Application of Thoracic Epidural Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS) for Managing Freezing of Gait (FOG) in Patients With Advanced Parkinson's Disease
Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) has proven to be effective for pain that is unresponsive to medication. This technique involves an anesthesiologist or a neurosurgeon placing stimulation electrodes at the thoracic vertebrae to provide pain relief. Although SCS is not currently a standard treatment for patients with Parkinson's disease, recent studies have shown that Parkinson's patients who experience intolerable pain and undergo SCS treatment not only experience pain relief but also show improvements in gait and other Parkinson's symptoms. Therefore, the investigators aim to use temporary, minimally invasive SCS electrodes to help patients with nrFOG (non-responsive Freezing of Gait) improve their stability and reduce their risk of falls.
• Age:40-85 years old.
• Patients with primary Parkinson\'s disease who have been diagnosed by a movement disorder specialist for more than 5 years. Although they have a clear response to drugs, they have a frozen gait that cannot be controlled by drugs. Lower limb pain may be present with or without Parkinson\'s non-motor symptoms.
• No other secondary gait problems.