Tremor & Parkinson's Surgery Explained with Dr. Wu

📌 Learn more about Dr. Chengyuan Wu: https://www.healthgrades.com/physician/dr-chengyuan-wu-3nsg5

Most Parkinson's regrets I hear about do not come from a bad surgery. They come from waiting too long to even ask the question. These five mistakes feel completely reasonable when you are making them, but they quietly cost people years of better function.

In this video, I'm going to walk through the five most common mistakes I see Parkinson's patients make, and explain what to do differently.

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS
0:00 5 Parkinson’s Mistakes I See Patients Regret Later
0:34 Thinking DBS is only a last resort
1:36 Waiting for medication to stop working completely
3:26 Assuming DBS only treats tremor
4:56 Letting fear decide the surgery question for you
6:49 What DBS surgery actually looks like today
7:46 Why exercise matters more than you think
8:21 How small decisions add up over years
9:03 What to ask instead of waiting

❓ QUESTIONS ANSWERED
Is DBS only for people whose medication has completely stopped working?
No. DBS is often most useful when medication still helps but the benefit becomes shorter or less predictable throughout the day. Waiting until medication stops working altogether can actually make DBS less effective for some symptoms.

Does deep brain stimulation only help with tremor?
No. DBS can also help stiffness, slowness of movement, and unpredictable off periods, especially if those symptoms improve noticeably when levodopa is working.

Is DBS surgery as risky as people assume?
Research shows most patients overestimate how invasive DBS is, and many fear being awake during surgery unnecessarily. Many centers, including this practice, perform the procedure entirely under general anesthesia with imaging and robotic guidance, and the complication rate is lower than most people expect.

📌 RESOURCES
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chengyuan-wu-53a38861
FB: https://www.facebook.com/NeurosurgWu
Publications: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41549765/
Patient reviews: https://www.healthgrades.com/physician/dr-chengyuan-wu-3nsg5

🔔 If this helped you understand your own tremor or someone else's, please subscribe. New videos break down surgical options like deep brain stimulation and focused ultrasound in plain language.

💬 Which of these five mistakes surprised you the most? Tell me in the comments, I read them all.

🎥 ABOUT DR. CHENGYUAN WU
Dr. Chengyuan Wu is a board certified neurosurgeon (American Board of Neurological Surgery) specializing in stereotactic and functional neurosurgery. He is a Fellow of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (FAANS) and the American Epilepsy Society (FAES), holds an MD and MSBmE, and is in his 11th year of practice. He has performed over 2,500 surgeries, including hundreds of deep brain stimulator implants for Parkinson's disease, essential tremor, epilepsy, and chronic pain, as well as incisionless MRI guided focused ultrasound. This channel is independent patient education, not affiliated with any hospital or device company, and offers no cure claims or brand endorsements.

#EssentialTremor #ParkinsonsDisease #DeepBrainStimulation #MovementDisorders #Neurosurgery

📌 Learn more about Dr. Chengyuan Wu: https://www.healthgrades.com/physician/dr-chengyuan-wu-3nsg5

Can you shower with a brain stimulator? Fly with it? What happens when the battery dies? These are the questions patients ask once the fear of surgery fades and daily life with DBS becomes real.

In this episode, I'm going to walk through exactly what living with a deep brain stimulator looks like day to day, from charging and airport security to MRIs and what to do if it suddenly stops working.

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS
0:00 Living With a Brain Stimulator: What Patients Need to Know
0:16 What the patient controller actually does
1:36 Rechargeable vs non rechargeable batteries
3:37 What happens when the battery finally dies
4:25 Showering, swimming, and exercise after healing
6:00 Airport security and metal detectors
7:04 What electronics can actually interfere with DBS
7:59 Getting an MRI with a DBS implant
9:34 When symptoms suddenly come back
12:39 Making DBS a routine, not a burden

❓ QUESTIONS ANSWERED

Can you shower or swim with a deep brain stimulator?
Yes. Once incisions are fully healed, most people with DBS can shower, swim, exercise, and live normally, since the goal of the device is to let patients do more, not less.

