Finding Parkinson's Disease Relief Through Deep Brain Stimulation
After Aberdeen resident Doug Eggert retired from a successful career as a homebuilder, he looked forward to regular rounds of golf and time to relax with his wife, Joy. But as time went on, he noticed that something felt wrong.
"I started to struggle with my right leg while I was golfing," Eggert described. "I'd feel stiff and sore, my movements were slow and it was difficult to walk straight."
Eggert was referred to EvergreenHealth's Booth Gardner Parkinson's Care Center where his neurologist eventually diagnosed him with Parkinson's disease. The first steps in Parkinson's disease treatment are usually medications that work to diminish the disease's physical and cognitive symptoms. But symptoms tend to get worse over time, requiring patients to take higher doses of medication, which can result in other side effects.
For Eggert, increasing his medication meant more "off" times, when his symptoms would return before his next scheduled dose. His demeanor was changing too – he was quieter, more reserved, thinking more slowly and growing increasingly depressed – and Joy was getting concerned. That's when his neurologist suggested deep brain stimulation (DBS) as a treatment option, which has proven transformative for many people living with Parkinson's disease.
Eggert was skeptical at first. But after learning more about the procedure, and with Joy's encouragement and support, he made the decision to move forward. His next step was to meet with Ryder Gwinn, MD, a fellowship-trained neurosurgeon practicing at EvergreenHealth who has performed hundreds of DBS procedures over his 20-year career.
The procedure involves placing electrodes in specific parts of the brain, which deliver electrical current to stimulate the neurons in that area. A specially trained programmer customizes the flow of the current to find the settings that have the greatest impact on each patient's symptoms.
"Brain surgery sounds invasive and putting technology in the brain sounds almost like science fiction. But the reality is that using technology and implants in the human body is a standard part of medicine today," Dr. Gwinn explained. "With DBS, once the wires are in place, we've implanted a toolbox in a very flexible way to interact with each patient and meet their unique needs."
For Eggert, relief was almost immediate. Days after the procedure, he met with Idil Baysal, ARNP, who specializes in DBS programming. As she adjusted the current, Eggert's facial muscles began to relax. "I could smile again," he recalls.
"Doug is a great example of how much DBS helps improve quality of life," Baysal said. "He made great progress very quickly – we actually achieved his ideal settings in the very first session. I am thrilled to see how well he has responded to DBS therapy. His case is a remarkable example of how truly life-changing this procedure can be."
Eggert is now much less reliant on his Parkinson's medication, and he can walk without difficulty even in the mornings before he's taken it. "It's made a world of difference," Eggert said. "I'm so blessed and grateful for this whole process."
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