Can Parkinson’s Cause Pain? – Everything you need to Know!

Parkinson’s is a rapidly growing neurodegenerative condition that comes with over 40 symptoms, and pain is one of them.

According to one study, researchers found that 76% of Parkinson’s Patients experience different types of pain. However, it’s also often overlooked because of various factors which will discuss in this guide.

We have a related article for you, you can read Can Parkinson’s Cause High Blood Pressure? 

Here I’ll tell you everything you need to know about Pain in Parkinson’s Disease. Let’s get into it.

Does Parkinson’s Cause Pain?

Yes, pain is one of the most common symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease, and according to experts, it’s found in over 76% of the patients.

It’s often the very early symptom of Parkinson’s Disease, but it’s often overlooked because of the reason that most Parkinson’s Patients are usually 60+ and doctors sometimes unable to evaluate if they are experiencing pain due to Parkinson’s Disease or their age.

However, if you experience pain in your body, you should consult your physician and provide every detail as it will help them understand and evaluate if your pain is due to Parkinson’s Disease or something else.

You can also write down all the places where you feel pain, as it will provide sufficient data and help your physician to evaluate.

What Are The Main Types Of Pain Associated With Parkinson’s?

 Parkinson’s Patients can experience different types of pain depending on their condition, and doctors have classified these pains into five major types, which are as follows

1. Musculoskeletal Pain (Muscle Pain)

It’s one of the most common pain that Parkinson’s Patients experience. As Parkinson’s gets worse, it causes rigidity in the muscles and reduces joint movements, which leads to muscle pain.

If you experience muscle pain, you can contact your therapist, and they will guide you on how you can manage the pain. They can also suggest some painkillers or regular exercise to ease the pain.

2. Radicular Pain (Shooting Pain)

Radicular pain (also known as shooting pain) is the type of pain that happens suddenly and shoots through your arm, leg, fingers, or toes. Parkinson’s Patients experience this pain usually when a nerve is pressed between different tissues around it.

If you experience radicular pain, you can consult your physician, and they will prescribe a painkiller or exercise which will help you ease the pain.

3. Dystonia

Dystonia is another very common type of pain that is mainly caused the involuntary contractions in different body parts such as ankles, wrists, fingers, or toes. The severity of Dystonia pain can be pretty severe for some PD patients, and doctors prescribe medicines that can ease this pain for you.

4. Central Pain

Central Pain is a complex type of pain, and it’s not fully understood by doctors, which is the reason why it’s challenging for them to treat it. According to experts, Parkinson’s could be the reason behind Central Pain, but it could also be due to other reasons.

In Central Pain, Parkinson’s Patients experience bloated, burning, or stabbing feelings. It starts with continuous pain, but with time, it gets worst as you move around or temperature changes around you.

When it comes to treatment, doctors usually make some adjustments to your medication or write a prescription for a painkiller to ease the pain.

5. Dyskinetic Pain

Dyskinetic pain is another very common pain that PD Patients experience. In this type of pain, patients get the sensation of aching body parts such as legs, arms, or in some cases, the whole body. The doctors usually adjust your Parkinson’s medication to ease Dyskinetic Pain.

These are the five most common types of pain that Parkinson’s Patients experience, but there is also less-common pain that PD patients can experience. Those types of pain are Restless legs syndrome (urge to move your legs when they are rested), pain in the jaw or mouth, and Headaches.

How Is Depression Associated With Pain In Parkinson’s?

According to experts, depression is deeply associated with Pain in Parkinson’s, and it has been seen that the treatment of depression leads to ease of pain in Parkinson’s.

What Are The Ways To Manage Pain In Parkinson’s Disease?

These are some of the ways which doctors use to manage pain in Parkinson’s Disease.

Take A Break

Parkinson’s Medications work well in most cases, but if doctors think that medications are not working, they can stop the medication to see if the pain goes away. However, it should be only done on your doctor’s recommendation, and doing it on your own can lead to more problems.

Physical therapy

Physical therapy is a very effective method that doctors can use to ease the pain of PD patients. In this therapy, PD patients do exercises that increase the strength of their core and improve their posture. However, it’s important that you follow the advice of your doctor and only do the recommended exercises.

Medications

Medication is another way that doctors can use to relieve the pain of PD patients. Doctors can prescribe pain killers or similar medications which will ease the pain.

Medical Marijuana

Medical Marijuana is another effective but less common method used to ease the pain of Parkinson’s Patients. It’s worth noting here that there’s no scientific proof that medical marijuana works, but researchers are working on it, and we might see some results in the near future.

Also, make sure to check out my post on What Drugs Make Parkinson’s Worse?

Frequently Asked Questions [ FAQs ]

Do Parkinson’s Cause Muscle And Joint Pain?

Yes, muscle and joint pain can be caused by Parkinson’s. Some people can also experience constant lower back pain from Parkinson’s.

Do Parkinson’s Cause Neck And Shoulder Pain?

The doctors classify neck and shoulder pain under musculoskeletal pain (muscle pain). Parkinson’s Patients can experience neck, shoulder, back, and hip pain.

I’m In Pain, But I Don’t Want To Take Parkinson’s Medications. What Should I Do?

Parkinson’s progresses with time, and its symptoms can get worst. So, medications and physical therapies are the best ways to ease pain and get relief. If you don’t want to take medications, the pain will make it very difficult for you to do anything, and you will be in constant pain, which is not worth it. So, if you are not satisfied with your current doctor, you can change your doctor, but you should take Parkinson’s medications as they will help you.

Bottom Line

Pain is a common symptom of Parkinson’s Disease, and you can experience different types of pain as your diseases progress.

In this journey, your best chance will be to consult your doctor and use prescribed medications, as they will help you ease the pain. I hope that you found this guide useful, and don’t forget to share it within your circle. Good day!