Can you get an MRI if you have a DBS implant?
Yes, in most cases. Many modern DBS systems are MRI conditional, meaning an MRI can be done safely as long as specific device and scanner requirements are followed.

What happens when the DBS battery runs out?
Symptoms that DBS was controlling can return quickly, but replacing the battery only requires a short outpatient procedure to swap the chest generator, not repeat brain surgery.

📌 RESOURCES
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chengyuan-wu-53a38861
FB: https://www.facebook.com/NeurosurgWu
Publications: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41549765/
Patient reviews: https://www.healthgrades.com/physician/dr-chengyuan-wu-3nsg5

🔔 If this helped you understand your own tremor or someone else's, please subscribe. New episodes break down surgical options like deep brain stimulation and focused ultrasound in plain language.

🎥 ABOUT DR. CHENGYUAN WU
Dr. Chengyuan Wu is a board certified neurosurgeon (American Board of Neurological Surgery) specializing in stereotactic and functional neurosurgery. He is a Fellow of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (FAANS) and the American Epilepsy Society (FAES), holds an MD and MSBmE, and is in his 11th year of practice. He has performed over 2,500 surgeries, including hundreds of deep brain stimulator implants for Parkinson's disease, essential tremor, epilepsy, and chronic pain, as well as incisionless MRI guided focused ultrasound. This channel is independent patient education, not affiliated with any hospital or device company, and offers no cure claims or brand endorsements.

#EssentialTremor #ParkinsonsDisease #DeepBrainStimulation #MovementDisorders #Neurosurgery

📌 Learn more about Dr. Chengyuan Wu: https://www.healthgrades.com/physician/dr-chengyuan-wu-3nsg5

Most people assume brain surgery is more dangerous than a knee replacement. The data says otherwise. As a neurosurgeon who performs deep brain stimulation regularly, I wanted to know if that fear actually holds up, so my team compared DBS against the most common elective surgeries in the country.

In this episode, I'm going to break down the real complication data behind DBS surgery and explain why it may be far safer than most people assume.

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS
0:00 Parkinson’s Brain Surgery Is Safer Than a Knee Replacement? Neurosurgeon Explains
1:02 Why we studied 2.85 million surgical patients
2:36 DBS complication rates versus knee and hip replacement
3:42 How DBS surgery has changed over the years
4:36 Asleep DBS with robotic guidance explained
5:45 Why fear keeps people from even considering DBS
7:17 When DBS should enter the conversation
9:06 The real risks of DBS surgery
9:38 Why complication rates vary so much between studies
14:13 What actually matters when weighing the risk

❓ QUESTIONS ANSWERED

Is deep brain stimulation surgery riskier than a knee or hip replacement? 
No. In a national study of over 2.85 million patients, DBS had a 30 day complication rate of 1.3 percent, while knee and hip replacements had three to five times higher complication rates.

Why do some studies report DBS complication rates as high as 17 percent? 
Those studies track patients for months or years and count a much wider range of issues, including hardware problems and delayed infections, while the 1.3 percent figure only reflects the first 30 days after surgery.

When should someone with Parkinson's consider DBS? 
It may be worth discussing when medication effects become shorter or less predictable, or when off time and medication side effects start taking up a large part of the day.

📌 RESOURCES
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chengyuan-wu-53a38861
FB: https://www.facebook.com/NeurosurgWu
Publications: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41549765/
Patient reviews: https://www.healthgrades.com/physician/dr-chengyuan-wu-3nsg5

🔔 If this helped you understand your own tremor or someone else's, please subscribe. New episodes break down surgical options like deep brain stimulation and focused ultrasound in plain language.

