Essential Tremor Treatment in India

John Verma, a 68-year-old retired accountant,...

John Verma, a 68-year-old retired accountant, had always prided himself on his meticulous handwriting and steady hands. Over the past five years, he noticed a worsening tremor in his right hand, making it difficult to write checks, hold a coffee cup without spilling, and enjoy his hobby of building model ships. The tremor was most pronounced when he tried to use his hand and disappeared at rest. It was causing him significant embarrassment and social withdrawal. His neurologist, after trying two different medications (propranolol and primidone) with only partial benefit and side effects of fatigue, recommended a procedure called Focused Ultrasound Thalamotomy. John was apprehensive about brain surgery but desperate for improvement. The non-invasive nature of the MRI-guided ultrasound appealed to him. He underwent the procedure, which involved lying in an MRI scanner while high-frequency sound waves were targeted to a tiny area in his thalamus. He was awake and could communicate with the team. Immediately after, the tremor in his right hand was 90% reduced. The recovery was swift, with just a mild headache and some dizziness for a day. Six months later, John can write legibly again, enjoy meals without struggle, and has returned to his model-building with joy. Emotionally, he journeyed from frustration and a sense of losing his independence to profound relief and regained confidence, feeling like he reclaimed a part of himself he thought was lost.