1. Be Patient
Since Parkinson's disease is a progressive, degenerative disease, you will need to keep make continuous adjustments to your routine and your environment to ensure that you are still able to manage daily tasks, without major effort or pain. This means looking for items that can be adapted to make your life easier, such as simpler calendars, universal remote controls and special handles to open jars and doors.
Don't be afraid to ask for help. Lifting heavy objects, dealing with fragile items and writing can be especially difficult. Ask a friend or loved one to stop by and take care of such tasks.
2. Don't Isolate Yourself
As embarrassing as some of the symptoms may be, social contact is essential to avoid depression and maintain your cognitive abilities at their full potential. If you have a hard time interacting with people, look for a support group through which you can share experiences and exchange treatment ideas with others in your situation.
To improve coordination and keep your body in good shape, look for a fitness class designed especially for Parkinson's patients. Hospitals, YMCAs and YWCAs are known to offer them. Participating in this type of class has the added benefit of allowing you to socialize at the same time.
3. Be Consistent With Your Medications
There are several drugs used to treat the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. While no cure is currently available, medication can help make the disease more manageable. The main issue is that not everybody responds to the same drugs, even if their symptoms are similar. As such, it's important that you let your doctor know if a particular drug doesn't seem to be helping you.
The most common medications prescribed for Parkinson's disease include Levodopa (L-dopa), COMT inhibitors and Dopamine agonists. Combining these drugs (either with each other or with additional preparations) can also be attempted if one drug alone doesn't seem to be working.
