Focused ultrasound in Parkinson's disease... - Cure Parkinson's

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Focused ultrasound in Parkinson's disease: A twofold path toward disease modification

Farooqji profile image
63 Replies

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi...

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Farooqji profile image
Farooqji
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63 Replies
Farooqji profile image
Farooqji

For those who are interested in reading the full article

filebin.net/2cv3729robh3lfd...

MBAnderson profile image
MBAnderson in reply toFarooqji

Long and complex, but a good paper. While this paper is about FUS, it provides a lot of other good info about progression and stages.

Fighttolive profile image
Fighttolive in reply toMBAnderson

Wish you best of luck....we are rooting for you

MBAnderson profile image
MBAnderson in reply toFighttolive

Thank you.

Softballman profile image
Softballman in reply toFarooqji

The redirect expired on that information.

MBAnderson profile image
MBAnderson

I mentioned yesterday in another thread that I'm having FUS pallidotomy done 8/26.

Farooqji profile image
Farooqji in reply toMBAnderson

Wishing for success of that

MBAnderson profile image
MBAnderson in reply toFarooqji

Thank you

MissRita profile image
MissRita in reply toMBAnderson

Where??

MBAnderson profile image
MBAnderson in reply toMissRita

Wexner Medical Center/Ohio State University at Columbus.

Icequeen10 profile image
Icequeen10 in reply toMBAnderson

Good Luck! Let us know~

MBAnderson profile image
MBAnderson in reply toIcequeen10

Thank you

luba1 profile image
luba1 in reply toIcequeen10

Please

Icequeen10 profile image
Icequeen10 in reply toMBAnderson

Is this the only place offering in the US?

MBAnderson profile image
MBAnderson in reply toIcequeen10

No, there are about 1 dozen locations and they are listed on the FUS Foundation website and on the manufacturer's website, Insightec. I do not know if all of them are still recruiting, but many of them are.

All of the locations are eager for customers, so if it sounds like you don't fit, you should contact them anyway, because they are using loose definitions. This pallidotomy trial is stated for PWP with dyskinesia, which I don't have. Far as I can tell, if your PWP, breathing on your own, don't have a metal plate in your head, and weigh less than 400 pounds and can fit in an MRI machine, they'll take you.

The paper Iqbal link to indicates it may slow progression. The benefits for one person on this forum lasted only a few months, but there are others who had the procedure done in Switzerland for whom the benefits of lasted 6 years. They gave me an expectation of 18 months. That would give me enough time to ramp up my exercise, do a little travel, and pretend I'm a normal person.

Risk, i.e., adverse events are negligible.

We were very impressed with the doctor who will be in charge of the procedure. He spent 90 minutes with us talking about PD and the procedure.

ElliotGreen profile image
ElliotGreen in reply toMBAnderson

Congratulations Marc, I hope that goes very well for you.

Can I ask about the cost? The Swiss group apparently charges around $30k or $35k.

healthabc profile image
healthabc in reply toElliotGreen

I understand that in the US, FUS treats only 1 side of the body at a time, while the Swiss FUS treats both sides at once. Correct me if I am wrong-

ElliotGreen profile image
ElliotGreen in reply tohealthabc

Swiss team does one side at a time, as far as I know. Maybe there are instances of them doing two sides, but I haven't heard about that. They also do a different operation. See my comment below.

MBAnderson profile image
MBAnderson in reply tohealthabc

The clinic in Switzerland only does unilateral as well. They are open to doing the other side of the brain one year later depending on conditions. Far as I know, no one is doing both sides the brain at this same time because the risk of adverse events, impaired speech and walking, it is apparently higher.

MBAnderson profile image
MBAnderson in reply toElliotGreen

Elliott,

Since it's a clinical trial, the cost is free. We live in St. Paul, Minnesota, so we have to bear the travel expense, otherwise the manufacturer covers 100% of everything. Thank you for your well wishes.

Icequeen10 profile image
Icequeen10 in reply toMBAnderson

Did not know you lived in St Paul. I'm in Mpls!

MBAnderson profile image
MBAnderson in reply toElliotGreen

The SoniModul clinic in Switzerland charges $35,000. I don't know what the clinic in Zürich charges. You might want to check the clinics in Israel, South Korea, and Japan.

rebtar profile image
rebtar in reply toMBAnderson

Best of luck. I hope it works well for you.

MBAnderson profile image
MBAnderson in reply torebtar

Thank you

Despe profile image
Despe in reply toMBAnderson

Good luck, Marc. I am so very happy for you.

MBAnderson profile image
MBAnderson in reply toDespe

Thank you

gigiwillms profile image
gigiwillms in reply toMBAnderson

I've long been interested in FUS. Let us know how it goes.

MBAnderson profile image
MBAnderson in reply togigiwillms

will do

hanifag profile image
hanifag in reply toMBAnderson

where you having it done

MBAnderson profile image
MBAnderson in reply tohanifag

Wexner Medical Center/Ohio State University at Columbus

hanifag profile image
hanifag in reply toMBAnderson

Wish you all the success

OREOLU profile image
OREOLU in reply toMBAnderson

Hi MBAnderson,

I pray it goes well for you.But what is the success rate for this procedure? Also I understand it is more beneficial for tremor dominant PD.

MBAnderson profile image
MBAnderson in reply toOREOLU

Thank you. I understand adverse events are pretty low and success rates probably vary, depending upon how successes is defined. I believe I'll get some relief and I will take whatever I can get. It is free, so why not.

