Category Archives: balance problems

Reclaiming Independence

balance problems, gait issues, mobility challenges, Parkinsons Disease Information

The Parkinsons Recovery Reclaiming Independence Intensive provides one on one support to help transform walking difficulties.

Have you been falling, freezing or shuffling when walking?

Has walking become problematic?

If  your answers are yes, watch my short video right now to convert wobbly walking to one that is rock solid.

My passion is to help individuals diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease transform any and all beliefs that recovery cannot happen for them.

The goal of the Reclaiming Independence Intensive is to develop a plan of recovery thatReclaiming Independence Intensive will transform problematic mobility into one that is rock solid. Once the plan is set, we review, monitor and adjust the plan as needed over the course of individual sessions with me.

My commitment to you involves a commitment that sets in motion a recovery program that can succeed for you.

I have been asked by many of you to offer an intensive, so here it is!

Visit the Intensive link below for more information and to register.

Reclaiming Independence Intensive

The Intensive Enhances Sound Decision Making

When it comes to a successful recovery program, choices are important.  Robert provides information about the benefits and risks of pursuing  recovery options. He helps you sort through the dozens of recovery options  to identify the ones that are perfect for your interests, goals and lifestyle.

Stress Reduction

Confronting health challenges is stressful day in and day out.  The Intensive helps reduce stress by creating structured plans and realistic goals. It also provides strategies for coping with disappointments and overcoming obstacles.

Motivation and Inspiration

At times, we all need a bit of inspiration and motivation to keep moving forward. Robert offers ongoing  encouragement and helps you stay motivated even when faced with setbacks. He celebrates your successes  with you and helps reignite your passion and drive when enthusiasm wanes. You are not alone.

Visit the Intensive link below for more information and to register.

Reclaiming Independence Intensive

Robert Rodgers PhD
Founder 2004
Parkinsons Recovery

 

What Causes Falls?

balance problems, falls, Parkinsons Disease Information

Do you have problems with balance that result in falls occasionally? You may suspect the problem is a dopamine deficiency. I suggest an alternative cause – food poisoning which results in a plethora of bad bacteria in your gut.

The energy running through various meridians in our body is what keeps us alive. All of the meridians that connect to the head and brain are the digestive meridians – stomach, small and large intestine. Focus on getting your digestive system back on line and your balance problems should resolve.

Lightheadedness is a common symptom of food poisoning, that stems from the symptoms of nausea, fatigue and/or dehydration.People with food poisoning may also experience dizziness that presents as a symptom a day or two (or much sooner)  after becoming infected.

One such food poisoning is listeria. Symptoms may include fever, aches, stiff neck, headache, lost balance, mental confusion, and convulsions. Please note the symptoms of “lost balance.”

There is a natural remedy for food poisoning you have likely never heard about. I certainly knew nothing about until I had a serious bout with food poisoning recently.

It is called “Activated Charcoal”, a nonprescription supplement available in health food stores and supplement outlets. This is a natural treatment that has highly absorbent capabilities. For this reason, it is mostly used in various detox programs and  to get rid of harmful substances like food toxins.

Although it is a natural remedy there are side effects. These need to be investigated before you decide to take it. Also, be sure to check with your doctor before deciding to give it a trial run.

I personally wanted you to know about it because it helped reverse my dizziness and reclaim Rock Solid Walking after experiencing a scary assault of food poisoning. I took an activated charcoal capsule for 3 weeks or so afterward and now take one capsule when I eat out at a restaurant.

This may be a simple solution to a very troublesome symptom. Check it out!

Robert Rodgers PhD
Founder 2004
Parkinsons Recovery
Rock Solid Walking

 

 

Update from Christian Hageseth

balance problems, Beliefs and Parkinson's, Exercise and Parkinson's, falls, improve balance, medications, Parkinsons Disease Information, yoga

Robert and I have recorded interviews three times in the past:

  1. September 2016: Five years no medications. Parkinson’s improving. How I had gone for 5 years without meds and was doing well using exercise and yoga
  2. January 2017: Wholistic (or holistic) how different PWPs approach their treatment.
  3. October 2018: Shifting the Parkinson’s disease mindset.
  • This is my fourth appearance on the show today, and I still hold to my beliefs.  
  1. EXERCISE. EXERCISE, EXERCISE. I cannot exercise as hard as I did before. Gradually I had to walk more and jog less. Could only 3 – 4 miles.
  2. More convinced than ever that MINDSET/ATTITUDE is the key, PARKINSON’S IS A CHALLENGE, NOT A CURSE.  When I was formally diagnosed, I was 70 years old. Life expectancy for me was 84.1. Well, now I’m 82.4. In a year and a half, I will have reached my life expectancy.
  3. YOGA remains critical.
  4. WAIT UNTIL you really must take Levodopa. Levodopa induced dyskinesia (LID) is a real deal and can be disabling. Google it on YouTube. 
  • Let’s look at my life since we last met, year by year.

2018 – I shot a video titled So High So Low for the “I HAD A DREAM PROJECT” where I hiked a three mile walk trail and climbed a thousand feet. 

