By Dr. Devin K Binder,
Contributing Writer
As we age, performing daily tasks and the activities we enjoy can become more difficult.
Some seniors may begin experiencing movement disorders that further inhibit their physical abilities and the ability to retain their independence. Essential tremor, a nervous system condition, is a common movement disorder that can limit a senior’s ability to perform daily tasks.
Approximately 5% of people older than 60 are affected by essential tremor worldwide. This movement disorder is caused by irregular electrical signals in the thalamus, the brain’s relay station for motor and sensory signals.
How to diagnose essential tremor
The main symptom of essential tremor is involuntary, rhythmic shaking in the hands, arms, head, voice, and sometimes the legs and torso. The most common parts of the body affected are the hands – uncontrollable shaking usually starts in the dominant hand and slowly progresses to the non-dominant hand. This can make everyday activities such as writing, eating and drinking extremely difficult.
This condition typically worsens over time. For many, it can grow to be so severe that it greatly impacts their quality of life. This can also be an extra burden for many seniors who already deal with limited mobility because of other age-related issues.
Currently, there are no medications approved by the U.S Food and Drug Administration to completely treat essential tremor symptoms. There are, however, medications that can help seniors manage their essential tremor symptoms. But in some cases, essential tremors can be resistant to medication, making it harder to find a solution.
Because of this, many seniors give up looking for a way to manage their tremor and learn to adapt to being unable to keep their hands still.
How to treat essential tremor
Today, there are advanced treatments available to treat essential tremors, eliminating the need for seniors to have to make the hard choice to “just live with” their condition. Two of these treatments are deep brain stimulation and MR-guided focused ultrasound.
Deep brain stimulation can be an effective treatment option for patients with a medication-resistant essential tremor. It involves implanting a pacemaker-like device called a neurostimulator in the upper chest. The neurostimulator is attached by a hair-thin wire to electrodes threaded into the precise area of the brain causing the motor issues.
Deep brain stimulation works by delivering electrical stimulation to targeted areas in the brain that control movement to block the abnormal nerve signals that are causing the essential tremor. Before the electrodes are placed, the patient receives an MRI and CT scan to pinpoint the precise area where the abnormal nerve signals are in the brain.
Another life-changing treatment is MR-guided focused ultrasound. MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center, in Fountain Valley, is one of just a few hospitals in Southern California to offer this new, groundbreaking treatment for people with essential tremors who have not responded to medication.
MRgFUS is a minimally invasive procedure that uses ultrasound waves in the thalamus to prevent the misfiring cells from sending the irregular electrical signals that cause essential tremors.
During the procedure, an MRI is used to obtain detailed images of the patient’s brain anatomy to guide and control the treatment, allowing the neurosurgeon to pinpoint, direct and continuously monitor the treatment area while not affecting the surrounding healthy tissue of the brain.
The treatment requires no incisions and is performed as an outpatient procedure, resulting in immediate tremor cessation and allowing patients to resume normal activities within a couple of days. This life-changing procedure has resulted in patients who are barely able to write their name or hold a cup of water before the procedure being able to perform those tasks immediately afterward.
If you believe you have essential tremor, it’s important to speak with your physician to see if deep brain stimulation or MRgFUS is the right treatment for you. Thanks to advanced treatments, it is possible to manage your condition and improve your quality of life.
Both deep brain stimulation and MRgFUS are covered by Medicare to ensure all seniors have access to these advanced treatments. Talk with your medical provider to learn which treatment is right for you.
Dr. Devin K. Binder specializes in general neurosurgery, epilepsy surgery, MRgFUS, deep brain stimulation, functional neurosurgery, spine surgery and brain tumor surgery. He has performed more than 100 MRgFUS cases, making him the single-most experienced neurosurgeon performing the procedure on the West Coast.