ANOTHER darned Parkie "trick"?

[reverett123]

OK, I just experienced this and I sure would like to know if it is widespread. I was freezing up a bit but the dogs needed to be fed, as they were making quite clear. Unfortunately that meant wading through a small canine sea of three into the cramped laundry room where the food is kept, filling three bowls, etc etc. A Parkie nightmare when freezing. But I gave it a try and it was as unpleasent as xpected.

But as I was using one image to break loose (walking a plank on the ground) I began to wish it was as simple to break the turning part as well. Visualizing a platform didn't do it for me. In a moment of inspired frustration I plucked a folded newspaper from a nearby table, threw it onto the floor, stepped onto it, and suddenly could spin like a blasted top!

Would somebody try this one? I will try to find a source for those bags newsboys used to carry. Wonder what the fine for littering is? :D

[Stitcher]

Here is another idea you can try...but alas, not in a cramped space or a store, but at home is works well.

A PWP friend has a lot of freezing. She finally gave up on constantly visualizing something and simply drops to the floor, crawls a couple of "steps" and then rises and walks as normal again.

[ZucchiniFlower]

Carolyn, I'm surprised your friend's trick works! If I'm walking okay and need to bend down to pick something up, it makes me have difficulty initiating movement.

Rick, I think the paper on the floor is an outside prompt. Like when I was with the PT and stuck in a chair, she handed me my cane sideways, and as I reached for it, I magically stood up. I often have trouble with inner directed movements and need outside prompts.

To help me turn a corner, sometimes I need to imagine I'm pushing something with my hands, and it's easier for me to turn.

[Stitcher]

PD never ceases to amaze me...how different so many people with PD can be from one another. Works for her! I am a multi-time witness. Amazing!

[Dottie]

Walking and balance are my main pd concern - more than any tremor I might have.

Visualizing doesn't work for me - if it's not there it's just not there.

I've come up with my "kicker bag" which is nothing more than a cloth bag (cotton cosmetic bag, cotton shoe protecter bag, etc.) stuffed with drycleaner bags. It's light, doesn't make noise, doesn't mark up floors, it's easy to wash, and hasn't broken anything. When I have trouble walking, I toss it on the floor and kick it from side to side until I'm moving, then reach down and pick it up.

One other benefit is that if I lose my balance, I'm usually able to land on the bag with one knee!

[geraldo]

I too have 3 canine critters and I also experance the curse of freezing at times, in cramped spaces especally toward the end of dosage of sinemet. I use two different methods to thaw the freeze. one is to give myself marching orders. I litterally order (out loud if I'm alone) myself to take a step. LEFT, RIGHT, LEFT RIGHT, ETC until I start moving in the desired direction. The other method is to rock gently from one foot to the other to shift the weight off of the foot I wish to move, then take a step with the unweighted foot. I think the freeze is partly caused by the brain getting confused by having the weight on the foot that you want to step out with and our brain knows this wont work. Standing up as straight as possible makes turning in cramped sprces easier too. I have heard of another method tho I have not tried it and it would solve your news paper litter problem. Use a lazar pointer to put a spot on the floor to step to or turn on. Be careful of your dogs eyes if you use it around them.--- Hope one of these works for you!

geraldo

[CTenaLouise]

My dear friend taught me to walk backwards - but look behind you!!!
watch him online -he has a good sense of humour
God Bless LarryJ and all -
to view =
the url is in my signature below -:icon_wink:

[ZucchiniFlower]

Geraldo, your tip works for me! The shifting of weight to the other foot, and off the the foot I want to move. Thanks, alot!! Wow!

I just stood up, and was stuck in place when I tried to walk. But when I rocked back and forth a couple of times, side to side, and then shifted my weight to the other foot, I could easily start walking. Amazing. Thanks! It's a huge help for me!!

Dottie, I like your kicker bag idea, too. I may need that in the evenings.

~Zucchini

[michael7733]

I've posted this before, but since this thread is about walking, here goes again. I've tried the laser pointer, crawling, kicking something along the floor, tossing something in front of me, counting aloud, imagining a line, giving a little karate yell, walking backward and probably some other methods to make maneuvering through my house easier, and every one of those methods works for me to some degree or another. Then I tried actually sticking pieces of tape on the path that I normally walked. That helped as well. I tried different colors as well (blue, green, yellow, orange, and red). The red works best for me, and then the blue next best. Then I tried different shapes (round, random tear and thin line) . The thin, red line works best for me. Like someone said, all of these methods involve outside prompts for the brain to react to. For me, a path with thin, red lines (obtained by cutting up some red, pre-pasted stick-on labels) spaced about 16 inches apart works best for me. I call it my Parkie Path. It is stationary, not readily noticeable to anyone not looking for it, unencumbering to my tremoring hands, and there when I need it.

michael

[paula_w]

I can unlock dystonia's grip on my good hand, left hand, by standing and bouncing on my legs. Not a pretty site in the shower, the bouncing enabled me to open my hand and finish washing and rinsing my hair.

Sigh, must we look so weird?

:o
paula

[michael7733]

http://www.braincrumbs.org/checkerboard/impossibledream.html

Sometimes we need to acknowledge that because we are doing the best we can to cope with and eventually overcome this Beast.Attaboys are in order here. So even if you just managed to get out of bed and put one foot in front of another today, I say to you...Attaboy or Attagirl...ya did good.

michael b.

[geraldo]

Hi Everybody

There are a lot of good tips and ideas posted here. Our collective thoughts and ideas for dealing with the various movement problems could fill a book or at least be a topic for a new thread. Thanks Revertte123 for starting this one.
geraldo