Given the current state of Parkinson’s interventions
and the nature of the disease I’ve accepted that, unlike diarrhea, taking a
tablet will not stop Parkinson’s draining you; a tablet will not wipe you
clean. Therefore, looking at treatment as a one stop shop at the tablet shop
and then you can move on is an ill-fitted approach to the illness.
A portrait is painted one brush stroke at a time and
uses many colours so treatment requires a multi-faceted approach. All painted
colours are derived from blue, yellow and red. What are the three colours of
Parkinson’s treatment?
BLUE
Back to
basics:
Treatment should be
focused on giving a good quality of life to sufferers; which starts not by
focusing on the portrait as a whole but breaking it down into its components
brush strokes. This means helping get the basics right (movement, showering,
dressing, cooking, sleep etc) and therefore providing a solid foundation to
build up and provide space for a fulfilling day.
YELLOW
You are
made up of many parts, treat them all:
Parkinson’s affects many
functions of the body (e.g. initiating movement, coordination, facial
expressions, swallowing, speech, energy levels, sleep, bladder control, mood
etc) so a holistic approach will challenge and hopefully improve each aspect of
the disease; thereby ensuring all four tires on your car are properly inflated.
RED
Remember
the emotional:
The aim of treatment is
to allow sufferers to live alongside Parkinson’s. A fundamental aspect
if this is to be achieved is dealing with the emotional impact of Parkinson’s;
the disease is a problem only because the symptoms affect us emotionally. In
addition, the emotional is the source of strategies and coping with the disease
so looking after the emotions of a sufferer and their family and friends is
crucial.
INSTRUCTIONS: Mix paints as necessary and apply
one brush stroke at a time.
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