Parkinson’s disease is a frightening and slow moving progressive brain disorder characterized by uncontrollable tremors, rigidity and stiffness, slow movement (bradykinesia) and impaired balance. In some cases, there are also non-motor symptoms like manic mood swings, behavioral abnormality and thought or physical feeling disorders. Parkinson’s disease progresses differently in every person and it is almost impossible to project how the disease will affect any given person.
Parkinson’s disease develops when the substantia nigra, the part of the brain that generates dopamine becomes damaged or impaired. Dopamine allows the body to control its movements smoothly and accurately and as the brain is denied sufficient dopamine, the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease become prevalent.
There are a number of factors that can contribute to the development of Parkinson’s disease in a person. First, Parkinson’s disease does appear to run in families. For instance, someone with the disease is three of four more times likely to be related to someone else with the disease. Parkinson’s disease has been related to other issues like exposure to certain pesticides and agricultural chemicals, head trauma, and chronic exposure to certain fumes and chemicals.
Parkinsonism, or secondary Parkinsonism, is a term used for the induced form of Parkinson’s disease (i.e. conditions that cause similar symptoms) through exposure to drugs or chemicals or brought on by alternate conditions. Parkinsonism is often brought on by conditions like encephalitis, stroke, and traumatic brain injury or through poisoning from narcotics, manganese or carbon monoxide. The symptoms of Parkinsonism almost exactly mimic those of Parkinson’s disease including tremors, rigidity, stiffness and slow movement.
The difference between Parkinson’s Disease and Parkinsonism is similar the difference between Type I diabetes and Type II diabetes in that Parkinson’s Disease is caused by an insufficient production of dopamine while in Parkinsonism, there is dopamine being produced but the body cannot efficiently bind the dopamine to its receptors.
Recently, a strong link was discovered between Parkinsonism and fumes created during welding. These welding rod fumes contain manganese and this is a powerful chemical that has been known to provoke the development of Parkinsonism at a young age. As a result of this exposure, thousands of welders have sued their employers and the makers of welding rods for failing to warn them of these potentially life threatening risks. In fact, in 2005 a Cleveland court upheld the rights of welders to sue over the manganese in welding rods and the tie to Parkinson’s disease and Parkinsonism.
If you are a victim of exposure to manganese through welding rods and are exhibiting signs of Parkinson’s disease or Parkinsonism, you may have a claim against these welding rod manufacturers, or against your employer. If you employer was aware of the health risks and did nothing to safeguard employee wellbeing or if the manufacturer was aware of the design flaw and failed to warn consumers, there is liability for your injury.
Parkinson’s disease and Parkinsonism do get worse with time, so if you are suffering from one of these conditions and it was brought on by a situation beyond your control for which someone is at fault, you should contact a medical malpractice attorney or a product liability attorney and assess your case.