Sterling Marlin says he has Parkinsonism, not Parkinson’s

Charlotte, NC, United States (4E Sports) – Two-time Daytona champ Sterling Marlin says he has Parkinsonism, an affliction not as serious as Parkinson’s Disease.

“I say, F— naw!” he says about how he reacts to those asking.

“It’s called Parkinsonism. It’s associated with (Parkinson’s Disease), but it’s nothing-near like it. You just take the medicine and you’ll be fine. It ain’t no problem,” he would explain.

Parkinsonism is defined by Mayo Clinic as “any condition that causes a combination of the movement abnormalities seen in Parkinson’s disease — such as tremor, slow movement, impaired speech or muscle stiffness — especially resulting from the loss of dopamine-containing nerve cells (neurons).”

Marlin said symptoms first appeared over a year ago after he badly cut the middle finger of his right hand that caused nerve damage.

He opted to close the wound himself rather than see a doctor. From then on he lost motor controls of his right arm.

He couldn’t complete simple motor tasks such as buttoning the collar on a shirt. His fingers just wouldn’t respond on what the brain would tell it. Soon his hand began to shake.

“It wouldn’t move and I thought that was the problem. But it got healed up and I said, ‘… Something’s still wrong.’ And it kept getting worse and worse and worse, so I went to the doctor to see what the hell’s going on.”

Marlin was then prescribed medicine for the condition and claims “it’s like perfect now.”

But he still has to return to the doctor for a checkup after the initial diagnosis months ago, .

“I been meaning to go back and see him, but I’ve just been busy with these race cars,” said Marlin, who competed this summer at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway.

“He said people got (Parkinsonism) and function with it every day. It’s just a thing, you know? I hate going to doctors, but I need to make an appointment and go.”

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