Link: https://www.ihadadreamproject.com/i-had-a-dream-project-videos 

That year I also went to Uganda to demonstrate the practices I used to manage so long without meds. (Robert, this is quite a tale, plus I have pictures.)

  • 2019 – After directing the local Parkinson’s support group, I resigned so new blood could take over.

BUT: New symptoms emerged that I didn’t know about:

  1. Anomia: a language specific disturbance arising after brain damage whose main symptom is the inability of retrieving known words. But it’s not dementia!
  2. Pseudo Bulbar Affect Crying or laughing excessively upon feeling any deep feeling.
  3. Dysphagia: difficulty or discomfort in swallowing as a symptom of disease. It starts out with mucus as postnasal drip. Get to an OT!
  4. Oily, flakey skin
  5. Sleep disturbances. Fall into deep sleep in the middle of the day. And then don’t sleep well at night.
  6. Pain in bed at night. Interfered with sleep.
  • 2020 – It was a remarkable and horrific year. PANDEMIC!

No more yoga classes! No gym with weightlifting. Social interaction approached zero. 

  • 2021 – Then, a condition worse than Parkinson’s emerged: Major Depression.

March 2021 – Fell and shattered right knee – 16 days in hospital.

July 2021 – Fell and broke my right hip.

August – Severe depression, I became suicidal.

September – Chose to have a course of electro-convulsive therapy (ECT)

October- It worked, and my PD improved a lot.

The falls were due to the antidepressant I was taking may increase fall for people with Parkinsons.

LESSON: Make sure you MD goes through all meds in case a med might make falling more likely

My story with Depression

Family history is strong.

Parkinson’s did not cause my suicidal depression, genetics and environment did.  Antidepressant medication failed to work and led to my falls!

2022 – I returned to my new normal. And that’s where I am today. I just have more symptoms and feel weaker.

I followed up with PWPs who I have advised in the past.

It became clear to me: I want to coach people with PD. 

I HAVE A LOT TO OFFER!

Teach PWPs how to become a “Bad Ass with PD.” 

No more withdrawal and depression.

My PD website: www.makemostofpd.com  

Robert, I want to come back with a program I have just developed to make being a person with PD and their caregiver have a better relationship. 

New website www.the-kindness-dialogue.com 

Robert Rodgers PhD
Founder 2004
Parkinsons Recovery
https://www.parkinsonsrecovery.com

Solutions for Parkinsons Symptoms

alternative therapies, anxiety attacks, balance problems, Beliefs and Parkinson's, body work, calm tremors, causes of Parkinson's, constipation, Exercise and Parkinson's, freezing, gait issues, Healing Parkinsons from the Inside Out, improve balance, Natural Remedies Parkinsons treatment, Natural Therapies, panic attacks, recovery, side effects of medications, Stress and Parkinsons, vitamin D3

On Parkinsons Recovery Radio today. Fred Phillips offered his insights into how he gets immediate relief from a variety of his Parkinson’s symptoms. His solutions for Parkinson’s symptoms are novel and profound. Do you ever have difficulty when walking with:

  • Freezing?
  • Standing up?
  • Shuffling?
  • Slowness?
  • Leg Cramps?

If so, I strongly recommend that You listen to my interview with Fred today. Click the arrow below to hear the replay. Fred has discovered some powerful, yet simple solutions to these
symptoms that have helped him enormously.

One of now over 70 pioneers of recovery I have hosted on Parkinsons Recovery radio, Fred also previews his 10 step protocol for recovery.

Robert Rodgers PhD
Road to Recovery from Parkinsons Disease

 

 

 

Use This Fantastic Technique to Improve Balance

balance problems, improve balance

Have Issues with Balance and Mobility?

Here Is A Simple And Effective Strategy

 Watch this 2 minute YouTube video posted by Steve who has Parkinson’s symptoms for a tip that:
  • Is simple to do
  • Can be done right now
  • Requires no practice
  • Involves no training program
  • Is free.

This is by far the best idea I have heard about in a long time that helps improve balance and enhances mobility. I suspect it is effective because it opens up energetic meridians throughout the body that have led to poor posture and drained your energy.

Robert Rodgers PhD
877-526-4646
Parkinsons Recovery
Road to Recovery from Parkinsons Disease
Olympia, Washington

Shoes for Balance Problems

back problems, balance problems

What Shoes Tell You about Balance Problems (and Possible Back Pain)

I have a suggestion that will eat up 15 seconds of your day. That is not a bad deal, right? Better yet, what you discover in these 15 seconds will very likely reveal the actual reason for any balance issues (or back problems) you may currently be experiencing.

Convinced to do it? I hope so.

Examine how the heels of your shoes are wearing.  (OK. Maybe the task is a little longer than 15 seconds if you have to take off your shoes, but not much longer). If the heels of your shoes show more wear on the outside than inside, it probably means your hips are misaligned. Your balance will be compromised. Worse, your back may be screaming out in pain whenever you take a step.

