Parkinson's Disease Support Group

Hi I have had PD DX'd 5 yrs but had actually 10 or more, I think 5 stages. but mine are allover the chart. Some first some second , a few third. My friends seem to be the same. Not same symptoms but all over chart. I still do well , drive , some work.I have balance problems, voice, ridgidity, slowness, but nothing devestaing at this time that keeps me from functioning. Hope that helps some. I think we are all different but yet the same.

Hi John,

The five stages of PD are usually listed something like this (this is from the APDA):

Stage 1:
1.) Signs and symptoms mild and on one side only.
2.) Symptoms inconvenient but not disabling.
3.) Usually tremor of one limb.
4.) Friends have noticed changes in posture, locomotion and facial expression.

Stage 2:
1.) Symptoms are bilateral (both sides)
2.) Minimal disability.
3.) Posture and gait affected.

Stage 3:
1.) Significant slowing of body movements.
2.) Early impairment of equilibrium on walking or standing.
3.) Generalized sysfunction that is moderately severe.

Stage 4:
1.) Severe symptoms.
2.) Can still walk to a limited extent.
3.) Rigidity and bradykinesia.
4.) No longer able to live alone.
5.) Tremor may be less than earlier stages.

Stage 5:
1.) Cachectic stage
2.) Invalidism complete.
3.) Cannot stand or walk.
4.) Requires constant nursing care.

I've found the same thing that Ladybug was talking about, though; you can have characteristics from all different stages at different times, so I don't think this is all that meaningful. The Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale is much better, I think (much more complicated, though).

Stage I (mild or early disease): Symptoms affect only one side of the body. Symptoms are present as inconvenient but not disabling. Usually tremor of one limb will happen. And changes in posture, locomotion, and facial expression will be noticed.


Stage II: Both sides of the body are affected, but posture remains normal. The patient has minimal disability, his posture and gait affected, but responds well to medication.

Stage III (moderate disease): Both sides of the body are affected, and there is mild imbalance during standing or walking. However, the person remains independent. Balance on walking or standing is impaired. The patient has generalized disability, moderately severe. Predictable “wearing off” effects of medication, on-off fluctuations, and dyskinesias will be noticStage IV (advanced disease): Both sides of the body are affected, and there is disabling instability while standing or walking. The person in this stage requires substantial help. But tremor may be less than earlier stages

Stage V: Severe, fully developed disease is present. The person is restricted to a bed or chair. There’re motor fluctuations and cognitive impairment. The patient requires constant nursing care. found this on the web

i left out stage 4 in the previous post

Stage IV (advanced disease): Both sides of the body are affected, and there is disabling instability while standing or walking. The person in this stage requires substantial help. But tremor may be less than earlier stages

Stage V: