Did you know, the number of Parkinson's sufferers in Indonesia averages 75 thousand new cases per year? This disease should not be taken lightly, even young people can contract this disease. Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disease in the brain's nerve cells ( substantia nigra ) caused by reduced neurotransmitter called dopamine. It is this dopamine deficiency that makes the brain activity of Parkinson's sufferers unable to function normally so they have difficulty moving.
The cause of the decrease in dopamine that triggers Parkinson's is still unknown. Drugs that can completely cure Parkinson's have not yet been found. Drug therapy using levodopa, dopamine agoinst, or anticholinergics has only been used for certain types of tremors. It was limited to reducing and controlling the symptoms.
In its early stages, Parkinson's disease syndrome usually tends to be mild and the sufferer doesn't realize it. The symptoms themselves can be seen from the condition of the shaking hands. After that, the muscles begin to stiffen and ache, motor movements slow down, and it's difficult to balance when standing and walking. Over time, people with Parkinson's will lose control over their body muscles altogether.
Therapies that are often carried out to at least prevent a decrease in body function in Parkinson's patients include physiotherapy which functions to train the body's flexibility, changes to the diet because Parkinson's sufferers generally suffer from constipation, and speech therapy for those who have difficulty speaking.
In addition, surgical procedures are sometimes performed on patients who have had Parkinson's disease for a long time. If for five years, the body's condition and Parkinson's symptoms have not improved, then surgery may be the best solution. Some of the minimally invasive surgical procedures that can be performed are:
- Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)
This deep brain stimulation (DBS) method is able to reduce or stop dyskinesia, reduce tremors and rigidity, and improve movement abilities. The trick is to implant electrodes in the disturbed part of the brain. These electrodes are connected to a generator that is implanted in the chest and functions to send an electric current to the brain.
This method is recommended for patients who do not respond well to medications. This operation aims to stimulate dopamine cells to produce dopamine and work optimally again, so that the symptoms of Parkinson's disease can be overcome and drug doses are reduced. Abroad, DBS surgery has actually become a standard that must be performed if the drugs used for five years show no results, or if the drugs cause serious side effects in Parkinson's patients.
- Gamma knife surgery
In patients who cannot undergo a DBS procedure, gamma knife surgery may be an option. This procedure is carried out for 15-40 minutes, by focusing a strong beam of radiation on the affected area of the brain.
- Stereotactic Brain Lesson
This surgical method has the advantage of minimizing surgical scars and the patient does not need to take medication. The surgery is only carried out 1 cm deep in the head of the brain called the thalamus when the patient is fully conscious because the patient is sufficiently local anesthetized.
Like other minimally invasive surgeries, the use of Stereotactic minimizes the opening of the skull making it safer and faster. This method is also used for operations on other disease problems, such as epilepsy, spasticity, brain tumors, stroke, and dystonia. The recovery period after Stereotactic Brain Lession surgery is also shorter, patients can be discharged from the hospital on about the fourth or fifth day.
With the help of the latest technology and competent neurosurgeons, the management of Parkinson's treatment in Indonesia is always getting better so that Parkinson's patients can return to have a quality life. #LiveExcellently