Parkinson's Treatment: 10 Secrets to a Happier Life: English Edition Paperback – March 16, 2013

Parkinson’s Treatment: 10 Secrets to a Happier Life is a compilation of essential information for patients and families facing Parkinson’s Disease. The author, Michael S. Okun, M.D., is a widely respected neuroscientist who enjoys an international reputation as a patient-centered neurologist skilled at distilling the complexities of life with Parkinson’s Disease into understandable pearls of wisdom for his patients.In 10 easy to read chapters, Dr. Okun reveals the important things that patients and families need to know. After reviewing the signs of Parkinson’s Disease, including the very important non-motor signs that are crucial in understanding the breadth of the disease’s effects, the first chapter explains why Parkinson’s is not Alzheimer’s Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, or any of the many disorders that it is commonly confused with. Timing of starting medicine, adding medications, and consideration of deep brain stimulation (DBS) are covered in the next few chapters. The role of depression and anxiety, sleep disorders, and major side effects of medicines are covered well in the middle chapters.A later chapter deals with the importance of vigorous physical exercise and why it is essential as a treatment. This often underappreciated role of exercise as medicine is crucial to living well with Parkinson’s, and may even slow disease progression. A full chapter on being prepared should you need to go into the hospital provides essential information for the patient and family to provide to hospital staff that might otherwise overlook or not know of the needs of Parkinson’s patients. This is followed by an explanation of drugs that interfere with Parkinson’s Disease treatment, including commonly used anti-nausea and behavioral medicines. A full chapter is devoted to emerging treatments and current research areas of focus, and while reasonably comprehensive and well written may be a bit technical for new Parkinson’s patients. If you find this is true, just skip that chapter for now, and come back to it in a few months, when the huge amount of new information you will gain from this book has settled and assimilated.The final chapter is only two pages long, but they are the most important two pages in the book. Here Dr. Okun passes on wisdom gained from years of empathetic engagement with his patients – clearly he has been listening to them, and here he offers a dozen or so tips for successful living despite the unwelcome intrusion of Parkinson’s Disease in our lives. Outstanding advice such as “Do not be defined by the disease” and “Develop a vision for who you want to be and live that vision” provide important mantras for us to remember each day and are essential in allowing us to thrive with and in spite of Parkinson’s Disease.This book covers essential knowledge needed by Parkinson’s Disease patients and their families, and can even be useful in helping your physician to understand the disease and what it is like to live with it. It should be “required” reading for all of the above people. After reading this book you will feel empowered in partnering with your physicians as you “live your vision” and let Parkinson’s Disease be the loudmouth bystander that it is, not the leader of your life.Review authored by Anthony Geraci, MD, a physician living with Parkinson’s Disease.

This is the book I wish I’d had on April 28, 2010, when I heard the four words “You have Parkinson’s disease.” The next words I heard from my neurologist were something along the lines of, “Make an appointment for three months from now.” Needless to say, I wasn’t exactly encouraged. My neurologist, who is a good neurologist, simply wasn’t trained in the practice of pointing patients to resources. Many doctors, somewhat understandably, may feel that their role does not extend beyond diagnosis and treatment.Not so Dr. Michael Okun, the author of Parkinson’s Treatment: 10 Secrets to a Happier Life . Okun says, “That moment when I say ‘You have Parkinson’s disease’ is a critical moment. From then forward it will become our shared mission to prevent those two words (Parkinson’s disease) from defining a person or defining a family.” Quite a different story from what I heard.This book, now in an audio version read by Rich Germaine, is the very first thing that should be purchased by anyone who hears the words, “You have Parkinson’s disease.” The book shares the latest information on research, therapies, lifestyle tweaks, and more. It is a veritable handbook to having Parkinson’s and how to work with it in a positive, forward-moving way. Okun also strikes a note of hope for Parkinson’s sufferers and their families and caregivers, while at the same time remaining realistic about the disease.Listening to the audiobook, read by Rich Germaine, is like listening to a friendly, knowledgeable neurologist advising you not to panic, that you can still live a long, productive, and enjoyable life. Beyond being helpful for those who have impaired vision or reading challenges, the audio version is an alternative, soothing delivery of Okun’s marvelous book, suitable for anyone of any age. I highly recommend it.

I'm giving this book 4 stars only because I think it is a good book to give your family members, or to read if you haven't already read a lot about Parkinson's Disease. If you have Parkinson's or if someone you love has it and you have done hours and hours (and hours) of research about it, then I suggest you save your money. I'm not saying that this book doesn't contain good, positive information, it's just that it's a very quick read that doesn't really offer anything new to someone who is well informed about the disease. I do plan to hand it over to family members who don't have time to research on their own.

I purchased this after being told about it at a Parkinsons support group that my mother and I attend. Some of the information here is good but there are a LOT of technical terms. With Parkinsons it is always good to gather all the information that you can and to be your own (or your family member's) advocate as this is such an individualized disease. Dr. Okun is definitely an expert in his field and he can be found on youtube.