🎥 ABOUT DR. CHENGYUAN WU
Dr. Chengyuan Wu is a board certified neurosurgeon (American Board of Neurological Surgery) specializing in stereotactic and functional neurosurgery. He is a Fellow of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (FAANS) and the American Epilepsy Society (FAES), holds an MD and MSBmE, and is in his 11th year of practice. He has performed over 2,500 surgeries, including hundreds of deep brain stimulator implants for Parkinson's disease, essential tremor, epilepsy, and chronic pain, as well as incisionless MRI guided focused ultrasound. This channel is independent patient education, not affiliated with any hospital or device company, and offers no cure claims or brand endorsements.

#EssentialTremor #ParkinsonsDisease #DeepBrainStimulation #MovementDisorders #Neurosurgery

📌 Learn more about Dr. Chengyuan Wu: https://www.healthgrades.com/physician/dr-chengyuan-wu-3nsg5

If you have essential tremor or tremor from Parkinson's disease, you have probably heard about two very different procedures, deep brain stimulation and focused ultrasound. One uses an adjustable implant. The other creates a permanent lesion with no incision at all. Both can work, but they are not interchangeable.

In this episode, I'm going to compare DBS and focused ultrasound side by side, covering how each one works, who they help most, and how to think through the tradeoffs before choosing one.

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS
0:00 Neurosurgeon Answers: DBS or Focused Ultrasound for Tremor?
0:57 When to move beyond medication
2:20 How each procedure actually works
3:37 Adjustable device vs permanent lesion
5:41 Which symptoms each treatment targets
7:23 Treating one side vs both sides
9:22 What surgery day looks like for each
11:04 How fast you see results
14:20 Comparing the real risk profiles
17:03 Which patients fit each treatment best

❓ QUESTIONS ANSWERED

What is the difference between DBS and focused ultrasound for tremor?
DBS implants adjustable electrodes connected to a battery, allowing ongoing programming changes over time. Focused ultrasound uses MRI guided sound waves to permanently heat and treat the same brain target with no implant and no incision.

Is focused ultrasound safer than DBS?
Not necessarily. DBS carries surgical risks like bleeding and infection but stimulation related side effects can often be reversed by reprogramming, while focused ultrasound avoids surgery but creates a permanent lesion whose side effects cannot be adjusted away.

Can focused ultrasound treat both sides of the body at once?
No, focused ultrasound treats one side per session and a second side must wait at least nine months, while DBS can often treat both sides during the same operation.

📌 RESOURCES
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chengyuan-wu-53a38861
FB: https://www.facebook.com/NeurosurgWu
Publications: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41549765/
Patient reviews: https://www.healthgrades.com/physician/dr-chengyuan-wu-3nsg5

🔔 If this helped you understand your own tremor or someone else's, please subscribe. New episodes break down surgical options like deep brain stimulation and focused ultrasound in plain language.

🎥 ABOUT DR. CHENGYUAN WU
Dr. Chengyuan Wu is a board certified neurosurgeon (American Board of Neurological Surgery) specializing in stereotactic and functional neurosurgery. He is a Fellow of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (FAANS) and the American Epilepsy Society (FAES), holds an MD and MSBmE, and is in his 11th year of practice. He has performed over 2,500 surgeries, including hundreds of deep brain stimulator implants for Parkinson's disease, essential tremor, epilepsy, and chronic pain, as well as incisionless MRI guided focused ultrasound. This channel is independent patient education, not affiliated with any hospital or device company, and offers no cure claims or brand endorsements.

#EssentialTremor #ParkinsonsDisease #DeepBrainStimulation #MovementDisorders #Neurosurgery

📌 Learn more about Dr. Chengyuan Wu: https://www.healthgrades.com/physician/dr-chengyuan-wu-3nsg5

Imagine a tremor that makes it hard to write, drink from a glass, or use a fork could be reduced in a matter of hours. No incision, no drilling into the skull, no implanted device. That is what focused ultrasound is designed to do.

In this episode, I'm going to explain how focused ultrasound works, who it may help, what patients should expect during and after treatment, and what the major risks and limitations are.