I know just about as much as you do about hip misalignments. How do I know wearing on the heels of shoes tell all? In my earlier years I had severe back pain. My solution initially was to see a chiropractor. Did the chiropractor observe me walking so the problem could be evaluated? Nope! All he did was look at the bottom of my shoes.

Here is a picture of the shoes I wore at the time.

Shoes Robert Rodgers wore when a PhD Student at Michigan State University
Shoes Robert Rodgers wore when a PhD Student a Michigan State University

You probably first noticed that these shoes have not been polished.  Well, hey. I was focused on earning my PhD, not on making sure my shoes were polished.

What I want you to notice is the wearing on the outside half of the heels on both shoes. I was placing most of my weight on the outside edges of both feet when walking and running rather than the inside edges. Centered balance is achieved when we place more weight on the inside edges of our feet than the outside. The foot is built to withstand more weight there.

Years pass. Check out what the heels of my current shoes look like today.

Wearing on Heels of Robert's Shoes Today
Wearing on Heels of Robert’s Shoes Today

First, notice that I wear shoes today that do not have to be polished. I still did not polish shoes after I finished graduate school so I now buy shoes that do not need polishing.

Second, notice that the wear on the bottom of the heels is more even – not perfect by any means – but a lot better than shown in the first image of shoes from graduate school days.

How does the wearing on the soles of my shoes “tell all” today?  I have no back pain.

In summary, if you are having balance problems, examine the heels of your shoes. The cause of the problem may well be rooted in a misalignment of your hips.

I have just developed a program that offers a wide variety of strategies, tips, suggestions, therapies and programs that bring hips back into perfect alignment. Click on the link below for the inside scoop on my new program.

http://www.parkinsonsdisease.me 

Many options exist to bring hip problems back into balance. If your hips are not in perfect alignment today (by inspecting wearing on the heels of your shoes) rest assured that you hips eagerly await your tender loving attention. They do not want to be out of balance any more that you do!

Robert Rodgers PhD
Road to Recovery from Parkinsons Disease

P.S. A chiropractor did not solve my back problem. I figured it out all by myself.

Balance Problems: An Eloquent Solution

balance problems

Balance Problems

Most people figure that solutions to balance problems must be difficult, painful and tedious. Surely it must take months and months to address balance problems successfully. Right?

In the following video I present one eloquent suggestion that will lead you to a very different conclusion. Solutions to balance problems are actually easy when you  realize that you had the solution in your  hip pocket all along.

For information on the Walk with Ease and Confidence program visit

www.parkinsonsdisease.me

Balance Problems

balance problems

I am doing better with the Parkinson’s. I wish I didn’t have balance problems when I walk. I am walking with my mother in the morning 2 miles. My equilibrium is off, but it is better now that I am walking.

Do you have any ideas how I can help myself. The tremors are so much better since I do not have stress in my life.

Isn’t it so sweet to honor and acknowledge the profound impact stress has on symptoms and – better yet – to see what happens when you succeed in reducing stress. That is certainly cause for celebration. Congratulations.

Your general question regarding balance is one many people can relate to. Obviously I have no idea what is causing your specific balance challenge and even if I did, I am not qualified to suggest a remedy since I am a researcher (Ph.D.) not a medical doctor.

If I were personally experiencing balance issues, I would pursue the checklist below:

First, am I taking any medications whose side effects cause difficulties with balance. If so, I need to consult with a compounding pharmacist who might suggest to my doctor an alternative medication that does not have balance issues as a side effect.

Second, I have personally experienced ear problems throughout my lifetime – infections, difficulty hearing from one ear, etc. I might suspect that the balance problems are centered in problems I have with my ear. I have recently regained significant hearing in my bad ear by eliminating  fungi and bacteria that were hanging out in my inner ear.

Third, I would explore the deeper meaning of my balance problems:

  • What is off balance in my personal life?
  • What is off balance in my work life?
  • Am I being jostled from one assignment to the next, or one task to the next without being able to complete any task satisfactorily?
  • Do I always feel suspended in a state of rushing from one unfinished task to another?
  • Am I doing what gives my heart and soul pleasure?
  • Am I always doing what I am told to do rather than what I want to do?
  • Is there someone in my life who is continuously knocking me off balance?

Depending on the answers, I would make some changes to correct the imbalances in my life.

Fourth, I would strengthen my grounding – which is my connection to mother earth. Right now you are not grounded. With electrical outlets there is always a grounding line which connects the electricity to the ground. That is also what humans must do to maintain balance and energy.

We are out of balance because most of our energy field floats primarily around our head, not our feet. You will want to even out the distribution of your energy field so that there is a solid foundation around your feet. Right now your field probably looks like an upside down triangle (with the point of the triangle at the bottom). You will want to shift that triangle 180 degrees so that the flat side of the triangle is at the bottom (at your feet). Pay more attention to your feet!

Consider also enrolling in my online Rock Solid Walking course which covered a variety of methods that address balance. Visit this link for more information and to register: Rock Solid Walking

May you feet land solidly on the ground and may you find balance harmony throughout each passing day.

Robert Rodgers, Ph.D.
Founder 2004
Parkinsons Recovery
Road to Recovery from Parkinsons Disease