Parkinson's disease as seen by a patient with this disease
García-Martínez, J.C.
Revista de Neurologia 37(4): 391-400
2003
ISSN/ISBN: 0210-0010 PMID: 14533117 Document Number: 553012
The idea of writing this paper stemmed from the interest shown by Dr Francisco Javier Jiménez-Jiménez in giving a firsthand description of the experiences of a patient suffering from Parkinson's disease, as a complement to the scientific view. The author is not a member of the medical profession. This study is based on the analysis of the disease as seen by the person actually suffering from it. From this biography we analyze the possible causes that could have exerted an influence on the development of the disease, and the physical causes are also outlined. We analyze the drugs that are administered as therapy and we establish the relations that exist between the symptoms presented by the author and the possible deterioration of the governing centres of the brain which should control them but, due to the degeneration brought about by the disease, do not. The effects produced by the medication are studied and we also describe how help can be obtained from the outside by employing other types of medicine that are not strictly allopathic. In the final part of the paper the relations between the patient and the people around them are discussed. It becomes clear that there is a void in our knowledge about this disease due to our not knowing what exactly causes it. This means that therapies are directed towards palliating the symptoms rather than fighting the causes. Something that must be highlighted is the important role played by the patient's will to fight against the disease.