I was a globe-trotting, corporate science professional with a year-round list of active hobbies — cycling, fly fishing, hiking, backpacking, bird hunting and cross-country skiing to name a few. My earliest Parkinson’s disease (PD) symptoms were subtle and wouldn't have raised suspicions to anyone not already thinking about PD. First, I experienced difficult bowel movements and odd toe and foot cramps. At 50 years old (and seemingly out of nowhere), I developed a foot drag which I attributed to a disc issue.

At 58 years old, my local neurologist added the term Parkinsonism to my health profile. Two years later, a different doctor — this time a movement disorders specialist — diagnosed me with Parkinson’s with 99% certainty. He asked me why I waited so long to see him, and I responded that I thought my symptoms were a result of a lower back problem. In truth, I was embarrassed and afraid of receiving a PD diagnosis. I thought it meant my life as I knew it was over.

Over the next decade, I would experience all the more life-changing impacts of Parkinson’s. To my wife and friends, the symptoms had been obvious. I continued to blame my back until I turned 60, when the symptoms progressed so fast that I was unable to ride a bike or wade a rocky trout stream.

After I began responding to PD medication, I fought back with a vengeance. I enrolled in a yoga class to counter the stiffness. I resumed my guitar practice to work on manual dexterity. I joined a table tennis league to improve agility and reflexes. I got on my road bike, and by late summer I was back to pre-PD form. I competed in a fly-fishing tournament and waded rushing mountain rivers. Nine months after I my diagnosis, my neurologist told me that if I weren’t his patient, he wouldn’t suspect I have Parkinson’s. I was back!

It hasn’t been all roses since then. I live in Central Pennsylvania and there isn’t a movement disorders specialist within 100 miles, so I’ve figured out a lot about managing the disease on my own. I subscribed to a Parkinson’s research journal to stay up to date on medical advances. I monitor my symptoms and ask for medication tweaks when things aren’t working right. I continue to modify my physical therapy program when something stops working or a new symptom develops.

I discovered the Parkinson’s Foundation about a year ago. Their online resources helped me make sense of my PD history. I watched remarkable videos that opened my mind to new knowledge about the disease. I wish I had known about the Foundation ten years earlier.

I recently became a Parkinson’s Foundation Ambassador. I am retired now and have decided to devote my volunteer efforts to helping the PD community in Central Pennsylvania, which has low access to specialized Parkinson’s care. I am engaging with senior care facilities by delivering educational materials, familiarizing staff with the Parkinson’s Foundation website and connecting facility leadership with the organization so they can benefit directly from the excellent resources the Foundation provides. 

Nobody should have to navigate this disease on their own.

You can make a difference in the PD community. Become a Parkinson’s Foundation Ambassador today.

Six years ago, I was a 53-year-old man, in great shape, a successful realtor and caregiver to my partner of 25 years. I started noticing changes in my ability to run, walk and write and I suffered from a tremor in my right hand. I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Having so many responsibilities already, focusing on Parkinson’s was not at the forefront of my life. After my partner passed away, I realized that I had let the PD symptoms take over.

Everything I read focused on the fact that Parkinson’s was a progressive disease, and that I wasn't going to get any better. I wasted the next 4 years, having given up hope. I woke up one day and decided that I wasn't going to go down without a fight. While searching online for information about PD, I came across the Parkinson’s Foundation website. The Foundation’s resources helped me learn more about PD symptoms. From there, I decided that instead of looking at Parkinson’s symptoms as a whole, I could break them out individually and slowly work on getting better. 

My worst symptom was stiffness in my right leg and foot. I could barely walk a half block without experiencing pain. I had a gym at my disposal but quickly realized that due to my symptoms, the treadmill was not an option for me. I then noticed the rowing machine — specifically the foot straps. The straps would keep my foot from "wandering" so I could get in a workout.

Fast forward six months later: I lost 13 pounds, and I am rowing 5,000 meters a day without pain! It took a few months to get over the hump regarding pain. I no longer have tremors. I look great for a 58-year-old man. I walk 2 hours every morning and have taken up juggling to enhance my hand-eye coordination!

Through friends and family, I have met several folks with PD since my diagnosis and have shared my story with them. My story has given them hope for a more normal life, and they can see the proof — in me!  I have never been in better shape, and I don't have as many obstacles to deal with on a daily basis. Most people can't believe I even have Parkinson’s. Exercise has been a miracle in taking control of my symptoms and living a better life. I even purchased a three-level townhome, without an elevator.

I continue to counsel people who are newly diagnosed with PD and am happy to keep them from making the mistakes that I did.

Get moving with our PD-tailored exercise videos. Explore our Fitness Friday workouts.