I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease ten years ago. I take six Madopar tablets daily, as well as Madopar Depot at night. The dose feels just right; there are no fluctuations. However, I have developed back problems in the quadratus lumborum, (lower back – on either side of the lumbar region) which is terribly painful, and I can’t straighten my back in the morning. The pain eases after stretching and massage. For the past two weeks, I’ve also had pain in my jaw; it’s difficult to open my mouth wide, and there’s a clicking sound in the joint. It feels as though my jaw has dislocated. I wonder if Parkinson’s is causing this?

Lumbago and other pain in the lower back are common in general and do not necessarily have anything to do with Parkinson’s. However, there may be a connection, as the core muscles can become stiff and difficult to straighten. I don’t think the jaw problems are related to Parkinson’s; it sounds as though you’ve developed inflammation in the jaw joint. This can happen if you ‘grind your teeth’, i.e. clench your jaw tightly, for example whilst sleeping. /Dag Nyholm