Deep Brain Stimulation Surgery – Why And How? - Dr. Shivam Mittal

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Just like a leader leads an entire organization
with his judgments and decisions, our brain
leads the entire body into doing what it does.
This 1.5 kg organ is what is responsible for the
way our head, jaws, neck, arms, legs, and other
body organs move, thanks to the billions of
neurons, nerves, and blood vessels it houses,
which control every function of the body. Isnt
it fascinating!?
How does the brain work? Getting down into the
details, the hormones and enzymes within the body
transfer information from the brain to other
parts of the body through the neurons and nerves.
For instance, Dopamine is one particular
substance that is responsible for controlling
the movements of a body. It acts as a messenger
between the substantia nigra and corpus
striatum, both two crucial areas of the brain.
This dopamine helps the brain control the way we
sit, stand, walk, run, and execute every kind of
daily chore. What if the brain doesnt work like
it should?
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You may have seen many people being unable to
control their movements. For instance, some
people may experience rigid or slow movements
others may experience continuous shaky movements
of their head or limbs. Have you wondered why
this is so? It is because the brain does not
function the way it should, like described
above. When there is no control of the brain over
the movement of the body parts, it can lead to a
variety of movement disorders, one of the most
common one being Parkinsons Disease. What is
Parkinsons Disease? Parkinsons Disease is one
of the most common movement disorders seen across
the globe, which is characterized by loss of
muscle control, which eventually leads to
trembling of the limbs, stiffness, and slowness
of movement. It is the lack of Dopamine that
results in such problems, because the deficiency
of the hormone hampers the communication between
the substantia nigra and corpus striatum.
However, the exact reason behind the lack of the
hormone is yet unknown! How can Parkinsons
Disease be treated? While there is no permanent
cure to Parkinsons Disease, there are certain
ways in which you can control and manage the
symptoms. The initial stages of the disorder
could be managed with the help of medications or
injections, to be taken on a regular basis.
However, if the condition worsens, the last
resort is then a surgery, known as the Deep
Brain Stimulation surgery. This surgery cannot
cure Parkinsons Disease, but it has certainly
proven to be effective at controlling the
symptoms of tremors, stiffness, and slowness
better. What is Deep Brain Stimulation? The Deep
Brain Stimulation surgery involves four basic
components electrodes placed in the brain, a
pacemaker installed into the chest to send
signals to the electrodes, wires to connect the
electrodes and pacemaker, and a remote control
placed outside the body to control the entire
program. The electrodes and pacemaker are placed
in the brain and chest area respectively, and
connected with the help of wires. The scalp is
first numbed, after which a wire frame is
inserted within, following which a brain scan is
done to create a map that can help to effectively
navigate the brain. Next, a small hole is made
in the skull, through which a probe is inserted
and attached to the wire frame, in order to find
the ideal space to place the electrodes. After
the electrodes and wires are placed, the hole is
closed with stitches, and a cap
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is placed over it. Next comes the insertion of
the pacemaker. After putting the patient under
general anaesthesia, the pacemaker is carefully
placed in the chest area, under the skin, near
the collarbone. The wires attached into the brain
are then guided down to this area, and
connected. The generator is then programmed to
send continuous electrical pulses to the brain,
which can be turned on or off using a remote
control. After the surgery As we already stated
above, remember that this surgery is not a
permanent one. First and foremost, you will need
to be very careful during the first few weeks of
the surgery until all the swellings have gone
down, and your body is confirmed to work
normally. Then, you will be given six sessions
over six months to keep a check and adjust the
settings of the machine if required. Other than
that, you will require an annual check-up and
maintenance right up till you have the components
installed within your body, to see if everything
is alright, and whether you need any kind of
component replacements or adjustments. The Deep
Brain Stimulation surgery is certainly a complex
procedure, and also has its own side effects.
But, the benefits that it brings can certainly
improve the quality of life of patients, by
controlling their movements, and helping them
live independently, rather than having to rely
on someone else for even the most basic chores.
This is why most Parkinsons Disease patients opt
for this surgery. If you are one such
unfortunate patient, you could also always walk
into Dr. Shivam Mittals clinic to have a
successful a Deep Brain Stimulation for
Parkinsons in UAE. Here, you will first be
thoroughly checked, only after which will it be
decided as to whether you actually require the
surgery, or your symptoms can be controlled and
managed with the help of Parkinsons Disease
medications or injections. So, worry not, when
youre at Dr. Shivam Mittals, you know that
youll only get the most genuine treatments
done. For more information, visit
https//www.parkinsonsdiseasespecialist.com/