Focused Ultrasound for Parkinson’s Disease and Essential Tremor | Penn Medicine

Joe had been suffering from essential tremor for 17 years. After his medications began losing their effectiveness, he had a consultation with Penn Medicine neurosurgeon Iahn Cajigas, MD, PhD, and decided on MR-Guided Focused Ultrasound (MRgFUS) for treatment.

MRgFUS is an incisionless, noninvasive procedure that treats movement disorders, including essential tremor and Parkinson’s Disease, through focused beams of acoustic energy. Using heat, these beams create a small, targeted lesion in the brain. This lesion destroys the tissue causing abnormal brain signals that lead to symptoms of movement disorders.

Penn Medicine is the only health system in Pennsylvania and one of the few in the Northeast to offer this procedure.

To refer a patient (physicians only):

Read a clinical briefing:

Learn more about MR-Guided Focused Ultrasound:

[lukewhitford]

Brilliant to see new promising treatment options for PD

[none]

My neurosurgeon at a major medical university failed to look at ordered imaging results for an entire 4 months. Bottom line - I couldn’t have the focus ultrasound surgery. I was informed 1 week prior to the surgery. The NP called! I cried and insisted I wanted/expected the neurosurgeon to explain to me! His excuse for the delayed looking at my imaging results? “Staffing issues” - insinuating medical interns to blame. The INITIAL imaging test indicated my skull is too thin. 4 months of multiple lab tests, imaging and apprehension. Seriously! 4 months when the very 1st imaging results if looked at would have saved me all the rest testing etc. This was a major known medical university.
Now I am going every 3 months for botox injections 5 each arm and 2 in jaw muscle and 2 in chin - ET hands and chin. It’s not permanent and not 100% but it’s better than no treatment. AND it treats both sides of my body vs Focus Ultrasound is only 1 hand. DBS involves implantation of wires and a battery - no thanks.
Be sure to vet your neurosurgeon, hospital and ALL your imaging tests!

[potatonofries]

Im 28 years old and started losing control over my left hand few years ago, now its even worst and now i started feeling the same thing happening to my right hand, the scary thing is that its all over my legs now, im very afraid of what might happen to me in the next year or the year after, i can clearly feel myself loosing control over my nerves and body and that scares me every day, i hope one day i might be able to go to america and take this treatment 🙏

[leok]

Joey I'm praying for you my brother

[chrisdownes]

I've had Essential Tremor for 39 years, in both hands. Two weeks ago I was quoted $64, 000 (yes $64K Australian dollars) to have this treatment. In Australia it's a treatment only for the rich people.

[clydedahler]

Joe, from your video site you were in the Coast Guard, i was also from 1963 to 67 on a 255 Ft Cutter and a 311 Ft Cutter and also have ET about 5 years now in both hands, worse in right when i hold them out straight but left hand when i make a fist, but my ET isen't as bad as yours and i stop taking meds for it cuz it didn't help the problem any. Glad your getting better with focus ultrasound. Todays date 1-29-24

[عبدالرحمنالحربي-لغ]

لايعرف معاناة مريض باركنسون الا من أصيب به. اسأل الله الشفاء للجميع.

[Tns]

If this worked it would be curing everyone of tremors why aren't more doctor's going to this instead of medication

[عبدالرحمنالحربي-لغ]

أين يقع هذا المستشفى وماأسمه؟ وكم تكلف العملية؟

[DamnBoy]

Would this be a long term solution if not a permanent solution?

[liamryan]

Is this surgery also available for treating OCD?

[forrestfreeri]

how much dost it cost? can anyone please tell me?

[kamranshaikh]

What is the solution for this, what is the treatment for this, this is the problem with me and my age is 20 years now, so what should I do, any treatment or any treatment, I mean, what I want to take up is this message in my brain. If you can't lift it, then your hands start shaking, lala zana starts, there is an earthquake condition, so what should be done at this time, which mediation should be taken?

[nind]

I'm trying primidone, and if it cant control my tremor, I'll do this

[alexandrawhitelock]

Fairly new. You have to select 1 side. They are trying to repeat with the other side…

[IhsanSilky]

I am essential tremors patient since 15 years, want treatment 😔

[lornahuddleston]

Did he have Parkinson's? Or essential tremor?
I can't get a physician period in Oregon and have been untreated for over 6 months. This is after 30 years of successful treatment before this. My life has been a total disaster trying to survive with full essential tremor.

[BakaryJatta-cl]

My name is Bakary jatta from the Gambia am suffering from essential tremor i used medication for many years but not working i need help pliz

[Tns]

Why doesn't it work for people with Parkinson's

[alexandrawhitelock]

There are meds…this treatment and deep brain stimulation.