# question about Parkinson's

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-parkinsons/135934>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 8, 2002, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-parkinsons/135934 "2002-11-08T21:13:10Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![booklover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@booklover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/booklover)\
**Post date:** [November 8, 2002, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-parkinsons/135934/1 "2002-11-08T21:13:10Z")

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I’m a faithful viewer of ER, and as some of you may know, they have a med student with Parkinson’s this season. In the past couple of episodes, the character has had times when he’s unable to get up from a sitting position. Is this really a symptom of Parkinson’s? What causes it?

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**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\
**Post date:** [November 8, 2002, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-parkinsons/135934/2 "2002-11-08T23:20:08Z")

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Yes, it can be. Parkinson’s involves loss of control over various muscles, which can include the symptomatic shaking, but can also affect the use of legs or arms or fingers or whatever.

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**Author:** ![odd-socks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/c67d28/32.png) [@odd-socks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/odd-socks)\
**Post date:** [November 8, 2002, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-parkinsons/135934/3 "2002-11-08T23:34:35Z")

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More info here:

> **[What is Parkinson's disease?](https://www.netdoctor.co.uk/conditions/brain-and-nervous-system/a12155/parkinsons-disease/)**
>
> Learn about the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment for Parkinson's disease in this expert guide.

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**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\
**Post date:** [November 8, 2002, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-parkinsons/135934/4 "2002-11-08T23:35:20Z")

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A friend’s dad has symptoms of Parkinson’s, and he can’t get up or down from a chair or bed without help. It’s also hard for him to pick up and hold a phone, then hang it up. Neurologists could explain it better, but there’s a certain part of the brain or nervous system that is affected.