  

 

 ###  Share your Story 

 Do you have an experience with Parkinson's that you would like to share?

 [SUBMIT YOUR STORY](/living-with-parkinsons/my-pd-story/submit) 

 

 

 ###  Join the PD GENEration Today 

 PD GENEration is an initiative that offers genetic testing and genetic counseling at no cost for people with Parkinson’s disease.

 [ENROLL NOW](/advancing-research/our-research/pdgeneration) 

 

 

 

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