Patient Testimonial

Ignacio Acosta of Aliso Viejo took pride in keeping his body healthy. Today at 44 years old, Ignacio is battling early onset Parkinson’s Disease. The type of Parkinson’s Ignacio has is similar to the early onset Parkinson’s Disease that actor Michael J. Fox suffers. He was diagnosed in December 2002.

	Neurologist Kenneth Martinez, M.D., tests Ignacio as he walks for his balance and postural stability. Stiffness and rigidity are classic symptoms of Parkinson's Disease.

“I had symptoms for several years but didn’t know it was Parkinson’s,” he said.

One of the first symptoms Ignacio noticed was difficulty in moving his right arm and shoulder.

“I’d walk and my right arm wouldn’t swing back and forth naturally like my left arm.”

He also had great difficulty in moving his right hand and fingers. As a professional graphic designer, the lack of efficient movement in his right hand impacted him on the job.

“Typing on the keyboard was awkward,” he said. “There was a delay in moving my right fingers. My left fingers typed normally.”

Ignacio said the symptoms appeared very gradually. His wife, Fran noticed the symptoms as well. She noticed Ignacio had trouble buttoning his shirt and tying a tie.

Ignacio recalls, “there was a lot of stiffness and tightness in my right arm and shoulder and I realized my right arm wouldn’t extend as far as my left arm.”

Unable to ignore his symptoms any longer, he met with his primary care physician, who referred Ignacio on to neurologist and movement disorders specialist Dr. Kenneth Martinez.

Martinez started Ignacio on medications to combat the Parkinson’s symptoms. He also prescribed physical therapy. The combination of the medication and physical therapy proved to be successful in diminishing Ignacio’s symptoms.

“Within weeks I started to notice the difference,” said Ignacio. “Within a month after starting treatment I could once again swing my arms in natural motion when I walked, my foot stopped dragging and my right fingers were able to respond to the keyboard as I typed.”

His Parkinson’s symptoms haven’t vanished completely. Ignacio has his good days and more challenging days. But he takes each day with an attitude of acceptance.