Mom’s stiffness from running leads to Parkinson’s diagnosis

By Ben Barry

A mom of two who blamed her stiff leg on a running injury was diagnosed with Parkinson's - and has been fitted with a "pacemaker for the brain."

Jessica Krauser, 44, first spotted the tremor in 2017 while reading at church and speaking at work. She also developed stiffness in her leg but initially blamed it on training for a half marathon.

Over time, her symptoms worsened, making everyday tasks like typing and cooking difficult. She also began dragging one foot and experienced uncontrollable shaking in the cold.

After seeing a specialist, Jessica was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2019 at the age of 37.

She later underwent surgery to have a device implanted in her brain, a deep brain stimulation (DBS), also known as a "pacemaker for the brain" which helps control movement - and says her symptoms improved almost immediately.

Jessica, Co-founder of the non-profit Changing Parkinson’s and host of The Secret Life of Parkinson's Podcast, from Columbus, Ohio, said: “I feel like I can just be a mom again.

"I knew it was time for something else when I was at dinner with my family on vacation.

"I couldn't just sit in the chair and calmly eat my food. My body was all over the place.

“There are so many things you don’t know when you’re first diagnosed with Parkinson’s.

"For me, it was a lonely, hopeless feeling that was just as crippling as the disease can be itself. That’s why finding your community and support system is so important.

"Whether it’s a tip to manage symptoms or a new treatment, I’m always learning more from others about the disease. Just know you don’t have to face this alone."

Jessica says her first symptom presented as a hand tremor in 2017. She would only get it at certain times, including when she was presenting at work or reading at church.

She eventually brought it up to her primary care doctor, who recommended she see a neurologist if it got worse.

Jessica followed up on her gynaecologist's advice and eventually went to a movement disorder specialist. Based on her symptoms and brain imaging, the doctor officially diagnosed Jessica with Parkinson’s disease in 2019.

“My kids would always notice it and ask, ‘Are you nervous? Are you scared?’ But I wasn’t and thought it was just stress,” says Jessica.

“I didn’t connect shaking to neurology. I was also 35 at that point, and I was thinking why in the world would I need to see a neurologist?

“Many nights someone would have to rub my calf muscle because it felt like there was a tight knot that I just couldn’t get out."

With the average onset age of the disease being around 60 years old, Jessica says it was hard for her family and friends to accept the diagnosis.

According to the Parkinson’s Foundation, young-onset Parkinson’s affects about 4% of the 1 million people living with the condition in the United States. Additionally, the symptoms Jessica was struggling with the most weren’t obvious to others.

Jessica said: "My Parkinson's isn't always something people can see. For me, it was the rigidity, tightness and stiffness in my arms and legs.

"It was constant and something only I could feel. People tend to think of Parkinson's as just shaking, but it presents itself in many ways depending on the person."

After her diagnosis, Jessica launched a podcast to create a space for herself and others to share their experiences with Parkinson’s disease. It was through conversations on this platform she discovered more about DBS as well as the team at Cleveland Clinic.

Described as a pacemaker for the brain, DBS involves implanting a device to deliver electrical currents to specific parts of the brain that control movement. This stimulation helps to modulate the abnormal brain signals that cause Parkinson’s symptoms.

Cleveland Clinic neurosurgeon Richard Rammo, MD, said: "Most people with Parkinson’s see initial improvement from medications, but for patients like Jessica, some may go on to develop dyskinesia or notice symptom control becomes less consistent over time.

"When medications aren’t as effective, we can look at DBS as a potential treatment option."

Jessica first underwent testing to confirm the treatment would be effective for her. Once her care team determined she was a candidate, her first surgery was scheduled for July 2025.

Following her successful surgeries, Jessica’s DBS device was turned on.

She then had multiple programming sessions to get her stimulation perimeters just right.

Jessica said the biggest difference after her third programming session. Before, her legs felt like heavy weights while walking. With aDBS, she noticed that finally starting to ease.

“After the initial programming sessions, I was no longer feeling that constant tightness and tension that kept me up at night. I found myself just lying in bed in the morning because it felt so nice not to be stiff anymore,” Jessica said.

"Before deep brain stimulation, I was either feeling my symptoms or I was dyskinetic.

"Something was always going on, and I was constantly thinking about it.

"Now, my symptoms are so well controlled I wake up every morning and don’t have to think about Parkinson’s. I’m able to focus on other things, like my family and friends."