Jan’s life was going as planned, married with 2 children and living the Orange County dream. This changed one September in 2008 when Jan went to her Neurologist for a tremor in her right leg.
It had been bothering her for 6 months, but took 6 years, to get her diagnosis. Finally in 2014 Jan went to see Dr. Ken Martinez, a neurologist and movement disorder specialist. The diagnosis, Parkinson’s!
Instead of curling up and admitting defeat, Jan decided to fight her diagnosis with the same determination and persistence that had made her a successful public affairs liaison for the utility company.
Parkinson’s affects over 1 million people in the US with 90,000 new diagnosis every single year. It is caused by a loss of dopamine in the brain which plays a key role in movement. Symptoms often begin before diagnosis including acting out dreams, loss of smell or constipation. Seeing a Movement Disorder Neurologist is the next step in helping manage Parkinsons. There is no known cure, but there are treatments that can significantly improve Parkinsons symptoms while helping patients regain their independence and quality of life.
In Feb 2022 Jan had Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) Therapy to treat the symptoms that were impacting her daily routine. Jan had the typical shaking that most people identify with Parkinson’s, but she also had a number of other symptoms including stiffness (rigidity), slowness of movement (bradykinesia) and freezing of gait (getting stuck). To help treat all the symptoms, Jan was recommended Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) by Dr. Martinez and his Nurse Practitioner, Rebekah Torres.
Together Dr. Martinez and Rebekah walked Jan through the entire DBS process including introducing her to the local Abbott DBS rep who helped answer her specific device questions about this cutting-edge technology. “Abbott DBS is where I felt at home.”
Jan’s journey then brought her to see Dr. Devin Binder, a stereotactic Neurosurgeon that specializes in DBS. Dr. Binder has been doing DBS since the early 200’s and started UCI’s DBS program in 2007. He then started Memorial Care Orange Coast’s DBS program in 2011 where he still is today. Dr. Binder has done over 800 DBS surgeries and says “the most rewarding part of DBS is the remarkable and immediate improvement in quality of life that we can give patients with neuromodulation (elimination or reduction of tremor, rigidity, and/or bradykinesia).”
After Jan’s DBS therapy was turned on, she immediately noticed the difference. Her shaking had completely disappeared and she could now pursue all the normal activities that had been challenging, including basic things like tying her shoes and walking. Her stiffness and slow movements had also vanished. “I didn’t anticipate that I’d be able to reduce my Parkinson’s medication by 2/3 and that my tremor would completely stop!”
According to Dr. Martinez “DBS is best when, despite an optimal medication regimen, those medications do not control tremor or have side effects. This could include movement fluctuations, “wearing-off” of the medication or unpredictable timing of the medication’s efficacy”
“During Jan’s first 3 month’s she had 90% resolution of her tremor and was able to simplify and reduce her medication regimen. DBS should be introduced from Day 1 and considered about 3-5 years after diagnosis” says Dr. Martinez.
“Parkinson’s did not turn out to be bad news. I am having so much fun with new people I’ve met and the care I’ve been given. If you must have a disease Parkinson’s isn’t a prison sentence. You meet a whole new family/community. You can live a good life with Parkinson’s!”
