Deep Brain Stimulation Surgery Gives Him His Life Back - ACIBADEM
Deep Brain Stimulation Surgery Gives Him His Life Back

Deep Brain Stimulation Surgery Gives Him His Life Back

At the age of 71, Janni Ballta, an Albanian lawyer, began noticing tremors in his fingers and hand 12 years ago. The neurologist he consulted diagnosed him with Parkinson’s disease. Over the years, the disease gradually progressed, reaching a point where Janni found it challenging to navigate his life without assistance. His son-in-law reached out to the Acıbadem Healthcare Group in Istanbul, Türkiye, in hopes of restoring Janni’s quality of life.

At the onset of Parkinson’s disease, Janni’s symptoms were initially limited to hand tremors. However, over time, he began experiencing additional symptoms, including difficulty in walking, unsteadiness, slowed body movements, smaller steps, and a decline in manual dexterity. Despite these challenges, Janni found relief from his symptoms through medication, allowing him to continue with his daily activities as much as possible. As Parkinson’s disease progressed, Jenni encountered the emergence of new symptoms such as stiffness in his muscles. He also grappled with freezing episodes while walking along with an increasing challenge to initiate movement without assistance. Moreover, the medications lost efficiency, providing relief only for an hour after administration. Janni endured almost three years living with these symptoms.

“We have known each other for 20 years, and we have lived together like a family. Janni is like a father to me, and we take care of each other. During the passed years, as his symptoms expanded and intensified, he found it increasingly challenging to manage his daily needs or participate in social activities. This situation was not only tough for him, but also for family members who provide care and support him continuously,” Gentian Drenova, Janni’s son-in-law, explained.

Janni’s family discovered Acıbadem Hospital in Türkiye and the available treatment options offered for Parkinson’s patients. They learned about Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) surgery, a technique that offers the potential to alleviate symptoms associated with Parkinson’s disease. Encouraged by this prospect, Janni’s wife, daughter, and son-in-law made the decision to reach out to Acıbadem Hospital. They shared his medical report and a video showcasing his tremors with the hospital. With this initial step, Janni’s treatment journey commenced at Acıbadem Hospital.

“After discovering Acıbadem Hospital and the surgical treatment, we got excited. We believed this operation could yield positive results and bring back the youthful energy Janni had always possessed, but lost in recent years,” Gentian expressed.

Deep Brain Stimulation for Parkinson’s Disease

Today, there is no cure for Parkinson’s disease, but it can be possible to reverse Parkinson’s symptoms for some patients. DBS surgery, a technique that offers the potential to ease symptoms associated with Parkinson’s, involves the placement of a wire electrode into a specific area of the brain and a stimulator underneath the collarbone that sends electrical pulses to the electrode making it possible to regulate abnormal electrical signaling patterns in the brain. The procedure helps restore control of movements and a return to normal life by reducing roughly 80 percent of the tremors. Patients with Parkinson’s disease experience a significant reduction of muscle stiffness by 70 percent as well as an improve in walking ability by 50 percent.

A Return to Life

“Janni Ballta had suffered from idiopathic Parkinson’s disease for over twelve years experiencing muscle stiffness, walking difficulty, and hand tremor. After applying thorough evaluation together with our neurology experts, consisting of neurological and neuropsychological tests and an MRI scan, we determined that he was a good candidate for deep brain stimulation surgery and we performed the surgery,” Professor Sabancı explained.

A few days after the surgery, the stimulator was activated using a remote control, similar to those used for televisions. Following adjustments to the DBS settings with the aim of achieving optimal symptomatic improvement, a remarkable relief quickly became apparent. It was evident that the stiffness in the muscles diminished, walking ability improved, and tremors decreased. His movement capabilities are anticipated to continue to improve even further, and the symptoms of the disease will gradually reduce in the coming months. Janni was utterly grateful for the care and support of everyone around him. “We’ve been here at Acıbadem Hospital for almost 2 weeks, and everything about the hospital and my doctors have been excellent. I appreciate everything that all the staff of the hospital has done for me,” expressed Janni thankfully.

Gentian Drenova, Janni’s son-in-law, shared an update on his condition after the surgery, stating, “Janni’s condition is improving day by day, and now he is doing extremely well. We are very satisfied with the process. In a couple of days, we will return to Albania, and I am excited to witness the reactions back home after they see the significant improvement in Janni’s health. We are incredibly happy for Janni, as he will once again have the opportunity to enjoy the simple pleasures of life.”

Acıbadem brings together neurologists, neurosurgeons, and neuropsychologists who have pioneered treatment for Parkinson’s disease. Every year hundreds of patients from across the globe apply to Acıbadem treatment for Parkinson’s. If you are uncertain about the appropriateness of DBS for your condition, consider reaching out to Acıbadem Information Offices.

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