'At first, I asked, "Are you kidding?"'
After several years of hesitation, DBS treatment renewed Maureen Taylor Regan's quality of life
At 70 years old, Maureen Taylor Regan had always enjoyed an active lifestyle. She grew up on a farm, played collegiate volleyball, and, after moving to Moscow, Idaho, worked in the University of Idaho Vandals athletics department.
Even after developing occasional resting tremors and aching joints, Maureen continued traveling, hiking and biking. But in the summer of 2014, a long bike ride triggered tremors in her left hand. She was diagnosed with essential tremor at her next annual wellness visit.
Maureen visited EvergreenHealth later that year, where neurologist Daniel Burdick, MD, diagnosed her with stage 2 Parkinson's disease. In 2020, he suggested that she consider deep brain stimulation (DBS) to manage her symptoms.
"I asked him, 'Are you kidding? I'm not getting brain surgery,' and I ignored his suggestion for two years," Maureen said. But her symptoms persisted, limiting her ability to travel, participate in her favorite hobbies, and perform daily routines. Finally, in 2022, she underwent the DBS procedure despite her initial doubts. She made the decision to opt for the DBS surgery instead of increased and new medications with concerns for possible side effects. Dr. Burdick's encouragement that she was a good candidate for the DBS surgery also helped in her decision.
Now, she has no regrets: "I am ecstatic about how everything has turned out. It was worth driving over 300 miles in the middle of the winter for each of my 17 treatment trips and doctor visits."
The DBS procedure involves surgically placing tiny wires, known as electrodes, in critical areas of the patient's brain. These electrodes are controlled by a battery-operated neurostimulator, a device similar to a heart pacemaker, which is surgically implanted under the skin in the patient's chest. The device sends electrical stimulation to the electrodes placed in the areas of the brain that control movement, effectively reducing the signals that cause tremors.
"When I went out walking before, I used to have a burning sensation in my forearms that has completely gone away," Maureen said. "I was able to decrease my medications, and the tremors are basically gone."
In addition to her regular walking visits to the Kibbie Dome, an indoor stadium/track facility on the U of I campus, Maureen is back to biking, hiking, and traveling.
Treating Parkinson's disease typically involves medications that aim to diminish both physical and cognitive symptoms.
"Even with medication, symptoms often worsen over time, requiring patients to increase their doses, which can cause additional side effects," said Dr. Burdick. "I understood Maureen's initial hesitancy about brain surgery, but we were able to work through that over the course of a long-term relationship. Her case is a perfect demonstration of the results that come from a culture at EvergreenHealth that values the highest-quality care and the connections we build with our patients and our community."
"Maureen has had notable improvement in her dystonia with excellent control of her tremor, so she is now able to sleep through the night comfortably," said Idil Baysal, ARNP, who worked with Maureen to program the DBS device. "She has been an absolute pleasure to work with and an exemplar of what this therapy can do to improve patients' quality of life."
Deep brain stimulation is one of the many innovative treatments offered at EvergreenHealth Neurology. Visit www.evergreenhealth.com/health-services/neurosciences/general-neurology to learn more.
