Carly Simon reveals the common condition that masked her Parkinson's diagnosis

Singer Carly Simon has revealed that her Parkinson's illness was initially mistaken for arthritis, highlighting however the 2 conditions tin stock akin symptoms, peculiarly successful the aboriginal stages.

"My wellness issues began with arthritis successful some knees and 1 hip. I had each 3 joints replaced, and astatine first, I thought the trouble I was having walking was simply portion of the agelong betterment process," Simon said successful a connection shared with aggregate media outlets connected July 27.

"Eventually, determination were periods erstwhile I could not locomotion without sizeable help. My household and I knew that thing much was going on. After an extended valuation astatine Mayo Clinic, I was diagnosed with Parkinson's."

'YOU'RE SO VAIN' SINGER CARLY SIMON SAYS PARKINSON'S AND CANCER DIAGNOSES KEPT HER FROM PUBLIC EYE

Arthritis is acold much communal than Parkinson's disease, affecting astir 60 cardinal U.S. adults compared with astir 1.1 cardinal Americans surviving with Parkinson's, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Even so, astir 90,000 Americans are diagnosed with Parkinson's illness each year, making it a comparatively communal neurological upset contempt being acold little prevalent than arthritis.

Singer Carly Simon (pictured successful 2019) has revealed that her Parkinson's illness was initially mistaken for arthritis, highlighting however the 2 conditions tin stock akin symptoms, peculiarly successful the aboriginal stages. (Getty Images)

Arthritis chiefly affects the joints and connective tissues, causing pain, inflammation, stiffness and structural damage, per the CDC. The astir communal types are osteoarthritis (wear-and-tear of cartilage) and rheumatoid arthritis (an autoimmune disease).

Parkinson's illness is simply a progressive neurological upset that chiefly affects the encephalon and tense system, according to the National Institute connected Aging (NIA). Dopamine-producing nervus cells successful the encephalon gradually dice oregon go impaired, affecting movement.

HOW EATING HABITS COULD INFLUENCE PARKINSON’S DISEASE RISK, ACCORDING TO EXPERTS

Although the conditions tin stock mobility problems, arthritis is typically driven by achy associated inflammation, portion Parkinson's chiefly affects question done changes successful the brain, according to Dr. Guy Schwartz, a neurologist with Stony Brook Medicine successful New York.

Overlapping symptoms

"Parkinson's illness tin sometimes beryllium misdiagnosed arsenic arthritis, and vice versa," Schwartz, who specializes successful Parkinson's disease, told Fox News Digital. "The 1 main grounds that they stock is trouble with walking — immoderate benignant of impediment, regulation oregon disability."

Arthritis is acold much communal than Parkinson's disease, affecting astir 60 cardinal U.S. adults compared with astir 1.1 cardinal Americans surviving with Parkinson's, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (iStock)

While arthritis and Parkinson's are fundamentally antithetic diseases, wellness experts accidental they tin stock the pursuing symptoms that tin marque diagnosis difficult.

EARLY PARKINSON’S WARNING SIGNS MAY BE HIDING IN THE GUT, STUDY FINDS

• Joint oregon limb stiffness
• Difficulty walking oregon changes successful gait
• Reduced scope of motion
• Slower question oregon occupation initiating movement
• Balance problems oregon feeling unsteady
• Pain oregon aching
• Fatigue
• Difficulty performing mundane tasks owed to reduced mobility

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

The 2 conditions tin besides hap successful the aforesaid person, Schwartz noted, since some go much communal with age. "I've decidedly been challenged by individuals who travel to maine with these symptoms," helium said. "Sometimes the introspection is confounded by important arthritis."

The 2 conditions tin beryllium particularly hard to separate due to the fact that some are mostly diagnosed based connected a patient's symptoms and carnal introspection alternatively than 1 definitive test. (iStock)

While galore radical whitethorn link Parkinson’s with tremors, aboriginal signs of the illness usually see stiffness, slowness and changes successful gait. 

In older adults who person been diagnosed with arthritis oregon person had associated replacements, those aforesaid symptoms tin easy beryllium attributed to associated illness oregon surgical recovery.

Parkinson’s-specific symptoms

Some Parkinson’s symptoms are not typically seen successful arthritis cases. People who acquisition the pursuing signs should consult a neurologist, according to the Parkinson's Foundation.

TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ

• Resting tremor (often starting connected 1 side)
• Smaller handwriting (micrographia)
• Reduced limb plaything portion walking
• Soft oregon quieter voice
• Mask-like facial expression
• Slowed question (bradykinesia)
• Loss of smell
• REM slumber behaviour upset (acting retired dreams)
• Constipation that predates question symptoms

"It's not antithetic for determination to beryllium misdiagnoses."

While tremor is often considered a hallmark symptom, Schwartz cautioned that it isn't ever present. "About a 3rd of individuals with Parkinson's illness bash not person a tremor," helium said. "That's erstwhile the diagnosis becomes much challenging."

"In Parkinson's disease, dexterity becomes compromised due to the fact that of slowness and stiffness," the adept added. "In arthritis, it's much of a mechanical issue, wherever the joints don't let afloat scope of motion."

How is Parkinson’s diagnosed?

The 2 conditions tin beryllium particularly hard to separate due to the fact that some are mostly diagnosed based connected a patient's symptoms and carnal introspection alternatively than 1 definitive test, according to Schwartz.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES

There is nary azygous humor trial oregon imaging scan that tin definitively corroborate Parkinson’s, arsenic "very fewer things successful medicine are 100%," helium said.

However, newer diagnostic tools person emerged, including specialized imaging and tegument biopsy testing. "We're inactive learning," the neurologist said, adding that a humor trial whitethorn beryllium connected the horizon.

While galore radical whitethorn link Parkinson’s with tremors, aboriginal signs of the illness usually see stiffness, slowness and changes successful gait. (iStock)

For now, diagnoses are made based connected the pursuing factors, per the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS).

• A elaborate aesculapian history, including the benignant and timeline of symptoms
• A neurological exam that identifies telltale symptoms specified arsenic tremor, slowed movement, musculus stiffness, gait changes and equilibrium problems
• A carnal exam to measure movement, coordination, reflexes and different neurological functions
• The patient’s effect to Parkinson's medications
• Additional tests to destruct different conditions

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Schwartz emphasized that aboriginal diagnostic uncertainty is not uncommon. "It's not antithetic for determination to beryllium misdiagnoses," helium said. "Sometimes seeing a diligent implicit clip helps — yet the illness declares itself, and past it's easier to marque the diagnosis."

Anyone experiencing persistent walking difficulties, stiffness oregon different symptoms that don't look afloat explained by arthritis should sermon them with a healthcare provider, who tin find whether a neurological valuation is appropriate.