Treatments for Parkinson’s Disease
It is no secret that currently there is no known cure for Parkinson’s disease in the world.
Many researches are being undertaken and there may be a time soon when people who are long suffering from this neurological disease can breathe a sigh of relief.
Today, this disorder is predominantly controlled by medications. Patients are prescribed medicines that help control most of the symptoms caused by this disease. But not all hope is lost.
These days there are some modern Parkinson’s Disease treatments available that are showing tremendous results and being well-accepted by a large patient population.
These include surgeries like deep brain stimulation, subthalamic nucleus lesioning, pedunculo-pontine nucleus stimulation, etc.
Besides surgery, regular exercises and yoga play a significant role in the control of Parkinson’s disease.
One of the most popular treatments is deep brain stimulation. This is a surgical procedure in which an electrode is implanted deep in the part of the brain that controls the movement of the body.
The stimulation delivered to this electrode is controlled by a device called a pulse generator.
While this surgery is recommended to patients who have been suffering from the disease for a long time, partly immune to the medicines given to them, or in the advanced stages of the disease, this surgery has shown good results in controlling involuntary movements in the patients.
It should be noted that though this surgery helps to a great extent in providing patients with the desired result, in most cases the medicines prescribed by the doctor are to be continued.
Many known doctors hold expertise in this surgery, and it may be best to consult one before deciding on taking the plunge. The idea of going through a brain surgery may be scary, but serious risks in this procedure are uncommon.
In very rare cases, complications during the surgery may cause brain hemorrhage or stroke.
On the other hand, the statistics of risk of an infection is higher, and sometimes require a part of the device to be replaced. This is the reason it is most important to consult a reputable doctor.
Another complementary treatment for Parkinson’s disease is physiotherapy. The correct exercises can help maintain functions and improve the mobility of the body parts in PD.
Even though such therapy cannot stop the progression of the disease, it can help in keeping muscle strength and agility, giving the patient confidence. Plus, exercises are the best way to improve balance and gait for PD patients.
Other Parkinson’s disease treatments that can help a patient are occupational therapies and speech therapy. If you are a believer in alternative medicines, you could try homeopathy or acupuncture with a well-known practitioner.
But keep in mind that this disease is not curable currently and the most anybody can do is teach you how to control your movement and improve that area of your life.