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Movement disorders are neurological conditions that cause abnormal and involuntary uncontrolled movements of the arms, hands, head, neck and legs. They may result in tremors or walking difficulties. The ability to move freely and participate in normal daily activities can be severely limited for those suffering from a movement disorder.
Most movement disorders are associated with changes in an area of the brain called the basal ganglia. A consultation with a neurologist specializing in movement disorders is appropriate for the treatment of several conditions: Movement Disorders Program at South Coast Medical Center SCMC’s Movement Disorders Program offers neurology and rehabilitation services in the diagnosis and treatment for people with Parkinson’s disease, Parkinson’s-related syndromes, dystonia, tremor, tics, hemifacial spasm, spasticity and other related movement disorders. The program also offers a neurosurgical component to treatment called Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS). Serving as Co-Medical Directors of the program are neurologist Kenneth Martinez, M.D., and neurosurgeon Christopher Duma, M.D. To learn how the Movement Disorders Program helped one patient with early onset Parkinson’s Disease, click here. Services and Treatment Treatment may involve medical management with medications, physical or occupational therapy or nutrition counseling. It may also involve drug therapy, including botulinum toxin injections. Botulinum toxin therapy is used in treating spasms related to multiple sclerosis, stroke and other brain or spinal cord injuries. It involves injecting small doses of the toxin into affected muscles causing weakness, resulting in reduction of spasms. Repeated injections are necessary to maintain the benefits. When medications and other non-surgical treatments fail to diminish side effects of certain movement disorders, a surgical treatment called Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) can be performed in selected candidates. Your Treatment Team Serving as Co-Medical Directors of the Movement Disorders Program at South Coast Medical Center are neurologist Kenneth Martinez, M.D., and neurosurgeon Christopher Duma, M.D. As a neurologist, Ken Martinez, M.D. plays a vital role in the patient’s overall care, including diagnosis of the movement disorder and medication management. Dr. Martinez works closely with his associate Co-Medical Director of the Movement Disorders Program neurosurgeon Christopher Duma, M.D., as well as other specialists such as physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech pathologists, and registered dietitians to provide the most comprehensive and individualized treatment plan. Deep Brain Stimulation: Surgical Treatment of Parkinson’s and Other Movement Disorders When medications fail, there is another treatment option available to a select group of movement disorders patients. When appropriate, a type of neurosurgery called Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) can be performed to treat the condition. DBS is an FDA-approved neurosurgical procedure in which a device is implanted in the brain to control medically unresponsive tremors and other symptoms of Parkinson’s disease and Essential Tremor, the two most common movement disorders. According to SCMC’s Movement Disorders Program Co-Medical Director neurosurgeon Christopher Duma, M.D., who performs DBS surgery at South Coast, a wire is implanted in the area of the brain that controls movement. The wire is then threaded down the neck to a battery implanted in the chest wall, much like a pacemaker. The patient stays two or three nights in the hospital. The significant improvements patients get with the surgery appears to be long-lasting. Ninety percent of patients over a 10-year follow up will maintain the beneficial effect of their stimulation. For more information on DBS surgery, click here. More Information For more information on the Movement Disorders Program, contact Dr. Martinez or Dr. Duma:
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