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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tInterrupting the signals of Parkinson\u2019s disease: Barbara\u2019s Story<\/p>\n
April 21, 2026<\/p>\n
Over 12 years ago, Barbara D. began experiencing tremors in her left hand and pain in her left shoulder. Thinking it just might have been a sign of aging, she was surprised one year later when she was diagnosed with Parkinson\u2019s disease.<\/p>\n
Parkinson\u2019s disease is a progressive, neurodegenerative condition that occurs when the brain isn\u2019t able produce enough dopamine. Parkinson\u2019s can cause symptoms like tremors, slowness of movement, imbalance, muscle stiffness and trouble with speech that worsens over time. Although there is currently no cure, there are several treatments available to help manage the symptoms of the disease.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt didn\u2019t really have much of an impact on me at first,\u201d explains Barbara. \u201cIn the early stages, I took medication regularly and just carried on with my life.\u201d<\/p>\n
As the disease progressed her symptoms and side effects became more noticeable. She developed\u00a0dyskinesia, involuntary movements, a side effect of the medications, resulting in constant head movement and fidgeting. Her symptoms had not just physical implications but great emotional impact on her life and relationships.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI had a really supportive group of close family and friends, but I was apprehensive to meet new people,\u201d she says. \u201cI was self conscious about my condition.\u201d She also lost her interest in travelling, because she was worried about managing her medication and symptoms while abroad.<\/p>\n
After having her own experience with tremors, Barbara recalled a documentary she had watched 30 years prior, about a man who underwent deep-brain stimulation (DBS) to treat tremors.<\/p>\n
\u201cI remember seeing the documentary and thinking it was really amazing but forgot about it since it didn\u2019t relate to me at the time,\u201d adds Barbara. \u201cOnce I was diagnosed with Parkinson\u2019s, I began researching the treatment more to see if it was something that could help me.\u201d<\/p>\n
DBS is an invasive neuromodulation technique that involves implanting electrodes in specific areas of the brain to send mild electric impulses that block signals that cause motor symptoms like tremors, slow and weak movement, and stiffness.<\/p>\n
Dr. Amanda Persaud, Barbara\u2019s Neurologist and Director of the Movement Disorders and DBS Programming Clinic at the Mississauga Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (MINDS), referred Barbara to Sunnybrook, where she met with Dr. Ben Davidson, Neurosurgeon in the Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program and Investigator at the Harquail Centre for Neuromodulation.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt took me awhile to come on board because the operation was more complex than I thought,\u201d explains Barbara. \u201cBut I was reassured that I was a good candidate by both Dr. Persaud and Dr. Davidson.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDBS is a targeted and precise treatment, resulting in more manageable symptoms for longer and dramatically improving the quality of life of patients living with advanced Parkinson\u2019s disease,\u201d says Dr. Ben Davidson, Neurosurgeon in the Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program and Investigator at the Harquail Centre for Neuromodulation. \u201cAdvanced image guided technology like the 7-Tesla MRI further enhance procedures like DBS by enabling us to visualize the intricate structures of the brain in unprecedented detail.\u201d<\/p>\n
Although she was nervous to receive the invasive procedure, with encouragement from her family and friends, Barbara underwent DBS with Dr. Davidson at Sunnybrook this past year.<\/p>\n
After undergoing the procedure, Barbara is no longer experiencing tremors, head movement and minimal dyskinesia. She is also back to playing tennis regularly with hopes of making travel plans soon.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter the procedure, the difference was dramatic. I\u2019ve even had my friends comment on how I look so much more relaxed and comfortable,\u201d explains Barbara. \u201cThe team at Sunnybrook is excellent, I don\u2019t think I can say that enough.\u201d<\/p>\n
Barbara continues to receive comprehensive outpatient neurological care by Dr. Persaud, who is collaborating with Dr. Davidson to help connect more patients across the GTA with precision DBS care.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Home \/ Newsroom \/ Interrupting the signals of Parkinson\u2019s disease: Barbara\u2019s Story April 21, 2026 Over 12 years…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":620171,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[49,48,84],"class_list":{"0":"post-620170","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-health","8":"tag-ca","9":"tag-canada","10":"tag-health"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/620170","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=620170"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/620170\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/620171"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=620170"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=620170"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=620170"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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