Has anyone tried focused ultrasound

[Yhae]

youtube.com/channel/UC7CCaR...

[Trixiedee]

I’m waiting to have it in Switzerland. I know a few people who have had it with excellent results. If you look through my past posts you will find more info.

[Yhae in reply to Trixiedee]

Thanks

[Dudu28 in reply to Trixiedee]

Are you doing the other side? Or is it just the first time?

[Trixiedee in reply to Dudu28]

It’ll be the first time. I will need both sides done but you need to wait a year between sides.

[Yhae in reply to Trixiedee]

what is the cost for such a procedure or is it covered by insurance

[Trixiedee in reply to Yhae]

I’m having it in Switzerland so it isn’t covered by insurance. It’s about $30k. There are trials in the US but only for tremor. Have a look on the Focused Ultrasound Foundation website.

[ElliotGreen in reply to Trixiedee]

$30,000? OMFG! Lol. Maybe I can just shake.

[dwell in reply to Trixiedee]

Hi there, I'm new to this community and very excited to be finding positive experiences with FUS. I have been considering treatment at a clinic in Spain (Dr Obeso at hmCINAC, near Madrid). They describe it as HIFU (high intensity focused ultrasound), do you happen to know if this is the same as the FUS you are having in Switzerland? Thanks! And good luck

[Trixiedee in reply to dwell]

No it isn’t the same. Someone on a Parkinson’s forum had Focused Ultrasound in Spain and her tremor returned after a couple of months. It’s the same technology but targeting a different part of the brain. In Switzerland they target the pallido thalamic tract. I’ve had my procedure now and have excellent results, 3 months later.

[dwell in reply to Trixiedee]

Thanks for the quick reply, and so pleased about your results (I've now other more recent posts of yours and others about this, all very positive and encouraging!). I'd be interested to know more about this person's treatment in Spain, could you steer me to the forum she posted on? Spain is a much more convenient option for me and the clinic I am in touch with seem to be getting good results. Hoping your improvements are long-lasting!

[ElliotGreen]

Fixed link

youtube.com/channel/UC7CCaR...

[ElliotGreen]

Focused Ultrasound Foundation on Parkinson's disease (updated August 2019):

fusfoundation.org/diseases-...

"The FDA has approved the use of focused ultrasound for treatment of tremor-dominated Parkinson’s disease. See more in the regulation and approval section, below."

[ElliotGreen in reply to ElliotGreen]

Holy moly! I did NOT know that there was a surgical treatment for Parkinson's disease, including a surgical treatment for akinesia (which I have). This ultrasound is basically surgery without incisions.

The FUF page above says "Parkinsonian tremor or akinesia – target in the pallidothalamic tract."

The following article says that it was FORGOTTEN that there was a surgery for akinesia. One team demonstrated it successfully in 1960. There was forgotten, and then "re-actualized" in 1992. This is nuts!

Magnin, M., et al. "Surgical control of the human thalamocortical dysrhythmia: II. Pallidothalamic tractotomy in Parkinson's disease." Thalamus & Related Systems 1.1 (2001): 81-89.

cambridge.org/core/journals...

[Trixiedee in reply to ElliotGreen]

That last old study was written by the neurologist who performs FUS in Switzerland.

[ElliotGreen in reply to Trixiedee]

Thanks. I didn't catch that.

[Jebbie12]

I believe this requires that they zap a spot in your brain. What if they miss their target?

[Yhae]

Can it be done on both sides together or each side will cost $40,000?