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS
0:00 This Tremor Treatment Sounds Impossible (But It’s Already Here)
0:32 What is focused ultrasound
1:22 The old surgical technique behind the technology
2:26 Who is a good candidate
5:39 How the ultrasound targets the brain
7:01 What the patient experiences
9:51 How fast tremor improves and how long it lasts
12:34 Treating one side of the brain at a time
14:25 Recovery after the procedure
17:14 Risks and permanent side effects

❓ QUESTIONS ANSWERED

Q: How quickly does focused ultrasound reduce tremor?
A: The improvement can be visible during the procedure itself, often within hours. Many patients see continued improvement with each treatment step as it progresses.

Q: Is focused ultrasound treatment permanent?
A: Yes. It creates a small, permanent lesion in the brain, so the treatment cannot be reprogrammed or reversed like a device.

Q: Can focused ultrasound treat both hands at once?
A: No. It only treats one side of the brain per session, and the second side must wait at least nine months if it is done at all.

📌 RESOURCES
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chengyuan-wu-53a38861
FB: https://www.facebook.com/NeurosurgWu
Publications: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41549765/
Patient reviews: https://www.healthgrades.com/physician/dr-chengyuan-wu-3nsg5

🔔 If this helped you understand your own tremor or someone else's, please subscribe. New episodes break down surgical options like deep brain stimulation and focused ultrasound in plain language.

🎥 ABOUT DR. CHENGYUAN WU
Dr. Chengyuan Wu is a board certified neurosurgeon (American Board of Neurological Surgery) specializing in stereotactic and functional neurosurgery. He is a Fellow of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (FAANS) and the American Epilepsy Society (FAES), holds an MD and MSBmE, and is in his 11th year of practice. He has performed over 2,500 surgeries, including hundreds of deep brain stimulator implants for Parkinson's disease, essential tremor, epilepsy, and chronic pain, as well as incisionless MRI guided focused ultrasound. This channel is independent patient education, not affiliated with any hospital or device company, and offers no cure claims or brand endorsements.

#EssentialTremor #ParkinsonsDisease #DeepBrainStimulation #MovementDisorders #Neurosurgery

📌 Learn more about Dr. Chengyuan Wu: https://www.healthgrades.com/physician/dr-chengyuan-wu-3nsg5

DBS surgery is done in one day, but recovery is a process that unfolds over months. Most patients go home the next day, and that surprises almost everyone. Here is exactly what to expect from the first night through the programming visits that make the device actually work.

In this episode, I'm going to walk you through the first night after DBS surgery, incision care, activity restrictions, the honeymoon effect, and what happens during device programming.

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS
0:00 After DBS Surgery: What to Expect During Recovery
0:31 The first night after surgery
1:22 Why you go home the next day
1:35 Managing soreness and pain
2:47 Swelling and fatigue explained
3:32 How to clean your incisions properly
7:16 Activity and lifting restrictions
9:43 Feeling the hardware under your skin
11:07 Why the device stays off for a month
15:10 The honeymoon effect and warning signs to call your surgeon

❓ QUESTIONS ANSWERED

How long does it take to recover from DBS surgery?
Most patients return to normal activities within two weeks and are back to nearly everything by one month. Full symptom control from programming typically takes three to six months to optimize.

Why is the DBS device left off after surgery?
The system usually stays off for about four weeks so the brain can heal and the electrodes can settle before programming begins. Turning it on right away would interfere with getting an accurate starting point for treatment.

What is the honeymoon effect after DBS surgery?
Some patients notice temporary symptom improvement right after surgery even though the device is off, caused by the electrode placement itself. This effect usually fades within days to weeks, before real programming starts.

📌 RESOURCES
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chengyuan-wu-53a38861
FB: https://www.facebook.com/NeurosurgWu
Publications: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41549765/
Patient reviews: https://www.healthgrades.com/physician/dr-chengyuan-wu-3nsg5

🔔 If this helped you understand your own tremor or someone else's, please subscribe. New episodes break down surgical options like deep brain stimulation and focused ultrasound in plain language.

