{"id":492,"date":"2022-12-07T11:14:21","date_gmt":"2022-12-07T11:14:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/parkinsonsservices\/living-with-parkinsons-disease\/"},"modified":"2022-12-07T15:44:19","modified_gmt":"2022-12-07T15:44:19","slug":"living-with-parkinsons-disease","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/parkinsonsservices\/living-with-parkinsons-disease\/","title":{"rendered":"Living with Parkinson\u2019s Disease"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"Parkinson's<\/a><\/svg><\/span><\/a><\/div><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Parkinson\u2019s disease not yet curable, and so there are thousands of people throughout the country living with it. Although their lives will change in some regards, many people with Parkinson\u2019s disease continue to remain physically and mentally very healthy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u200bParkinson\u2019s UK is a UK-wide charity offering support to the people with Parkinons\u2019s disease, and their family or carers.
They have\u00a0excellent information\u00a0for people who have recently been diagnosed with parkinson’s disease<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Specialist Therapy and Rehabilitation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Edinburgh Parkinson’s Assessment Clinic<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As well as our medical and nursing clinics, the Edinburgh Parkinson’s Assessment Clinic is held monthly at the Assessment and Rehabilitation Centre (ARC). The clinic offers those with a new diagnosis of Parkinson’s a thorough assessment and treatment plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People attending this have the opportunity to see physiotherapists and occupational therapists, and we work closely with colleagues at the\u00a0Neurological Rehabilitation Service\u00a0and\u00a0Speech and Language Therapy<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Older people with more complex needs may be referred for a thorough assessment at one of the day hospitals across Lothian.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ways in which different therapies like physiotherapy can help is also explained on the Parkinson\u2019s UK<\/a> website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our Specialist Parkinson\u2019s Disease nurses also provide a support and a contact for patients, either in clinic and advice for more urgent problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Medication<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Often at the time of diagnosis, a person doesn\u2019t need medication. However, as time goes by their brain will make less dopamine it is likely they will need start new tablets to help replace this. These either have a similar effect to dopamine or work to increase the levels of dopamine in the brain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Three main types of medication are commonly used:<\/p>\n\n\n\n