Parkinson's Treatment: Woodcarver Regains Steady Hands
An Arizona artist underwent deep brain stimulation surgery after medication failed to control his tremors.
By Lina Lewis ·
Bill Daggett, an Arizona artist, recently underwent deep brain stimulation surgery to manage the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. The procedure allowed him to return to woodcarving, a craft he has practiced for decades.
Daggett first noticed the tremors while at an art show, where a doctor observed his shaking and recommended a medical evaluation. That evaluation resulted in a diagnosis of Parkinson's. The condition initially made daily tasks difficult. Daggett noted that he could barely eat because his hands shook too much to hold a fork properly. He also withdrew from social situations, fearing others would see his struggle.
Medication eventually proved insufficient to control the symptoms. Daggett then opted for deep brain stimulation, or DBS. This therapy involves sending electrical pulses to specific areas of the brain to interrupt the signals that cause tremors. Since the procedure, Daggett reports that his hands are now steady enough for his artistic work.
Sam Cradduck, a gerontologist and host of the program “Aging Untold,” described the technology as comparable to a pacemaker for the brain. Cradduck explained that just as a cardiac pacemaker helps a heart maintain rhythm, the DBS device helps the brain reset and send out electrical pulses. According to Cradduck, this process reduces tremors and can slow some side effects associated with the disease's progression.
Cradduck characterized DBS as a breakthrough for quality of life, particularly for individuals who have lived with the disease for years. He emphasized that while physical limitations are often discussed, the emotional impact of losing a creative outlet is frequently overlooked. Cradduck stated that the disease was robbing Daggett of a piece of his identity by taking away his ability to create art.
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Daggett now carves wood with steady hands, a change from the period when he struggled to hold a fork. The deep brain stimulation device continues to manage his tremors, allowing him to resume his creative practice.
