Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) in Ahmedabad: A New Chapter for Movement Disorders with Dr. Deep Parmar

Living with a debilitating movement disorder like Parkinson’s Disease, Essential Tremor, or Dystonia can profoundly impact your daily life. Simple tasks that most people take for granted – eating, writing, walking, or even holding a conversation – can become incredibly challenging, despite medication. When conventional treatments are no longer enough, the search for advanced, life-changing therapies becomes a priority.

In Ahmedabad, a city renowned for its medical advancements, patients grappling with these conditions have access to one of the most sophisticated and effective treatments available today: Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS). And at the forefront of this highly specialized procedure is Dr. Deep Parmar, a leading neurosurgeon recognized for his precision, expertise, and compassionate care in functional neurosurgery.

DBS offers a beacon of hope, providing a way to significantly reduce symptoms and improve the quality of life for carefully selected patients. Let’s delve into what DBS is, who can benefit, and why Dr. Deep Parmar is the trusted specialist for this advanced therapy in Ahmedabad.

What is Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)? Unlocking Brain Function

Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) is an advanced, FDA-approved neurosurgical procedure that involves implanting a small medical device, often referred to as a “brain pacemaker,” that delivers precisely controlled electrical impulses to specific target areas in the brain. These impulses modulate abnormal brain activity, helping to alleviate symptoms of certain neurological disorders.

How it Works:

1. Electrodes (Leads): Thin, insulated wires (electrodes) are surgically placed in specific, deep brain regions known to control movement (e.g., subthalamic nucleus or globus pallidus interna for Parkinson’s, thalamus for Essential Tremor).
2. Extension Wires: These electrodes are connected to extension wires that are tunneled under the skin, down the neck, to the chest.
3. Implantable Pulse Generator (IPG): The extension wires connect to a small, battery-operated device (IPG), similar to a heart pacemaker, which is implanted under the skin in the chest, usually near the collarbone.
4. Stimulation: Once activated, the IPG sends continuous, low-voltage electrical pulses through the electrodes to the targeted brain areas. These pulses help to normalize the abnormal brain signals that cause movement symptoms.

Who is a Candidate for DBS? Hope for Drug-Resistant Symptoms

DBS is not a first-line treatment, but rather a highly effective option for patients whose symptoms are no longer adequately controlled by medication or who experience intolerable side effects from their drugs. A multidisciplinary team evaluation is essential to determine suitability for DBS.

Primary Conditions for DBS:

1. Parkinson’s Disease (PD):
   • Typically, patients who have had PD for at least 4-5 years.
   • Experience significant motor fluctuations (on/off periods) despite optimal medication.
   • Have troublesome dyskinesias (involuntary movements) caused by medication.
   • Respond well to levodopa medication (even if the effect is short-lived).
   • Do not have severe dementia or other significant cognitive impairments.
2. Essential Tremor (ET):
   • Severe, disabling tremor (usually in the hands, head, voice) that significantly interferes with daily activities.
   • Symptoms are resistant to optimal medical therapy.
   • No other neurological conditions causing the tremor.
3. Dystonia:
   • Generalized, segmental, or cervical dystonia (torticollis).
   • Symptoms are chronic and significantly disabling.
   • Often, patients with primary generalized or segmental dystonia, or those with tardive dystonia.

Other conditions like Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and certain forms of epilepsy are also being explored for DBS, but the above three are the most common and established indications.