Parkinson’s - my journey so far

By Patrick Mills

The first inkling I had of anything wrong was when I noticed a slight shake in my left leg as we disembarked from the plane at Cephalonia at the beginning of our summer holiday. I thought nothing of it, it was there, then it wasn’t.

Interestingly (in hindsight really) I’d had a bad fall after (quite) a few glasses of wine – I hit my head on concrete, the left side bearing the brunt of the impact, and went to A&E. Very quickly a huge black eye and massive lump developed on my head. 

Obviously this all faded away but perhaps a year later I was conscious of a strange numbness and shadowy feeling around my left eye. I had an MRI on my head, the consultant said there was nothing there and no further action was recommended.

The feeling didn’t go, and the twitching in my left leg got worse. I went to see another neurologist, had another MRI, the result of which was definitely not MS or Parkinson’s, possibly some impacted discs in my neck.

I did the prescribed exercises and everything stayed the same. In fact things got worse. I went to the doctor, he diagnosed anxiety and depression (there is no doubt this was true, but I wasn’t convinced that this was the main issue), and put me on Citalopram.

The doctor suggested some therapy and they encouraged me to take ten weeks sick leave because of burn out.

It did calm me down. But, the twitching carried on.

The critical moment came at my pandemic delayed annual health check, where the doctor referred me to another neurologist for a second opinion. It took five minutes for the diagnosis, and strangely I was euphoric to get the news I had expected.

I was referred to King’s College Hospital in Camberwell, and they have been fantastic organising regular appointments with the consultant, the Parkinson’s nurse, a voice coach and the physio team.  I was finally put on a regime of drugs which helped a lot.

The big moment was when the physio gave me homework, and suggested I look up Neuro Heroes. I looked at their website and wondered if it was really for me. I have never been sporty,  a gym bunny,  runner or anything where I had to pull my weight.  It took a second session from the physio to order me to take action.

I signed up and had a trial.

What I wasn’t prepared for was the intensity. I hadn’t done anything like this since school, but the wonderful flip side is that it is also fun: mimicking jungle animals, swimming strokes all the while counting back from 95 in 7’s, shouting out girls names beginning with Z – crazy, stuff, which gets to the heart of all the Parkinson’s issues. All this is no surprise when you meet Laura and Anna who run Neuro Heroes: an ultra-enthusiastic, friendly, fun pair, helping PD sufferers in possibly the best way, through building strength, exercise and confidence and perhaps even a more light hearted approach to the disease.

It hurts like hell after each session, but you can’t help smiling, and I feel loads better too.

Thank you both.