‘The Beast Within Me’: A Millbury Man’s Daily Battle with Parkinson’s

Monday, February 09, 2015

Patrick Sargent, GoLocal Worcester Contributor

Mike Wackell

On Friday, Mike Wackell sent his wife a text message that read: “Going to Crossfit today at 3:30. The beast inside me needs a beating.”

In April 2013, at the age of 52, Mike was diagnosed with early onset Parkinson’s disease.

“The exercising is probably the most major thing. I call Parkinson’s ‘The Beast Within Me.’ What I do when I work out is punish it,” said Wackell, a life-long resident of Millbury.

Diane Wackell, Mike’s wife, said, “The text meant that he wasn’t feeling well physically and mentally and he often refers to what Parkinson’s does to him as ‘the beast.’”

Mike said, “I usually go to the gym three days a week, but I took two days off because of all the shoveling we’ve been doing and the large amounts of demolition I’ve been doing at work. By Friday, I was like ‘Yeah, I need to go to the gym.’ My body was telling me that. I went to the gym fully symptomatic, went through my workout, and a half hour after I got through my shower at home, I was calm, slept through the night, and woke up in the morning feeling pretty good.”

Disbelief and Denial Become Resiliency and Acceptance

An avid outdoorsman, Mike loves to hike, hunt, camp, run, kayak, snow shoe, golf and paddle board. Mike’s first reaction to his diagnosis was disbelief, followed by denial.

“I was disappointed and scared because I make my living using my hands. My livelihood and my hobbies are all related to my physical well-being,” said Wackell. “I was in denial. Total denial. I couldn't believe this was happening to me.”

Mike with the Wackell's dog Boomer

Diane said, “I was not as blown away as he was. I felt like I had known. I watched him. I was not as surprised. He truly went to his first appointment with the neurologist and wasn't thinking twice about it (Parkinson's), but I was definitely thinking about it."

In the first three months, Mike denied himself treatment and things got really bad. "My doctor said you need to be on these meds right now, and I said ‘no way.’ I’ve never even taken Advil in my life for anything. So I said ‘No, I’m not going to do that. I’m going to handle this on my own.’ I got messed up. I went more than a month without working out. I broke down and went back to the doctor and went on the meds. Within a month, I was coming back to the person that I was. It relieved a lot of symptoms. I know now that it’s part of my life. I don’t think twice about taking my meds anymore.”

Since that first follow-up visit, Mike began taking medication that helps with his tremors. A year after that, he added medication to help with the rigidity on his right side, especially his right hand. The medications have proven to be helpful and Mike believes he will need to keep an open mind in the years ahead knowing that the medications will continue to be monitored and adjusted in order to prolong his physical well-being.

The shaking, tremors, stiffness and rigidity in Mike's arms and hands and the loss of fine motor skills make many things difficult, including but certainly not limited to: buttons, snaps, zippers, tying shoes, typing, writing, cell phone use, turning a screw driver and playing bass. The muscle stiffness can be painful and limits his range of motion.

Mike is an active musician and has been playing bass most of his life."Although playing my bass is very challenging, it provides amazing therapy for my hands and my spirit. I am in a great project right now with very talented musicians. My new playing style seems to lock in better with the drummer creating a very powerful and driving rhythm section," said Wackell. "Music has always been something that has motivated me. It's been in my blood since I was a kid."

Mike playing bass

Ironically enough, Wackell's former band was called 'Shaky Crown.' "My band started noticing my playability issues pre-diagnosis. There was this one guy in the band that would jokingly say to me 'Mike, your leg is shaking and your hand is all swollen, what do you have Parkinson's?'"

"When I was diagnosed, he was the first person to come up to me and he said 'I am so sorry that I used to say that to you all the time.' It was one of those funny things."

Wackell Is Putting Up a Fight

In 1984, Mike opened M. Wackell Interior Renovations. For over 30 years, Mike has been widely known for his knowledge and expertise in the woodworking field with a reputation for providing quality work that is guaranteed because he does the majority of the work himself. In 2002, Mike designed and built his own wood shop where he hand crafts furniture, custom cabinets and entertainment centers.

“I am especially known for being a unique craftsman. So much of how I make my living relies on balance, strength and fine motor skills. I want people to know that I’m still out there working every day, on jobs every day. Business is very, very good. I’m going to continue to work. I’ve slowed up, but by slowing up at work, it’s made my work better than it’s ever been. There’s much more attention to detail.” Mike said.

