#95: Did surgery trigger my Parkinson's?

Tune in to hear our friend, Thalia, talk about her journey to Parkinson's. She went in for a heart transplant which she believes may have triggered the onset of Parkinson's. This disease is a complex neurodegenerative disorder with multifactoral causes, and not everyone who experiences trauma or surgery will develop Parkinson's as a result. But there is some evidence that suggests if you are already predisposed to the condition due to genetic or other factors, that the onset is possible after such events.

[@bruceculversr1869]

I am convinced that my three kidney stone surgeries last year accelerated my Parkinson's and expanded the symptoms. I experienced more shuffling of feet, more tremor intensity and more parts of body, but cognitive confusion scared me to death. The doctors attributed this to general anesthesia. For the third surgery, the anesthesia was altered, at my request. I insisted on a team meeting to get neurologist, surgeon, integrative medicine doctor and anesthesiologist were all on same page. The symptoms, post surgery, still were felt, but just slightly less intense. I am nervous now for any other surgery with anesthesia, as I don't want to negatively impact symptoms.

[@thesecretlifeofparkinsons]

Being your own advocate is key! Great decision on your part to have a neurologist on the team.

[@mdecero]

I totally agree with this. I was diagnosed with a neurologist in 2015 for on-set PD. He requested an MRI of the brain to rule out anything else, 😮which led to the findings of a meningioma. I had the benign tumor removed 6 weeks later. Then I got progressively worse! I kept telling myself I just had brain surgery. It’s not gonna be easier to recover. I didn’t come out of it until I saw a Movement disorder specialist in January 2016. The first sinemet pill began to come out of a fog. I had heard back, then, that trauma to the brain can aggravate Parkinson’s. I guess just having the surgery was enough to start the progression.

[@philhighball]

I had triple bypass surgery dec 2021 and now dealing with Parkinson's try my best to go to the gym everyday keep moving and positive!

[@juliet-m31]

Thank you for the great interview of Thalia & her heart transplant journey. 🙏🌻 Then Parkinson's. Wow!! Bless you all. This is a hard road so good information is priceless. Many thanks!❤

[@malcolmhiltz94]

Wow! What a story---thanks for sharing! A friend who was recently diagnosed with PD is convinced his symptoms were intensified after knee replacement surgery.

[@thesecretlifeofparkinsons]

Yes, it sounds like it can happen!

[@moiogando]

Thank you so much you both ... sorry to hear about Thalia's story ... greetings from Spain 🇪🇸

[@1Wreckercentral]

I'm in total agreement with this!! I have been saying this all along my journey. Back In 2018 I had a shoulder rebuild and then in Nov. 2019 I had a lower back surgery. As I was recovering I just didn't feel right. I thought, maybe I had a mini stroke while I was under or something. Everything was just moving slow and just wasn't right. Then by March 2020 I was starting to experience tremors and other effects similar to Parkinsons. I was thinking maybe covid or something else but fast forward to Nov. 2020 I was offically diagnosed by my neuro doc. at the age of 53. It's just not fair.

[@user-ib6cl4qf4o]

Thank you for sharing your story Thalia. I liked her comment about exercise is now her job-I agree! I had 4 orthopaedic (3 joint replacemment) surgeries in my 40's and 50's. My tremors started after my first surgery and got worse with each successive surgery. My symptoms got worse with each surgery despite a high level of exercise. I finally got DBS surgery at age 59 and another setback. My nuero docs said I was going to get PD at some point, the trauma of the surgery or getting put under just accelerated the progression.

[@thesecretlifeofparkinsons]

Interesting. Thanks for sharing!

[@kathymalmquist901]

I have those “live action dreams “ also. My poor husband 😅

[@thorarthur66ddz]

Shortly after I got the Moderna Covid MRNA vaccine I developed tremors when I yawn and when I'm sleeping, which wakes me up. The first Neurologist I went to thought it was related to my cervical spine. The second Neurologist thought it was related to carpal tunnel syndrome and ulnar nerve compression, but when I noticed that my left arm wasn't swinging, I insisted on seeing a Movement Disorder Specialist.who diagnosed me with Parkinson's.

[@thesecretlifeofparkinsons]

Sorry to hear that. Glad you went to see a Movement Disorder Specialist. They are the best at diagnosing Parkinson's. Thanks for watching our channel!

[@thorarthur66ddz]

@@thesecretlifeofparkinsons Thank you. I learn a lot from your channel.

[@ziontours5893]

I loved your wonderful wrap up - Just keep going and don't sit around and mope.

[@user-fr2eq3hq9n]

I am sure radiation therapy after breast cancer brought on my tremors in legs that have progressed over past 10 years.