Brief Answer:
My Goodness- WHY are you falling?

Detailed Answer:
Hello young lady....and why pray tell are you falling on your KNEES?

The first thing I'd like to recommend you get VERIFIED is that you actually have PARKINSON'S DISEASE and not something that LOOKS like Parkinson's Disease. I say this because women of 62 years of age TYPICALLY don't land up with PARKSINON'S DISEASE. They may end up with PARKINSONISMS (movements and behaviors which appear as if the person has PARKINSON'S DISEASE but turn out to be something else)....make sense?

For example, are you being followed by a NEUROLOGIST? Is your medication being recommended by either a neurologist or a doctor who is well versed in movement disorders? Patients with PARKINSON'S DISEASE should respond robustly to SINEMET or CARBIDOPA/LEVODOPA and their symptoms quelled by a noticeable amount when the medication is taken.

If you are not on Sinemet at this point and your symptoms are not being well controlled by the medication you're on (e.g. Requip, Mirapex, Amantadine, Azilect) then, you may wish to discuss with your doctor the possibility of being trialed on Sinemet.

If FALLS are a predominant feature of your clinical picture then, again, for your young age and gender I'd be concerned for some other process that may be PARKINSONIAN and causing these falls such as NORMAL PRESSURE HYDROCEPHALUS (NPH). Have been checked as well for your THYROID FUNCTION, Vit. B12, Vit. D, GAD Ab (Glutamic Acid Decarboxylase Antibodies) which is seen often in STIFF PERSON SYNDROME which could be mistaken for PARKINSON'S and result in falls.

Have you been submitted for either PHYSICAL THERAPY...or better yet in your case VESTIBULOTHERAPY given obvious problems with BALANCE and EQUILIBRIUM. Have you had your ORTHOSTATIC BLOOD PRESSURES checked to see if by chance your BP is dropping precipitously upon standing and perhaps this is the cause for your falls?

As far as your feet and ankles swelling up daily my dear....I'm not convinced that is happening as a direct consequence of falling on your knees. Sounds to me as if you have what we would call DEPENDENT EDEMA which COULD indicate some type of cardiac congestive problem which means you may have debility of the heart muscle in pumping resulting in back up or congestion of blood volume into the lungs and/or venous circulation which will finally lead to SWELLING in the lower extremities.

Kidney problems can also give swelling as you describe but mostly cardiac as you've described if swelling is restricted to the lower extremities. Therefore, you should see if you can get reviewed by a cardiologist or possibly nephrologist to sort that aspect of things out.

Of course, the most direct way of NOT falling in the immediate future is to make sure you have some type of ambulatory device such as a quad tipped cane, a walker, or even better yet, can you be accompanied on your walks by a nice strong partner who can catch you and recognize when you may be ready to fall in order to help you mitigate any fall?

And so recapping:

1. VERIFY the diagnosis of PD with a consult from a MOVEMENT DISORDERS SPECIALIST or a NEUROLOGIST. It is a very clinically unusual situation for someone as young as yourself and female to have such an advanced form of PARKINSON'S DISEASE that now FALLING has become a frequent and prominent occurrence. I am not comfortable with this picture as a neurology clinician. That's not to say that you do not have PD but only that as you've described things in 1.5 sentences....it is very unusual indeed. I'd like more proof of your diagnosis.

2. Have your metabolic status checked with blood work of tests that I mentioned to see what things need to be improved or normalized and see if that could make a difference to your gait and stability.

3. Ask to be sent for GAIT AND STATION strengthening or better yet VESTIBULOTHERAPY

4. Get a good and adequate form of ambulatory device (quad tipped cane, walker, or AFO- ankle foot orthosis) as appropriate.

If I've provided useful and helpful information to your question could you do me a favor by CLOSING THE QUERY and taking a moment to provide some kind words of criticism and perhaps even stamp with a 5 STAR rating if you feel so inclined?

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This query has utilized a total of 65 minutes of professional time in research, review, and synthesis for the purpose of formulating a return statement.

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