When Dr. William Wiener, former Chief of Neurology, returned to MetroWest Medical Center as a patient, it was his former colleague, neurosurgeon Dr. Krishna Nirmel, who performed the life-changing brain surgery that significantly improved his quality of life.
Dr. Wiener was recently diagnosed with Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH), a little-known but treatable neurological condition often mistaken for untreatable dementia.
When admitted, Dr. Wiener was unable to walk or stand and experienced confusion and urinary incontinence. “Before surgery, I couldn’t maintain the upright position, my legs would buckle at the knee,” he recalled.
After surgery, in which a shunt was placed in his brain to drain excess cerebrospinal fluid—alleviating pressure and restoring neurological function—he is now walking again and no longer struggles with incontinence or confusion.
“My bladder control came back within a day,” said Dr. Wiener. “My walking is limited, but if I use a walker, I can walk short distances, and gradually my legs are getting stronger.”
Dr. Nirmel, who considers Dr. Wiener a mentor, explained that the three main symptoms of NPH are magnetic abnormal gait, short-term memory difficulty or confusion, and urinary incontinence.
He hopes to raise awareness that NPH is a treatable condition of dementia. “Oftentimes, people are labeled as old or elderly when they lose their memory and have difficulty walking”, he said. “Urinary incontinence is often hidden…and accepted as normal.”
The condition gained significant national awareness in May when musician Billy Joel publicly shared his diagnosis of NPH.
Dr. Wiener’s recovery brings that awareness closer to home, showing that even at 93, effective treatment is possible.
Reflecting on his return to MetroWest Medical Center for surgery, where he devoted 48 years to caring for patients, Dr. Wiener said, “I’ve been affiliated with MetroWest for so many decades, it’s like a second home.”
Explore the full range of surgical care available at MWMC here: General Surgery at MetroWest Medical Center
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