I have tried to start exercising at home, including light workouts from YouTube and a light seated dumbbell programme. I feel no improvement from this, but rather a deterioration with off-symptoms, tiredness and a worse mood. I mainly have non-motor symptoms such as stress, anxiety and worry, and take 30 mg of Duloxene for that. I take Madopark every two hours during the day, two Madopark Depot tablets at night, and Dinetrel. I haven’t exercised for a long time due to severe anxiety and feeling unwell! I’m feeling better now and want to get back into it. When I have off-symptoms, I feel a lot of sadness and fear, which goes away when I take Madopark Quick Mite. I exercise for half an hour every other day and go to yoga once a week. Am I trying too hard and should I start a bit more gently, or should I stop exercising altogether!?? I really want to feel better! I have tremors and slowness – no other noticeable motor symptoms.

It sounds as though you experience both motor and non-motor fluctuations throughout the day, as you take levodopa every two hours. So perhaps it’s time for a more continuous treatment such as DBS or a pump? Sometimes you feel a bit worse with your Parkinson’s immediately after exercise, but in the long run it’s definitely best to exercise – so don’t stop. Discuss this with your neurologist! /Dag Nyholm