Mimicking: Is it really Parkinson's disease?

In its early stages, Parkinson's disease can be very difficult to diagnose correctly. It is true that Parkinson has its own characteristics, but these are usually found in the later stages of the disease. It is also true that there are no particular medical tests available to definitively diagnosis Parkinson's disease on the whole, and this is especially true in its early stages. Because of its difficult diagnosis, treatment is often delayed.

The difficulty in correctly diagnosing Parkinson's disease quickly lays in the fact that the symptoms and signs of Parkinson's disease exhibited by the patient can be attributed to other diseases. There is some evidence that up to a quarter of those individuals currently being treated for Parkinson's disease may have been misdiagnosed and are receiving inappropriate treatments.

The more common neurological medical conditions that can be often confused with Parkinson's disease include:

Supranuclear palsy
Benign Essential Tremor
Multiple system atrophy
Striato-Nigral Degeneration
Huntington's disease
Brain tumour
Multiple Sclerosis
Other rare movement disorders

Often, patients who may be suffering from Parkinson's disease are given advanced medical tests to rule out the possibility of other diseases. The reason for this is simple:

There are many diseases that can be reliably tested for and diagnosed. If one of these is found in the patient, then Parkinson's can be ruled out. These tests might include, but are not limited to, blood tests, urine testing, CT scan, and radiological tests. Other tests and Parkinsons disease case studies often performed include: systematic neurological assessments for Parkinson's disease that test the patient's reflexes, muscle strength, balance and overall movement.

The danger to using these tests is when the prognosis does not show a clear diagnosis. In that case, some medical doctor's will make an incorrect diagnosis of Parkinson's disease. Because there is an entire array of neurological disorders that have similar characteristics to Parkinson's disease, it is not surprising that Parkinson's disease is incorrectly diagnosed.

Any patient who has been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease should seek out a second opinion by another medical expert. In fact, it is often suggested that the patient ask for a referral to a specialist who is familiar with diagnoses, modern medical treatment and Parkinson's disease.

One key point to remember is that an early diagnosis of Parkinson's disease is important in order for the patient to remain as independent as possible for as long as possible. Early treatment is vital for a prolonged independent life.

It is this ability to remain as independent for as long as possible that most patients of rare movement disorders desire once they know they have Parkinson's disease. This is best achieved by early treatments that reduce the symptoms of the disease that allow the patient to remain as active as possible.