Focused ultrasound provides relief from effects of essential tremor

After undergoing focused ultrasound treatment for essential tremor at UCF Lake Nona Hospital in July, the reality of Christine’s new life is finally beginning to settle in. As a teenager she remembers not being able to participate in any game or activity that required her to focus her concentration on the movements of her hands. “I would demolish everything. I used to play chess and I would have to tell somebody to move the chess figures for me.”

An estimated 10 million Americans live with essential tremor, a movement disorder that affects the hands. Her physician prescribed medication in an attempt to relieve the tremor but unfortunately the results were not what she had hoped. “The medication made me sick. It didn’t work, so I just decided I would have to try to live with it.”

A frequent traveler, Christine enjoyed taking cruises, however the tremors were so severe that she would investigate and seek out the most private table so others wouldn’t be able to see her eat. “I was so embarrassed,” she said.

“I couldn’t drink coffee without getting it all over me. I couldn’t drink anything. I couldn’t write at all, and had to ask friends to complete any paperwork for me. What I wrote was not legible, it was scribble. I couldn’t sew a button on because my hands couldn’t get the needle through the buttonholes. My friends had to cut my meat for me when we went out. They all tried to take care of me and one went out and bought me special cups that wouldn’t spill. I have wonderful friends, but going through this was humiliating.”

While volunteering at the hospital as a pet therapist with her King Charles Spaniel, Angel, Christine learned about a new incisionless brain surgery, and an advanced treatment for essential tremor. UCF Lake Nona Hospital was the first to offer focused ultrasound in Central Florida beginning in 2021, and the treatment is offered as an outpatient procedure.

“Essential tremor is a life-altering problem for most of the patients, and it’s something they are eager to get treated as soon as they can,” said neurosurgeon Dr. Nizam Razack, who performs the procedure. “Sound wave beams come into the brain and they all meet at one point, that’s what focused ultrasound is. There’s no cutting of any sort; the entire procedure is carried out in an MRI scanner, and it takes about 1.5 to two hours to do. Essentially the patient walks in with a debilitating tremor and walks out with no tremor.”

"I am so happy and I finally have my life back," Christine said. “I can write, I can sew, I can eat and drink without getting it all over me. I can’t believe I can do all this now!"

“It does so much for my confidence. I can’t believe I have lived with this since I was a teenager and now that I’m 84 I can finally hold my hand properly!”