🎥 ABOUT DR. CHENGYUAN WU
Dr. Chengyuan Wu is a board certified neurosurgeon (American Board of Neurological Surgery) specializing in stereotactic and functional neurosurgery. He is a Fellow of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (FAANS) and the American Epilepsy Society (FAES), holds an MD and MSBmE, and is in his 11th year of practice. He has performed over 2,500 surgeries, including hundreds of deep brain stimulator implants for Parkinson's disease, essential tremor, epilepsy, and chronic pain, as well as incisionless MRI guided focused ultrasound. This channel is independent patient education, not affiliated with any hospital or device company, and offers no cure claims or brand endorsements.

#EssentialTremor #ParkinsonsDisease #DeepBrainStimulation #MovementDisorders #Neurosurgery

📌 Learn more about Dr. Chengyuan Wu: https://www.healthgrades.com/physician/dr-chengyuan-wu-3nsg5

Getting ready for DBS surgery can feel overwhelming. Which appointments matter? What testing do you need? Which medications should you stop, and when? Most patients want clear answers before surgery day, not vague reassurance.

In this episode, I'm going to walk you through the exact preparation process I use with my own patients, from pre admission testing through the morning you arrive at the hospital.

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS
0:00 The Most Important Things to Do Before DBS Surgery
0:39 Pre admission testing explained
1:20 Medication list you must bring
2:04 Why neuropsychological testing is required
3:03 The special MRI for DBS planning
4:27 Parkinson's medications before surgery
5:03 Blood thinners and surgery risk
5:53 GLP-1 medications and anesthesia risk
8:38 Skin prep and infection prevention
9:33 What to expect the night before and morning of surgery

❓ QUESTIONS ANSWERED

Do I need to stop my Parkinson's medications before DBS surgery?
No. Most patients continue taking their Parkinson's medications right up through the morning of surgery, including with a small sip of water on surgery day. This is different from older protocols and helps avoid unnecessary worsening of symptoms before the procedure.

Why do I need neuropsychological testing before DBS surgery?
This testing checks memory, mood, attention, and judgment to create a baseline and identify risks before surgery. Parkinson's disease can affect thinking and mood, not just movement, so this evaluation helps the surgical team choose the safest approach or determine if surgery is not the right next step.

Do I need to stop blood thinners or GLP-1 medications before DBS surgery?
Yes, blood thinners like aspirin, Plavix, and Eliquis are typically held because they increase bleeding risk during surgery. GLP-1 medications such as Ozempic or Wegovy also need to be held before anesthesia because they slow stomach emptying and can increase the risk of aspiration.

📌 RESOURCES
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chengyuan-wu-53a38861
FB: https://www.facebook.com/NeurosurgWu
Publications: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41549765/
Patient reviews: https://www.healthgrades.com/physician/dr-chengyuan-wu-3nsg5

🔔 If this helped you understand your own tremor or someone else's, please subscribe. New episodes break down surgical options like deep brain stimulation and focused ultrasound in plain language.

🎥 ABOUT DR. CHENGYUAN WU
Dr. Chengyuan Wu is a board certified neurosurgeon (American Board of Neurological Surgery) specializing in stereotactic and functional neurosurgery. He is a Fellow of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (FAANS) and the American Epilepsy Society (FAES), holds an MD and MSBmE, and is in his 11th year of practice. He has performed over 2,500 surgeries, including hundreds of deep brain stimulator implants for Parkinson's disease, essential tremor, epilepsy, and chronic pain, as well as incisionless MRI guided focused ultrasound. This channel is independent patient education, not affiliated with any hospital or device company, and offers no cure claims or brand endorsements.

#EssentialTremor #ParkinsonsDisease #DeepBrainStimulation #MovementDisorders #Neurosurgery

📌 Learn more about Dr. Chengyuan Wu: https://www.healthgrades.com/physician/dr-chengyuan-wu-3nsg5

Most people picture DBS surgery as hours awake on the operating table with a fully shaved head. That image is outdated. Today many patients sleep through the entire procedure and keep taking their Parkinson's medication right up to the morning of surgery.

