Local Parkinson’s support.

John Armstrong, Chair of the Warwickshire & Leamington Parkinson’s group, told us about their work. They are a very active group affiliated with the national charity Parkinson’s UK.

John explained that around 153,000 people in the UK are living with Parkinson’s disease –1 in every 350, with numbers increasing every year. It is not known what causes it, but there are a range of symptoms including tremor, muscle stiffness or slowness of movement. Not everyone’s illness is the same, but all share the loss of dopamine producing nerve cells in the brain which affect movement, making eating, dressing, or using everyday objects difficult.

Parkinson’s can also cause a wide range of non-movement related symptoms including chronic pain, sleep disturbance, constipation and gut problems, memory concerns, anxiety and depression; all of which can significantly impact a person’s day-to-day life. 

Each individual diagnosed with Parkinson’s experiences different symptoms in different ways and to varying degrees making treating them difficult. The disease is not curable, but drug treatments are being developed which can slow it down.

John first noticed over 20 years ago that his sense of smell had gone, then 10 years ago his walking became unsteady, when he struggled with cutlery he sought advice and was diagnosed. Now he keeps active with therapies such as singing and Nordic walking, as well as exercise in the gym.

The Warwick & Leamington group meets monthly at the Nelson Club in Warwick and have speakers and support each other, contact Pam Marchant, 01926 850869, pamjanemarchant@yahoo.co.uk. They also help to train local palliative nurses and carers in their needs and treatment. Help & advice can be obtained at any time from the national helpline Parkinsons.org.uk – 0808 800 0303, and there is a regular podcast called “Movers and Shakers” by celebrities including Jeremy Paxman and Rory Cellan-Jones.

Thanking John for his presentation President Alan Bailey presented him with a cheque towards their work.

President Alan Bailey with John Armstrong, Chair of Warwick & Leamington Parkinson’s Group.

News