“The neurologist said every patient is different,” said Diane. “The important thing is he needs to realize when he comes to that point. When he knows he can’t get up on ladders anymore. He needs to be mature about it and not do it anymore.”

“My neurologist told me when I was diagnosed to ‘live your life now, don’t wait until you retire because you aren’t going to have the quality of life that you have now by the time you retire," said Wackell.

According to Wackell, his neurologist said he’s looking at about four to five more years of work doing what he’s doing before he becomes a danger to himself with hand tools or power tools.“I firmly believe I can go beyond that. I can’t see the future, and it may not be that way, but I don’t plan on going down without a fight.”

"I have physically slowed down a bit, but that has made me notice things differently and in more detail. I have developed ways to still continue to do my job," said Wackell."I am right handed and I have lost a considerable amount of dexterity and fine motor skills in that hand, and yet my left hand has learned to compensate for that loss. I do so much left handed now without even thinking about it and it’s truly amazing how resilient the body can be. I ask anyone to spend one day trying to do everything with your non-dominant hand. It is not an easy thing to do, so it’s encouraging to think that over the past several years it has become natural to me."

CrossFit Training Reverses Mike's Symptoms

Mike working out at Crossfit AC

“Although there is no cure for Parkinson Disease, it is a known fact that fitness and diet will slow the progression. I want my battle to be a public one. I am an open book and if I can inspire just one person by sharing my story it will have been worth it,” Wackell said.

Mike exercises at Crossfit AC in Millbury. Many of the physical exercises Mike performs are similar to those required in his profession. According to Wackell, his workouts and stretching exercises have gone a long way in improving his balance, tremors, flexibility, grip strength and fine motor coordination.

After being diagnosed with Parkinson’s, Mike needed to find something that would challenge him in a positive way to help counteract his symptoms that were challenging him negatively. He found that challenge at Crossfit AC.

“My mind, body and soul crave the workouts that are designed for me by instructors that understand my limitations and the importance of balancing my illness with challenging exercises. For example, I have recently been experiencing joint pain in my shoulders and elbows. The instructors took the time to educate themselves about the disease and developed workouts and stretching exercises that have helped improve this pain. The social aspects of working out regularly with my Crossfit AC family are an added bonus to say the least. Their daily support is so much appreciated."

Dino Patramanis, co-owner of Crossfit AC, said, "“Mike does the CrossFit classes. They’re full blown, regular Crossfit classes. He’s gotten so much stronger. It’s amazing what he can do even within his limitations. He tells me he feels better the more he works out. You would think with his disease the intensity of the workouts would negatively affect him, but he tells me all the time that it truly helps him.”

At his last checkup, Wackell's neurologist noted that he had reversed some baseline symptoms. "I know this small milestone is a testament to my Crossfit AC training and my dedication to fight the fight. I will continue to work as hard as I possibly can in hopes of a repeat performance at my next checkup in April," Wackell said.

“People look up to him. He was Member of the Month a few months ago. The response from the other members was incredible. They’re truly inspired by him," said Patramanis.

Looking Ahead

Mike and Diane Wackell

Mike and Diane have four children: Alicia, Michael, Jr., Maegan and Sophia. Their childen range in ages between 33 and 17. The Wackells also have three grandchildren, Michael, Zachary and Khloe.

“My family is my life and I love them with all my being. I will continue to fight the fight in the hopes that I can remain physically active for the grandchildren that are here with me now and for those that are still to come. I already rely heavily on my wife and know that I will someday have to rely on my children as well. This is probably the hardest thing to accept, as I am a proud man and take the responsibility of ensuring the wellbeing of my family very seriously," said Wackell.

“I’m a good supporter. I’m strong. I’ve had family members that have had illnesses. It’s not as scary for me as it is for him. I think he worries about what is to come in the future. I’m there for him 100 percent,” said Diane.

Wackell said, “My wife Diane is the love of my life. She is my rock and we are facing this disease together. We are enjoying friends and family and are living our life to the fullest each and every day.”

“It’s been two years since my diagnosis and I can honestly say that this disease has made me a better man," Wackell said. "It has taught me the importance of living every day to the fullest. To treat your mind, body and soul with compassion. It’s helped me to understand that we all have, or will have, something in our lives that will challenge who we are and how we treat others.”

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