For years, Don Steele’s life has revolved around waiting for his many medications to combat the effects of Parkinson’s disease.
“I take so much medication,” Don said. “It’s not fun.”
It was a summer vacation in Canada when the Simsbury resident first noticed the symptoms of Parkinson’s. His hand would not stop shaking. He believed the cause was the vigorous movements involved with cutting wood. But it was Parkinson’s disease.
The Parkinson’s diagnosis wasn’t as devastating as the progression over the years of the neuro-degenerative disorder. What started as a minor tremor progressed — and the medications were not working as they once had.
It’s like I know I can (move my body), but (my body) won’t do it,” he said.
Then Don and his wife, Anne, learned about a different Parkinson’s treatment, deep brain stimulation, but it sounded scary. As Don’s quality of life continued to deteriorate, he researched deep brain stimulation and decided to move forward with the procedure.
Doctors at Hartford Hospital implanted an electrode in the brain to interrupt and stimulate nerve activity. In the weeks that followed, Dr. Toni de Marcaida, medical director of the Chase Family Movement Disorders Center — part of the Hartford HealthCare Ayer Neuroscience Institute — would fine-tune the programming of the electrode.
“Since he’s had the surgery, I’ve notice a big difference,” said Anne Steele. “The meds had left him to the point where he couldn’t do a lot. I think having gone through the surgery has really helped him.”
Learn more about deep brain stimulation at the Chase Family Movement Disorders Center here.