If you’ve ever had sciatic pain (sciatica) radiating down your leg, you know how painful and debilitating it can be. The sciatic nerve is the largest and longest nerve, originating at the base of the spine and running along the back of each leg into the foot. If you have degenerative or herniated discs, or arthritis, you may have sciatica as a symptom.

One of the cardinal signs of Parkinson’s disease (PD) is rigidity, with the wrist being one of the joints most affected by stiffness. When the wrist is stiff, it greatly impacts activities of daily living and, consequently, your quality of life.

My fighters with Parkinson’s often comment on how stiff or tight their hands are. This is a very common symptom. It’s not just your fingers, it’s the wrists, arms, and shoulders, too. It’s so frustrating to not be able to get your phone out of your pocket or simply get dressed. If your hands are stiff and slow, every task takes longer, and it really affects your quality of life.

With Parkinson’s Disease, big tasks with many steps, like getting up from the table and putting your dish in the sink, can sometimes be difficult when you are focused on the end result. Practicing an exercise with mini steps or a broken-down sequence can help you learn how to slow down and take things one step at a time.

One of my fighters called to tell me she could no longer exercise because she has atrial fibrillation (AFib). She also told me her doctor said that AFib is not related to her Parkinson’s.

In fact, AFib can be a non-motor symptom of Parkinson’s. A sudden onset of AFib can be quite dangerous but is treatable by a good medical team and an exercise coach who can help you modify your activity after the AFib is stable. Yes, in most cases you can get back to your exercise program, which is so important if you have Parkinson’s.