The surgery, using an implanted pacemaker-like device to deliver mild electrical stimulation to block the brain signals that cause tremor, was performed Jan. 9 at Harborview by Dr. Sean Grady, UW professor of neurological surgery, with assistance from Dr. Jeffrey Slimp, UW associate professor of rehabilitation medicine. The patient returned home after one night of hospitalization at Harborview. Tremor can severely affect a patient's quality of life as well as his or her ability to function.
Many people live with tremor because they believe that nothing can be done.
Now we can offer them an alternative. Tremor is one symptom of Parkinson's disease and may be mild or disturbing, depending on the individual. Essential Tremor, a different diagnosis from Parkinson's disease, has as its only symptom a tremor that is generally worse during voluntary movement. An estimated million individuals have Essential Tremor, which can also vary from mild to disabling. The new therapy has the potential to help a significant number of individuals in both groups, Grady said.