In this episode, I'm going to explain how asleep, image guided DBS surgery works, what actually happens during the operation, and how the real risks and recovery compare to the outdated picture most people still have in their heads.

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS
0:00 BREAKTHROUGH: Parkinson's Brain Surgery Isn’t What It Used To Be
1:31 How traditional awake DBS worked
3:04 What changed with asleep DBS
4:19 How we verify electrode placement without you awake
7:01 The real risks of DBS surgery
9:00 DBS risk compared to hip and knee replacement
10:00 Why people still picture weeks in the hospital
11:05 What the scars and shaving actually look like
12:30 Who is actually a good candidate for DBS

❓ QUESTIONS ANSWERED
Do you have to be awake for DBS surgery?
No. Many centers, including ours, now perform DBS under full general anesthesia using pre-planned imaging and real time CT verification instead of waking the patient for testing.

Is DBS surgery riskier than other operations?
The overall short term complication rate for DBS is generally lower than hip or knee replacement and closer to the risk of a tonsillectomy or appendectomy.

Will your whole head be shaved for DBS?
No. Most centers only shave a small area around each incision, and the incisions themselves are usually just one to two inches long.

📌 RESOURCES
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chengyuan-wu-53a38861
FB: https://www.facebook.com/NeurosurgWu
Publications: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41549765/
Patient reviews: https://www.healthgrades.com/physician/dr-chengyuan-wu-3nsg5

🔔 If this helped you understand your own tremor or someone else's, please subscribe. New episodes break down surgical options like deep brain stimulation and focused ultrasound in plain language.

🎥 ABOUT DR. CHENGYUAN WU
Dr. Chengyuan Wu is a board certified neurosurgeon (American Board of Neurological Surgery) specializing in stereotactic and functional neurosurgery. He is a Fellow of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (FAANS) and the American Epilepsy Society (FAES), holds an MD and MSBmE, and is in his 11th year of practice. He has performed over 2,500 surgeries, including hundreds of deep brain stimulator implants for Parkinson's disease, essential tremor, epilepsy, and chronic pain, as well as incisionless MRI guided focused ultrasound. This channel is independent patient education, not affiliated with any hospital or device company, and offers no cure claims or brand endorsements.

#EssentialTremor #ParkinsonsDisease #DeepBrainStimulation #MovementDisorders #Neurosurgery

📌 https://www.healthgrades.com/physician/dr-chengyuan-wu-3nsg5

Most people think Parkinson's surgery is a last resort, something you only consider when nothing else works. That is not true. The real signal has nothing to do with your age or how long you have had the disease. It has to do with patterns you can actually track day to day.

In this episode, I'm going to explain the actual patterns that signal it's time to talk about surgery for Parkinson's disease, including deep brain stimulation.

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 
0:00 Parkinson’s Neurosurgeon: This ONE Sign Means It’s Time to Discuss Brain Surgery
0:56 How Parkinson's medication actually works in the brain 
3:04 The bathtub analogy for dopamine and medication 
5:24 Medication off state and motor fluctuations explained 
6:40 Dyskinesia and the medication roller coaster 
7:53 What deep brain stimulation actually does 
9:30 Why only 10 percent of eligible patients hear about DBS 
10:29 The levodopa challenge and DBS candidacy testing 
14:00 Why people delay the surgery conversation 
16:20 Take home signs it's time to ask about DBS

❓ QUESTIONS ANSWERED 

What are the signs that it might be time to consider Parkinson's surgery? 
Signs include needing medication every four hours or more often, waking at night to take doses, unpredictable off periods, and dyskinesia that is hard to control despite medication adjustments. These patterns matter more than age or how long someone has had the disease.

Does deep brain stimulation cure Parkinson's disease? 
No. Deep brain stimulation does not cure Parkinson's or stop it from progressing, but it can smooth out motor fluctuations and give patients more predictable, functional hours each day.

