Before the thalamotomy, Weir's tremor had forced him to abandon favorite pastimes such as playing pool and eating out at restaurants. I've gone back to doing the things I enjoy without feeling embarrassed about a tremor. The surgery is performed while the patients are awake, using local anesthesia to prevent pain. General anesthesia is avoided because physicians need to test the position of the electrode before making the lesion. During the stimulation portion of the procedure, the patient is asked to report abnormal sensations, move his or her arms and legs, and count aloud.
Patients are qualified for either pallidotomy or thalamotomy based on their set of symptoms.
The operations usually do not require an extensive recovery period, Giller said. The hospital stay normally ends after two or three days, and patients should refrain from strenuous work or exercise for two to three weeks.