Carly Simon Says Parkinson's Was Mistaken for Arthritis at 83
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jul 29
Carly Simon Says Parkinson's Was Mistaken for Arthritis at 83
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jul 29
Summary
Carly Simon said her Parkinson's diagnosis came only after walking problems persisted despite replacements of both knees and one hip, prompting an extensive Mayo Clinic evaluation.
Dr. Guy Schwartz said Parkinson's and arthritis can both cause stiffness, slower movement, gait changes, balance problems and pain, making early cases easy to confuse.
About 1.1 million Americans live with Parkinson's versus nearly 60 million adults with arthritis, a gap that can steer doctors and patients toward the more common joint disease first.
Roughly 90,000 Americans are diagnosed with Parkinson's each year, and Schwartz said the lack of a single definitive test means some cases become clear only as symptoms evolve over time.