Mike Ball has been living with Parkinson’s disease for 12 years. As the disease has progressed, the former pharmacist had to deal with tremors that impacted his ability to do everyday activities like eating and shaving. With an implant that interrupts uncontrolled movements, Mike has regained control of his body and can now get postoperative…
Jason Smith always assumed the tremor in his right hand was caused by drinking a lot of coffee. Turns out, it actually was one of the first symptoms of young-onset Parkinson’s disease. Jason was diagnosed with the progressive nervous system disorder eight years ago at age 40. Parkinson’s causes unintended or uncontrollable movements, such as…
For Jason L. Crowell, M.D., working in medicine and fighting Parkinson’s disease are personal. One of the newest neurologists on staff at Norton Neuroscience Institute, Dr. Crowell grew up watching his grandfather, a long-time physician, care for the members of his small Alabama community. Dr. Crowell saw firsthand, he said, “the relationships my grandfather built…
If you can’t afford your medications, there are steps you can take. First, don’t skip doses or take less than prescribed. Talk to your doctor about cheaper alternatives, ask your pharmacist about options and check for any state or drug industry programs that might help. “There are times when a less effective, cheaper alternative treatment…
Parkinson’s disease medications are designed to increase dopamine levels in the brain or slow the breakdown of the brain’s dopamine, lessening the tremors and other symptoms. Dopamine is a chemical involved in movement, and its decrease in the brain is central to Parkinson’s disease. By the time someone starts experiencing symptoms, dopamine levels in the…
Abigail J. Rao, M.D., neurosurgeon with Norton Neuroscience Institute, isn’t an electrician, but she knows how electricity impacts the brain. She’s using electricity to make a world of difference for individuals diagnosed with movement disorders. Dr. Rao uses deep brain stimulation (DBS) to help patients with essential tremor, Parkinson’s disease, dystonia and difficult-to-treat epilepsy. “Deep…
As a neurosurgeon, Abigail Rao, M.D., has performed many lifesaving surgeries to remove brain tumors and blood clots. As one of Norton Neuroscience Institute’s newest neurosurgeons, her practice now focuses on brain surgeries meant to be life-changing, rather than lifesaving. Using a method called deep brain stimulation (DBS), Dr. Rao places tiny electrodes inside the…
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