Good Samaritan Hospital has a new breakthrough treatment for essential tremor

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) -- The Silicon Valley is known for pioneering technology, and now that same spirit of innovation is transforming patient care.

Good Samaritan Hospital is the first in the South Bay to offer treatment for essential tremor, bringing new hope to people who thought their uncontrollable shaking could never be reversed.

Dr. Fahd Khan, a board-certified neurosurgeon, biomedical engineer, and Chief of Staff at Good Samaritan Hospital in San Jose, talks about what essential tremor is and a new breakthrough treatment.

Patients with essential tremor, a movement disorder, can experience a shaking in the hands, the voice, or even the head.

The procedure is done in the MRI scan suite to take pictures for determining where the problem with the brain is, using soundwaves to penetrate into the skull, and treat that area of the brain. This resolves the tremor. The patient should be aware that a clean-shaven scalp is necessary for an accurate reading.

"Traditionally, the first line was medication, which is not really that effective, only 40% to 50% of cases, does medication help," stated Dr. Khan. The option is to do an open surgery with electrodes and hardware placed in the brain, which is not ideal either.

About the new breakthrough treatment, Dr. Khan says, "This is a great procedure, it's non invasive, there's no incisions being made and it's immediate in terms of the results."

Essential tremor runs in families, commonly, about 50% of cases, in adults. As a person ages, there is more of a chance of developing the condition.

Results are immediate, with patients going home the same day.

Good Samaritan Hospital in San Jose offers in a convenient setting, close to family and friends, close to home.

To learn more, visit their website.