MissRita profile image
MissRita

Thx!

ElliotGreen profile image
ElliotGreen

It sounds like there are a few different varieties of Focused Ultrasound surgeries being undertaken to treat PD.

1) This paper mentions the subthalamic nucleus, and the authors are undertaking a clinical trial on subthalamotomy.

2) MBAnderson reports that he is going to be having a pallidotomy.

3) The Swiss team does a pallido-thalmic tractotomy.

MBAnderson profile image
MBAnderson in reply toElliotGreen

Correct. The differences are the target area. The equipment and the procedures the same.

ConnieD profile image
ConnieD

What is TUS?

hanifag profile image
hanifag

yes what is TUS

answerseeker profile image
answerseeker

All the best, Mark! Will look forward to hearing good news from you. :)

MBAnderson profile image
MBAnderson

I got the sham procedure yesterday. Boohoo. And still in the hospital. I have a shaved head and look like Bruce Willis. 4 hours in an MRI machine for nothing. Ugh

Parkie- profile image
Parkie- in reply toMBAnderson

For those like me for whom English is not their first language, I just looked up "sham procedure":

Placebo surgery, faked surgical intervention.

So sorry MBA.

Are you thinking of getting the procedure done in Switzerland?

MBAnderson profile image
MBAnderson in reply toParkie-

The clinics in Switzerland will not take Americans because our courts allows to sue for in hospitals in American courts.

rebtar profile image
rebtar in reply toMBAnderson

I know if an American who had this done at Sonimodul in Switzerland.

MBAnderson profile image
MBAnderson in reply torebtar

I do too.

Here is the reply to me.

From: Stieglitz Lennart [mailto:Lennart.Stieglitz@usz.ch]

Sent: Monday, June 17, 2019 11:21 AM

To: 'Marc Anderson' <marcbanderson@gmail.com>

Subject: AW: Your question about FUS treatment

Dear Mr. Anderson,

I feared a little bit you were from the USA.

I am very sorry to tell you, that the Swiss government forbids treatment of US citizens (except in cases of emergency).

The reason is, that according to US law, legal action against the hospital can be brought before US courts, despite the fact, that contracts and treatments are localized in Switzerland. Our insurances are not fit for that and one unfortunate legal case could ruin the hospital.

Therefore, I fear, I cannot offer you a treatment at our hospital at all. I apologize for the inconvenience.

Kind regards,

Lennart Stieglitz

Trixiedee profile image
Trixiedee in reply toMBAnderson

Marc, are you sure you contacted Sonimodul? Because I’ve never communicated with anyone with that name there. And it’s a different email address.

MBAnderson profile image
MBAnderson in reply toTrixiedee

Yes, I am certain it was SoniModul. I'm not surprised they use different email addresses. His answer may have been sent from a different location or computer. I did not contact the clinic in Zürich. I was in communication with 2 different people.

jimcaster profile image
jimcaster in reply toMBAnderson

I think/hope you are being facetious, Marc. Obviously, we are all cheering for you and are confident that you did not undergo a sham procedure.

MBAnderson profile image
MBAnderson in reply tojimcaster

they will do the real procedure on me 3 months after the sham procedure. That is when the placebo evaluation. Is over. After having this much time and brain-damaged invested I'm going to elect to have the real thing done.

MBAnderson profile image
MBAnderson in reply toMBAnderson

We just got back to our hotel from the hospital. We leave in the morning driving back to St Paul. I can explain better when I have a computer.

jimcaster profile image
jimcaster in reply toMBAnderson

Safe travels and continued best wishes!

Despe profile image
Despe in reply toMBAnderson

Marc,

Placebo FUS? I don't understand. . . :(

MBAnderson profile image
MBAnderson in reply toDespe

It is disheartening.

Despe profile image
Despe in reply toMBAnderson

I hear you, so sorry, Marc. Personally, I am against any trials.

Juliegrace profile image
Juliegrace in reply toMBAnderson

Did they tell you it might be the sham procedure when you were accepted into the study?

MBAnderson profile image
MBAnderson in reply toJuliegrace

Yes, one third were randomized to the sham.

Farooqji profile image
Farooqji in reply toMBAnderson

You are smarter than the doctors involved as they don't even know whom has gone through the placebo (if it's double blind trial) BTW how did you come to know that?

MBAnderson profile image
MBAnderson in reply toFarooqji

I know it was a sham because my trimmer was the same coming out as going in. With f u s the trimmer stops during the process.

MBAnderson profile image
MBAnderson in reply toMBAnderson

I actually know how to spell that's voice recognition software

MBAnderson profile image
MBAnderson in reply toMBAnderson

They keep doing sonication until the tremor stops. They did 11 sonication Smith me in the tremor was not impacted.

MBAnderson profile image
MBAnderson in reply toFarooqji

In this case the doctors know it is a sham or not because they either turn up the heat or they don't.

chartist profile image
chartist in reply toMBAnderson

Marc,

Now that is what I call a "sham" and a definite let down!!!

I hope the Bruce Willis reference was to Bruce circa 15 years ago, otherwise that would be a let down also! 😉

I can't wait for you to get the real deal! A shame you have to wait for it now though.

Art

Trixiedee profile image
Trixiedee in reply toMBAnderson

Oh no, how frustrating! 😞

I have not been following this thread, but I take wild guess... He had this procedure done as a part of a research trial... some people got the real procedure done... some people got nothing done (a placebo).... he knows he got the placebo, since he feels no different...

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