Grandmother reclaims life with revolutionary Parkinson’s treatment

A 70-year-old grandmother has reclaimed her life after becoming one of the first in Australia to undergo revolutionary treatment for Parkinson’s disease, almost 20 years after she was diagnosed.

Carmen Carra with her husband Mike. Picture: Nigel Hallett

After a nearly 20-year battle with Parkinson’s disease, a northern NSW grandmother has revealed she has reclaimed her life with groundbreaking brain stimulation technology.

And she is one of the first in Australia to receive the latest version of deep brain stimulation technology (DBS), which could offer new hope to some of the thousands of patients struggling with the debilitating condition.

Carmen Carra, 70, said her husband knew something was wrong when he noticed her hands trembling on an overseas holiday.

A visit to her local GP back home quickly led to a referral to a neurologist, where the then 54-year-old was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.

“Before that time I didn’t know anything about Parkinson’s but the word … the neurologist … said ‘you’ve got Parkinson’s disease’ within ten minutes,” the Tweed Heads grandmother said.

“It was devastating, it was horrible, and I didn’t know what to do.”

For the past 16 years, Mrs Carra has been managing the disease with medication, but it only did so much to manage her pain, stiffness and tremors.

“I had more and more medication as my symptoms became worse. So eventually, my doctor Professor (Peter) Silburn said to me ‘I think it is time you think of DBS brain surgery’,” she said.

After a nearly 20-year battle with Parkinson’s disease, Carmen Carra says she has reclaimed her life. Picture: Nigel Hallett

DBS technology requires a surgical procedure to implant a device into sections of the brain. The device then sends small, controlled electrical signals into specific areas of the brain to help manage abnormal brain activity.

Three weeks ago, Mrs Carra underwent the surgery and became the first in the country and the Asia Pacific region to receive the latest generation of DBS.

She said the impact of the surgery was immediate, with her tremors, stiffness, and pain almost completely gone.

“I don’t feel like I have it, though I do still know that it is there and will still progress. But there are no symptoms whatsoever,” she said.

“I have gone from not being able to do buttons and put on jewellery, to being able to do it all and I am not in pain anymore.”

Mrs Carra said the decision to have the surgery was life-changing for the once independent grandmother, and had a positive flow-on effect for her husband, Mike Carra, her two children and six grandchildren.

Unlike older systems, the latest DBS device can be programmed, recharged and remotely adjusted over Wi-Fi and through an iPhone app, which Mr Carra said was “amazing technology”.

“We can be anywhere in the world and they can step in and help. They can remotely check Carmen and can alter the left hand side or the right hand side (of the brain) … it is just amazing,” he said.

Mrs Carra is excited to get back to doing things she loves, including planning a trip to Italy.

“I used to be able to handle the travel at the beginning but as it has gone on it just got harder and harder. We decided we weren’t going to do more travelling but now that I have had the operation I can,” she said.

“I just hope everybody (with Parkinson’s) can have the chance to have (DBS) too.” 

The results of DBS technology and procedures will vary between patients, and will not be suitable for all of those suffering from Parkinsons. Professional medical advice must be obtained to ensure the risks are discussed and the potential effectiveness of DBS devices.

Originally published as Grandmother reclaims life with revolutionary Parkinson’s treatment