“For the first time in years, my right hand is steady,” says 79-year-old Jim Jones, who was among the first of our patients to undergo high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) for his tremor. We are the first and only provider in southeast Michigan to offer this FDA-approved therapy for people with essential tremor and tremor-dominant Parkinson’s disease, which cause involuntary, rhythmic trembling throughout the body.
Performed without incisions or general anesthesia, HIFU uses beams of ultrasound energy to precisely target areas of the brain responsible for tremors. Medications are typically the first line of treatment before a surgical option called deep brain stimulation (DBS).
“Many people with tremors are older or have underlying health conditions that can make surgery riskier and recovery more difficult,” says Dr. Efstathios Kondylis, our neurosurgeon who treated Jim. “HIFU offers an alternative that avoids the complications that can be associated with anesthesia. It also doesn’t have an upper age limit, which opens the door to treatment for even more patients.”
With HIFU, most people see a 70% – 80% reduction in their tremor. Dr. Kondylis says he never tires of seeing the moment they can hold their hand steady for the first time.
“We hand a patient a cup, and for the first time in years, they can drink without a straw,” says Dr. Kondylis. “It’s like lifting a weight off their chest. There’s something deeply powerful about giving someone back a part of their life.”
Learn more about Jim’s story and this innovative treatment:
