September 4, 2022 | Florida, United States | Jose Luis Dieppa | AdventHealth | THERE
At just 35 years old, Carlos Paredes was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. “I didn’t want to believe I had Parkinson’s disease at my age,” he said. “At that time, I was regarding to get married and I was ready to start a family. So it was difficult for me. »
Carlos Paredes first noticed tremors in one of his fingers. Over the years, the uncontrollable movements spread to all of her fingers, and eventually to both arms. The tremors were so severe that he had trouble performing simple tasks like drinking from a cup, writing, or brushing his teeth.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bo0NOy1NLrQ
“My tremors increased to the point that I mightn’t hold a plate for dinner, I mightn’t play with my daughter or shave,” he said.
His family advised him to see a neurologist, who told him he had Parkinson’s disease, a progressive disease that causes tremors, sluggishness and balance problems. After years of taking up to 16 pills a day with little improvement, her mother suggested she see an expert in brain surgery.
In consultation with his medical team, which included neurosurgeon Dr. Chandan Reddy at AdventHealth Celebration and Dr. Mitesh Lotia, movement disorders neurologist and medical director of the movement disorders program at AdventHealth, Carlos Paredes was determined to be a candidate. ideal for deep brain stimulation surgery.
“Deep brain stimulation is a procedure where we insert two small wires on either side of the brain. They stimulate a very specific area of the brain to help treat tremors and other symptoms of Parkinson’s disease,” said Dr Lotia.
By implanting electrodes, doctors can stimulate specific areas of the brain associated with the patient’s particular condition with electrical impulses that regulate signals, cells, and chemicals. A pacemaker-like device is implanted under the skin of the patient’s chest that controls the amount of stimulation the patient receives, and a wire connects the device to electrodes in the brain. After surgery, visits are frequent in the first few months for therapy management and it is necessary for visits to be made in person to ensure the device is working properly and to change settings if necessary.
But thanks to innovative new technology, adjustments can now be made remotely via the NeuroSphere Virtual Clinic. The process is simple. Using a tablet, Dr. Lotia can observe Carlos Paredes’ symptoms and alter the stimulation in his brain during a remote medical visit, which can be done from any location, such as home or office. patient’s workplace. The results can be seen immediately.
“Doing this virtually achieves essentially the same thing as going to the clinic,” Dr. Lotia said. “We can provide the same effective care from the comfort of their home or, as in Carlos’ case, their workplace. »
Deep brain stimulation surgery can improve the patient’s quality of life, including the resumption of hobbies, sports and other activities. It can also help the patient manage their symptoms as the disease changes or progresses.
For Carlos Paredes, the procedure allowed him to get back to the things he loves, including his job. “My life has improved by 90 percent because I no longer have the tremors. I can play with my daughter, I can do my job normally, I can have a life with my family,” he said.
According to Dr. Lotia, approximately 15 percent of Parkinson’s disease patients in the United States become good candidates for deep brain stimulation surgery. However, it is still a very underutilized service due to many factors such as lack of awareness, late referral, and fear of brain surgery.
“I was very afraid of the procedure, but I did it for the family,” said Carlos Paredes. “I hope people who might be in the same situation will see my story and get the help they need. If I can help one person, it was worth it. »
To learn more regarding Carlos Paredes’ journey, watch the video originally aired on “AdventHealth TV,” AdventHealth’s internal newscast for Central Florida Division team members.
Translation: Patrick Luciathe
