Incredible before and after pictures show man with Parkinson’s making a cup of tea without tremors after new NHS treatment

DAMIEN Grath’s life has been transformed by an innovative new medicine to treat Parkinson’s.

Incredible pictures show the 52-year-old before and after Produodopa infusion therapy – and the difference is “huge”.

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“It’s been extraordinary and transformative,” he said.

“Shortly after undergoing the first treatment, I was able to make coffee more easily and go to the supermarket without throwing eggs in the aisles.”

Damien, from Derby, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s – a progressive neurological disease – 12 years ago.

It causes involuntary tremors, slow movements and muscle stiffness, as well as balance problems, reduced sense of smell and insomnia, according to the NHS.

Damien’s symptoms have steadily worsened over the past decade, making it increasingly difficult to carry out daily tasks.

He took four separate oral medications six times a day to control problematic involuntary movements.

But Damien was still in considerable pain at night, leaving him unable to sleep or even turn around as the medication wore off.

Last month he became one of the first people in the UK to undergo a new infusion therapy administered via a portable pump under the skin.

His wife Amanda filmed him before the treatment and just two days after, and the contrast is remarkable.

In the first clip, Damien experiences extreme shaking and spasms as he walks to the kitchen counter and pours water from a kettle into a mug.

But in the second, taken 48 hours later, he brews a cup of tea with virtually no tremors.

Damien has now been trained to administer Produodopa at home.

“The huge difference is that there are no fluctuations now,” he said.

“I’m also sleeping much better and the duvet doesn’t feel too heavy on my legs – I can turn around whenever I want.”

Speaking with the BBCDamien added: “I almost can’t believe it’s me in the video.

“For the past three years I have been shaking uncontrollably for two to three hours a day, every day.

“It’s early, but now I shake for five or 10 minutes a day.

“I can start thinking about going back to a normal life.”

Now we’re like any other couple having fun

Amanda Wife

Amanda said: “We always try to carry on doing normal everyday things, like going out to eat.

“But sometimes it was difficult to deal with the lack of understanding from those around him and that made me very protective of Damien.

“Now, we’re just like any other couple having fun.”

HOW THE DRUG WORKS

Produodopa is a combination of two medicines – foslevodopa and foscarbidopa.

It works by turning foslevodopa into the chemical dopamine, which helps transmit messages between the parts of the brain and nerves that control movement.

A small pump delivers a continuous dose of medication 24 hours a day from a syringe, meaning patients no longer experience the fluctuations common with oral medications, resulting in better symptom control.

Produodopa is recommended for patients with advanced Parkinson’s who have severe changes in their motor skills.

It is also available for people who do not get enough relief from conventional medications.

Damien has been in the care of Sherwood Forest Hospital (SFH), in Nottinghamshire, since 2016, which worked “tirelessly” to implement Produodopa as soon as it was approved for use by the NHS.

Nishantha Silva, consultant geriatrician and service lead for Parkinson’s and related movement disorders at SFH, said: “We are proud to be the first Trust in the East Midlands to offer this and we aim to build on this success by expanding access to Produodopa, ensuring that more patients can experience its benefits by providing our patients with the highest quality of care and the latest treatment options.

“The successful implementation of Produodopa at SFH heralds a new era in the treatment of advanced Parkinson’s disease.”