Mumbai: How a groundbreaking surgery gave a woman with Parkinson’s new hope after 9 years

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In a medical achievement, a 64-year-old woman with advanced Parkinson's disease received relief from the condition after nine years through Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) Surgery in Mumbai. This procedure, performed at Wockhardt Hospitals, Mira Road, marks a novel approach for treatment of this progressive disease.

Patient Sangeeta Bharwada (name changed), a resident of Bhayander was living with Parkinson's for a long time, which posed several challenges. She experienced tremors, slowness in activities and stiffness. Gradually, she developed an imbalance and freezing gait while walking. Over time, the symptoms became difficult to manage with medication alone.

Dr. Mansi Shah, Consultant Neurologist and Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Specialist at Wockhardt Hospitals, Mira Road, said, "Parkinson's is a progressive disease and the main symptoms of this patient were slowness in all the activities, rigidity and gait difficulties. Initially, she was well-controlled with medication. However, as the disease progressed, her symptoms worsened. Despite being on medication, she had disabling off-states, which means the state in which Parkinsonian symptoms reappeared. During on-states, the medication shows effect. So, more than 70 per cent of the time, she spent off-state, and on-state with Dyskinesis (excessive movements) and other motor fluctuations."

"Also, she could not tolerate higher dosages of medication. She underwent pre-surgical evaluation for Deep Brain Stimulation Surgery, which is an advanced therapeutic option for Parkinson's disease and other movement disorders and was found to be a suitable candidate for DBS," she further informed.

DBS is a surgical procedure that uses electrical stimulation to treat movement disorders and other neurological conditions like Parkinson's, by implanting electrodes in specific brain areas.

The patient underwent the surgery on October 28. After five days in recovery, she was discharged from the hospital.

The family members of the patient expressed their gratitude to the doctors. "After enduring a challenging journey for more than nine years, we are relieved that the skilled team, headed by Dr. Mansi Shah, has been able to help my wife. She can now gradually regain the ability to manage her daily activities independently," concluded Ajay, the patient's husband.

Disclaimer: This is for informational purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice. Consult a qualified medical expert for personalised guidance.

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