The following is one patient's experience with Activa® DBS Therapy to manage some of the movement-related symptoms of Essential Tremor. Results vary, and not every response is the same. Please refer to the Important Safety Information and the Risks and Side Effects for additional information.
Dianne has lived with essential tremor (ET) since the 7th grade. Until recently, she was afraid to go out in public. "It's so hard to have people stare at you all the time," she says.
Living with Essential Tremor
For Dianne, simple activities like going out to eat and writing checks became embarrassing. Driving was difficult because her right foot shook so much. Preparing meals was also challenging, especially when she needed to use a knife. "I cut myself more than once," she says.
As a teacher, Dianne had trouble doing the paperwork her job required. "Parents complained they couldn't read the report cards and other materials I sent home," says Dianne. "So my husband began to do them for me."
Eventually, Dianne met with a new neurologist who recommended Activa DBS (deep brain stimulation) to help control her tremors. Uncertain of the procedure, Dianne instead increased her use of medication, and found the side effects intolerable.
But the final straw for her came at school. One day she noticed a group of boys standing in the lunch line, imitating her shaking head. Unwilling to go on living that way, Dianne scheduled the surgery with her family's support.
What Activa DBS Can Do
Activa DBS uses a surgically implanted medical device much like a cardiac pacemaker to deliver electrical stimulation to precisely targeted areas within the brain. The stimulation is delivered through a medical wire called a lead, which is tunneled beneath the skin.
Continuous stimulation of these areas blocks the signals that cause the disabling motor symptoms of ET. The electrical stimulation can be non-invasively adjusted to maximize treatment benefits. As a result, individuals like Dianne achieve greater control over their body movements.
Risks of the Procedure
The major risks of the Activa DBS procedure include paralysis, coma and/or death, bleeding inside the brain (stroke), leakage of fluid surrounding the brain, and seizures. Side effects of brain stimulation include tingling sensation, and temporary worsening of the patient's disease symptoms, speech problems like whispering and trouble forming words and vision problems. Please refer to the Risks and Side Effects for more information.
"None of this would have been possible without Activa DBS."
For Diane, the results were immediate. "They had me hold my hand out in front of my chest while it was still shaking. Then they adjusted the stimulator and the shaking just suddenly stopped. I'll never forget it," Dianne says.
Today, there's nothing holding Dianne back. "I write, sew, crochet, go out to eat, and work out at a health club," she says. "I've taken up piano and cello, and substitute teach at school." Dianne no longer needs help getting ready for school, and she can easily accomplish tasks that were difficult before Activa DBS.
To celebrate their newfound freedom from ET, Dianne and her husband decided to do something they never would have done before.
"We went on a cruise to the Bahamas," she says. "We had dinner at a table with strangers. We went snorkeling, and I could actually get the mask on my head with no problem. None of this would have been possible without Activa DBS."
