What Should You Expect from Your Primary Care Physician in Helping You Deal with Parkinson’s?

Key Takeaways

Your PCP coordinates your overall health, managing chronic conditions, ensuring preventive care, and keeping all your providers on the same page.
See your PCP at least twice a year. Parkinson’s symptoms often progress slowly, and your PCP may catch early signs of issues before you notice them.
From depression and anxiety to digestive and urinary issues, your PCP helps manage many non-motor symptoms of Parkinson’s that can be overlooked.

While your neurologist or movement disorder specialist will likely handle much of the disease-specific treatment, your Primary Care Physician (PCP) still plays a central and ongoing role. In general, you should expect them to provide day-to-day support, manage your overall health, and coordinate the care you’re receiving from everyone else to ensure nothing falls through the cracks.

In this post, we’ll break down exactly what a PCP is supposed to do for someone with PD, how often to see them, important questions to ask, and the types of tests and exams they typically perform.

Ready? Let’s dig in!

Your PCP’s Roles and Responsibilities in Your Parkinson’s Care

We alluded to this above, but your primary care physician essentially serves as your health “home base.”

Their responsibilities include:

Monitoring your general health. Including managing chronic conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, or cholesterol, many of which can complicate Parkinson’s.
Preventative care. Ensuring you keep up with vaccines, cancer screenings, and other age-appropriate health checks.
Coordinating with specialists. They make sure neurologists, physical therapists, mental health professionals, and others are aligned in their care.
Addressing non-motor symptoms. Tremors, balance issues, and other movement difficulties may get all the press, but many people with Parkinson’s experience other symptoms such as depression, sleep disturbances, constipation, or urinary issues. These are best managed by your PCP.
Medication oversight. Sort of similar to how they coordinate the care from all of the other medical professionals helping you, making sure everyone’s on the same page and working toward the same goals, PCPs also pay attention to how the various medications you are taking (for Parkinson’s and other issues) interact with each other.

How Often Should You Be Seeing Your PCP?

The answer may surprise you. Even when dealing with something as serious as Parkinson’s, you probably only need to visit your primary care physician two times a year.

That being said, more frequent visits might be needed if you’re dealing with other medical conditions, if you experience any new symptoms, or if you make any changes to your medication.

The big takeaway here is that it’s very important to keep having those regular appointments even when everything seems like it’s going well. Why? Because lots of Parkinson’s symptoms progress gradually, and PCPs are often the first to notice patterns that need further evaluation.

What Kinds of Questions Are Good to Ask Your Primary Care Physician?

Being prepared with thoughtful questions can help make the most of your visit. However, you don’t want to waste your precious time (or your PCP’s, for that matter) with issues best left to another member of your Circle of Care.

Here are a few appropriate questions:

Am I due for any routine screenings or vaccines?
Are there any side effects I should watch for with my current medications?
Is my blood pressure/heart rate/weight where it should be?
Should I be concerned about changes I’ve noticed in my sleep/appetite/mood/digestion?
Are there any physical or occupational therapy options you recommend?
Can you help coordinate care or share records with my neurologist or other specialists?
Do I need a referral for mental health support, such as counseling for anxiety or depression?

What Tests Should You Expect to Receive from Your PCP?

During visits, your PCP will typically check on:

Vital signs and general health markers

Blood pressure and heart rate. Autonomic dysfunction is common in Parkinson’s and can affect these.
Weight. Unexplained weight changes can indicate other issues or complications.
Blood tests. To monitor kidney function, liver function, cholesterol, blood sugar, and vitamin levels (e.g., B12 or D).

Neurological check-ins (basic)

Gait and balance. While not as detailed as a neurologist’s exam, your PCP may ask you to walk or perform simple movements.
Cognition and mood. PCPs may do quick screenings for memory loss, anxiety, or depression.

Preventative screenings

Bone density scans. Having Parkinson’s increases your fall risk, so screening for osteoporosis is often advised.
Colorectal, breast, and prostate cancer screenings. Based on age and risk factors.
Hearing and vision checks. Both can impact quality of life and safety.

The Bottom Line

Your primary care physician plays a foundational role in managing your Parkinson’s by providing whole-body care, managing comorbidities, and helping you navigate a plan of care that many find overwhelming and confusing.

By maintaining regular appointments with your PCP and staying proactive in your communication, you have a better chance to catch problems early and improve your overall quality of life.

The information on this website is sourced from reputable references and real patient experiences. However, it is meant for educational purposes only. For medical decisions, please consult a healthcare professional.