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The NeuroMedical Center, in partnership with Our Lady of the Lake, offers Baton Rouge’s first and only Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) program for patients living with Parkinson’s disease and essential tremor. Since 2007, The NeuroMedical Center’s movement disorder neurologists and neurosurgeon have performed over 400 LIFE-CHANGING DBS surgeries. These are some of our favorite DBS patient success stories:
Nina’s Essential Tremor Story
Mr. Castilaw’s Transformation
Clinton H. Before & After
Larry’s DBS Transformation
Cynthia’s Success Story
Cathy’s New Life
How DBS Works
DBS is a surgical procedure that can treat the disabling neurological symptoms associated with Parkinson’s disease and essential tremor. In this 50 minute presentation, DBS specialists Dr. Gerald J. Calegan and Dr. Paul J. Waguespack explain DBS surgery in great detail.
Surgery
There are two parts to the DBS surgery performed by a neurosurgeon: implanting very thin wires (leads) in the brain and placing the pacemaker-like device, called the neurostimulator, under the skin of the chest.
Because the left side of the brain controls the right side of the body and vice versa, DBS is commonly performed on both sides of the brain.
Programming
A few weeks after your surgery, your neurologist will turn your neurostimulator on for the first time:
Once the neurostimulator is turned on and programmed, electrical pulses will block the faulty nerve signals causing tremor, slowness, stiffness, rigidity, and other symptoms almost instantaneously. Successful DBS allows people to potentially reduce their medications and greatly improve quality of life.
For many people, DBS makes a difference when even small tasks have become challenging. DBS Therapy helps some people stay as independent as possible and keep doing the activities they love. Good movement control with DBS makes it easier to do everyday things like writing, bathing and dressing, and drinking and eating.
Gerald J. Calegan, M.D.
Movement Disorder Neurologist
B. Glenn Kidder, M.D.
Movement Disorder Neurologist
Rebecca E. Whiddon, M.D.
Movement Disorder Neurologist
Paul J. Waguespack, M.D.
Adult Neurosurgeon
Five key questions:
1. Have you been diagnosed with Parkinson’s for at least 4 years?
2. Are there times when medication is not helping enough when you experience symptoms?
3. Do you experience troubling involuntary excessive movements (dyskinesias)?
4. Do you typically take dopaminergic drugs (Levodopa, Sinemet*, Stalevo*, Parcopa*)?
5. After trying several drug combinations, do you experience sleepiness, nausea, hallucinations, confusion/other thinking problems, lightheadedness when standing or behavioral/personality changes?
If you answered yes to any of the questions above, request a consultation with a movement disorder neurologist at The NeuroMedical Center to see if DBS Therapy is right for you. As our area’s first and only DBS program, we take pride in providing the most advanced neurological services for our patients with Parkinson’s disease and essential tremor.
10101 Park Rowe Ave. (Floors 1-4)
Baton Rouge, LA 70810
Main: (225) 769-2200
Scheduling: (225) 768-2050
10105 Park Rowe Circle. (Floors 1&2)
Baton Rouge, LA 70810
Main: (225) 763-9900
10101 Park Rowe Ave. (Floors 5&6)
Baton Rouge, LA 70810
Main: (225) 906-2999