How do doctors decide if someone is a good candidate for DBS? 
Doctors typically look at how well symptoms respond to levodopa, often through a levodopa challenge, along with balance, memory, mood, and overall health, since a strong medication response usually predicts a strong DBS response.

📌 RESOURCES
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chengyuan-wu-53a38861 
FB: https://www.facebook.com/NeurosurgWu 
Publications: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41549765/ 
Patient reviews: https://www.healthgrades.com/physician/dr-chengyuan-wu-3nsg5

🔔 If this helped you understand your own tremor or someone else's, please subscribe. New episodes break down surgical options like deep brain stimulation and focused ultrasound in plain language.

🎥 ABOUT DR. CHENGYUAN WU 
Dr. Chengyuan Wu is a board certified neurosurgeon (American Board of Neurological Surgery) specializing in stereotactic and functional neurosurgery. He is a Fellow of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (FAANS) and the American Epilepsy Society (FAES), holds an MD and MSBmE, and is in his 11th year of practice. He has performed over 2,500 surgeries, including hundreds of deep brain stimulator implants for Parkinson's disease, essential tremor, epilepsy, and chronic pain, as well as incisionless MRI guided focused ultrasound. This channel is independent patient education, not affiliated with any hospital or device company, and offers no cure claims or brand endorsements.

#EssentialTremor #ParkinsonsDisease #DeepBrainStimulation #MovementDisorders #Neurosurgery

🔗 https://www.healthgrades.com/physician/dr-chengyuan-wu-3nsg5

You just got diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and your head is probably spinning. What happens next? Will it get worse? What should you actually do first? These are the questions I hear most from patients, and I want to answer them clearly.

In this episode, I'm going to share the three things I wish every newly diagnosed Parkinson's patient understood, based on what I've seen work best for patients over years of treating this disease.

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 
0:00 Just Diagnosed With Parkinson's? Do This First
0:41 Why exercise may slow Parkinson's progression 
1:53 What kind of exercise is safest for Parkinson's 
3:00 How Parkinson's medication actually works 
4:07 The bathtub analogy for dopamine levels 
7:33 Why symptoms become less predictable over time 
8:11 Should you adjust your own medication doses 
9:00 Don't be afraid to start levodopa 
10:31 When you might see a neurosurgeon 
11:56 The three things to remember after diagnosis

❓ QUESTIONS ANSWERED 

What should I do first after being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease? 
Focus on three things: consistent exercise, understanding how your medication works with your neurologist, and tracking how your symptoms change over time rather than just how you feel on a given day. 

Does exercise actually slow Parkinson's disease progression? 
Yes, current evidence suggests regular exercise may slow the progression of Parkinson's disease, not just improve symptoms. 

Should I be afraid to start levodopa for Parkinson's? 
No, levodopa does not damage your brain. It simply replaces dopamine your brain is no longer producing enough of, and starting it early does not cause harm.

WATCH NEXT: Essential Tremor Or Parkinson's: Here's How To Tell The Difference → https://youtu.be/q_KA4keJvo4

📱 RESOURCES 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/chengyuan-wu-53a38861 
https://www.facebook.com/NeurosurgWu 
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41549765/ Patient reviews: 
https://www.healthgrades.com/physician/dr-chengyuan-wu-3nsg5

🔔 If this helped you understand your own tremor or someone else's, please subscribe.

💬 If you were recently diagnosed, tell me in the comments what question you wish someone had answered for you on day one.

ABOUT DR. CHENGYUAN WU:
Board certified neurosurgeon (American Board of Neurological Surgery) specializing in stereotactic and functional neurosurgery. Fellow of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (FAANS) and the American Epilepsy Society (FAES), MD and MSBmE, 11th year of practice. Performed over 2,500 surgeries, including hundreds of deep brain stimulator implants for Parkinson's disease, essential tremor, epilepsy, and chronic pain. This channel is independent patient education, not affiliated with any hospital or device company.

#ParkinsonsDisease #EssentialTremor #DeepBrainStimulation #MovementDisorders #Neurosurgery