HOUSTON — Movement disorders are neurological conditions that cause abnormal movements. These include Essential Tremor and Parkinson's Disease, just to name a few. It is estimated that 42 million people suffer from some form of movement disorder in the U.S.
Dr. Nadia Hammoud, a movement disorder specialist at Mischer Neuroscience Associates in The Woodlands, joined Great Day Houston to explain how they treat movement disorders.
Essential tremor is a neurologic condition that causes involuntary and rhythmic shaking. It can affect almost any part of the body, but occurs most often in the hands, especially when doing simple tasks, such as drinking from a glass or tying shoelaces.
Essential tremor is common. Experts estimate that it affects about 1% of all people worldwide, and about 5% of people over age 60, though it can onset as early as adolescence. It's the most common form of tremor and one of the most common movement disorders.
Your healthcare provider can diagnose essential tremor based on your symptoms and a neurological examination. There aren't any tests that can confirm whether or not a person has essential tremor. However, an important part of the diagnostic process is ruling out other conditions that could cause similar symptoms. Ruling out those other conditions may involve blood tests and imaging tests.
Parkinson's disease is a neurological disorder that affects a patient's ability to produce and control body movement. It is chronic (persisting over a long period of time) and progressive (worsens over time). Usually affecting older adults, Parkinson's can lead to severe disability for some people, but others may suffer only minor motor disorders. Symptoms of Parkinson's disease can be categorized as "motor" or "non-motor," but the progression and type of symptoms can vary from person to person.
Motor, or movement-related, symptoms include:
- Tremor
- Bradykinesia or slowed movements
- Muscle stiffness or limb rigidity
- Problems with balance and walking (gait)
- It's common for only one side of the body to experience limitations with movement in the early stages of the disease
Non-motor symptoms include:
- Depression
- Sleep disorders
- Constipation or urinary problems
- Cognitive impairment
A diagnosis of Parkinson's disease can be made by a health care provider, but there are several symptoms that can be early warning signs. Having one of these symptoms is usually not a cause for worry, but if you or a loved one shows more than one sign, it's time to see the doctor.
Movement Disorders Treatment Options at Memorial Hermann:
- Medication
- Adaptive devices
- Botox
- Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)
- MRI Guided Focused Ultrasound
This content sponsored by Memorial Hermann Health System