The Oprah Winfrey Show features Tourette syndrome treatment
Thursday May 20, 2004
The April 21, 2004, episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show, entitled Medical Miracles, featured Jeff Matovic, a man with Tourette syndrome who is now free of the severe tics he experienced for most of his life. The reason? A surgical technique called deep brain stimulation, which uses electrodes implanted in the thalamus portion of the brain to control the tics. Continuous high-frequency electrical stimulation from a battery under Jeff's collarbone rebalances the misfiring cells, allowing normal movement.
The physicians at University Hospitals of Cleveland had previously used deep brain stimulation to reduce tremors in Parkinson's disease and muscle spasms in dystonia. They hope to further explore the application of the technique to other people with Tourette syndrome.
Comments
I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY MORE INFO ABOUT THIS DEEP BRAIN STIMULATION, HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD IT DONE AND ALL THE RESULTS. THANK YOU
My son is 22 years old. He was diagnosed with Tourettes in the 5th grade. I live in a rural area in which I feel doesn’t have a great deal of research and updated ways to help a Tourette patient. The medications in the last year make him sleepy so much he is hard to get awake in the mornings. My son has had several different jobs. He is a good person and a good worker when he works. Getting him there is harder and harder. If he doesn’t take the medication then he jerks so much he can’t sleep. Oprah, in all the shows you have had on a variety of issues, is there any place that deals with adults and Tourettes? Could brain stimulation be a way ?Can you help me? Thank You, Terra