Gamma knife to stop tremor

[Weng888]

Has anyone undergone gamma knife procedure to stop your tremor? Can you share your experience?

[gaga1958]

Tremoring is my most difficult symptom, I have not tried the gamma knife, but have you looked into propranolol? I saw a number of people discussing on this forum for tremors and plan to discuss with dr next visit. I think it has a number of undesirable side effects tho.

[Weng888 in reply to gaga1958]

I recently met an older gentleman who underwent gamma knife treatment, and his tremors completely ceased. However, he mentioned that his other symptoms continue to progress. This experience inspired me to consider this option if necessary. From my research, it seems that the side effects are minimal. I plan to consult with specialists when I feel more confident about the decision, but I'm not looking to pursue gamma knife treatment in the near future.

Regarding propranolol, I'm aware of it, but I prefer to avoid all medications. I’m nearly two years into my Parkinson's disease journey and have managed to stay away from Western medicine so far. Overall, I’m handling my symptoms quite well, although I believe there is still room for improvement with the tremor.

[gaga1958 in reply to Weng888]

Gamma knife is the procedure where they use ultrasound to create a small hole in the brain to disrupt a signal. Do I have that correctly?

[Weng888 in reply to gaga1958]

From what I gathered from the internet, Gamma Knife therapy is a form of non-invasive stereotactic radiosurgery used to treat various neurological conditions, including tremors caused by Parkinson's disease or essential tremor. For rest tremor, Gamma Knife therapy may be effective. Here's an overview:

Usefulness for Rest Tremor: Gamma Knife targets specific areas of the brain, such as the thalamus (particularly the ventral intermediate nucleus), to reduce tremors. It can significantly decrease rest tremors in many patients.

Duration of Results: Improvement may take weeks to months to become evident. In successful cases, the results can last for years, although tremors may recur in some cases as the underlying condition progresses.

Gamma Knife therapy is generally safe, but like all medical treatments, it has potential side effects:

Transient Effects: Swelling in the targeted area may temporarily cause headaches, dizziness, or sensory disturbances.

Long-term Side Effects: In rare cases, it can lead to persistent neurological issues such as balance problems, numbness, or weakness on one side of the body.

Radiation-Associated Risks: Although rare, there is a theoretical risk of radiation-induced changes in surrounding tissues over time.

[Weng888 in reply to Weng888]

Furthermore, patients can go home on the same day as Gamma Knife therapy. This procedure is non-invasive, does not require anesthesia (only mild sedation if necessary), and has a short recovery period.