Dyskinesia is abnormal, overpowering movements when you are taking efforts to do voluntary movements. Dyskinesia is often associated with Parkinson’s Disease (PD).
Though dyskinesia is not a symptom of PD, but instead a common side effect from enduring use of levodopa, which is the most effective treatment presently available for the management of motor symptoms from Parkinson’s Disease.
Dyskinesia can be a very upsetting side effect to go through, as parts of your body appear to move on their own. Occasionally, it might appear as a “dance,” with the arms, legs, body, or face wriggling. Not everyone who goes through dyskinesia from levodopa therapy has the same extreme symptoms, and not everyone who takes levodopa goes through dyskinesia.
In simple terms, dyskinesia might only be visible to the individual with PD or maybe their partner, family member or caregiver. Though, severe dyskinesia can raise fatigue and lead to exhaustion. People who go through severe dyskinesia might also observe weight loss and face a higher risk of injury.
The risk of seeing dyskinesias symptoms is higher in those individuals with young-onset of Parkinson’s Disease, which is considered anybody below the age of 50. Long duration usage of levodopa, higher doses of levodopa and more extreme PD also grow’s an individual’s risk of having dyskinesia.
Paradox of dyskinesia and Parkinson’s disease
Dyskinesia typically occur at a turning point in the phase of parkinson’s treatment, when the disease is progressing. Usually, as the disease develops and indicators worsen, there is a necessity to increase the dosage of levodopa. But growing the dose of levodopa is related with a worsening of dyskinesia.
Decreasing the dosage in an attempt to decrease dyskinesias – results in poor control of PD. Some patients refer the movement related with dyskinesia to the immovability they undergo when their PD symptoms are not well controlled.
Dyskinesia Treatment
Presently, the only sole medication accepted for dyskinesia treatment is Amantadine.
One of the most significant steps in managing dyskinesia symptoms is working with a functional neurosurgeon..
Since they have special training and know-how in the treatment of Parkinson’s Disease, functional neurosurgeon will understand the importance of dosing diverse medications to dismiss PD symptoms and decrease the risk of side effects.
Once dyskinesia has developed, they can be difficult to treat, so preventing them, such as by working with a functional neurosurgeon, is highly advisable.
In certain cases, the levodopa dosages might be adjusted. Some individuals find that consuming smaller doses of levodopa more often, by means of controlled-release preparations, or swapping to a liquid form of medication aids in dyskinesia treatment.
Other alternatives are using dopamine receptor agonists or amantadine. If you are experiencing dyskinesia, talk to a functional neurosurgeon in Mumbai about your options on altering your medications.
Dyskinesia tends to deteriorate with stress, and individual can diminish their dyskinesia symptoms with stress management, which may comprise of studying relaxation strategies, staying active with exercise, spending time with friends and family, or practising meditation or yoga.
Deep brain stimulation
For those patients who are experiencing severe dyskinesia or whose medication is no more controlling their Parkinson’s disease symptoms, deep brain stimulation (DBS) may be a good alternative.
Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a surgical procedure in which a device is fixed in the patient to send electrical pulses to the brain to reduce motor symptoms of PD.
Many patients who get Deep brain stimulation experienced a substantial reduction in their motor symptoms, and the decrease of medication reduces the side effects faced with those medications.