59-year-old with Parkinsons back to normal life

COIMBATORE: Patients affected by Parkinson’s disease can now lead a normal life, thanks to Deep Brain Stimulation, a procedure which involves installing a pacemaker-like device in the thalamus.For the first time in Coimbatore, the surgery was performed at the KMCH on a 59-year-old patient, Sundaram of Dindigul, who had been suffering from Parkinson’s for 15 years.In Deep Brain Stimulation, electrodes are placed in the sub-thalamic nucleus (STN), which is adjacent to the thalamus. The electrodes send continuous electronic pulses through a battery which is attached to  the chest wall. The battery will last for 15 years, Arul Selvan, consultant neurologist, Kovai Medical Center and Hospital (KMCH), said here on Monday.Sundaram, who was also present at the press conference, said that he felt much relieved after the surgery, which was performed 15 days ago. “I couldn’t walk or even sign, without others’ help. But now, I can do my work all by myself,” he said. Sundaram was hospitalised for just two days and the surgery cost him `8 lakh.“Besides KMCH, only two hospitals – in Mumbai and Chennai – have this facility in India,” Selvan said. If medication cannot help the patient, he or she can undergo the Deep Brain Stimulation treatment.  However, medication can cause side-effects like vomiting and nausea and the patient will have to take medicine every two hours.Parkinson’s disease is caused by the degeneration of dopamine-containing neurons in the brain. The disease will lead to shakiness of hands and the patients will become slow in walking, talking, eating and drinking.  Even their thoughts will slow down as the disease progresses.