Having been bullied throughout school and unable to hold down a job because of the debilitating ticks and vocal noises, the sufferer is stuck in a downward spiral but a new brain operation is opening up a whole new world.
Jamie Furlonger is one man on a quest for a better life.
"It's a miracle for me to have this lifted off my shoulders," he said.
More stories from Today TonightAt 21, Jamie should be on the cusp of an exciting adult life, instead he is trapped in a body he cannot control.
"I have the vocal ticks," he said.
"I have the ticks in my arms, my neck, my legs."
Apart from the emotional distress, Tourette's causes physical exhaustion.
"It hurts my throat, I get a sore throat, it makes my muscles, my arms, my legs really sore, I've had to go on antibiotics because of the pain," he said.
"I get tired from it, it's like going to the gym all day."
A scientific breakthrough in another area is now being used, for the first time, on Tourette's.
Deep Brain Stimulation works by switching off the parts of the brain that cause movement disorders.
It is already successfully used on patients suffering from Parkinson's.
At Royal Melbourne Hospital after months of testing to ensure he is physically and psychologically fit for surgery, Jamie underwent the procedure.
Neurosurgeon Dr Richard Bittar from Precision Neurosurgery said it is like disrupting a train network of sorts.
"You can either put a rock on the track or you can interfere with the traffic signals or do something at a railway station to stop the train from getting through so what we're trying to do is stop the Tourette's train from getting through," he said.
Two electrodes are implanted deep in the parts of the brain that doctors think cause Tourette's.
The electrodes are connected by wires running down his neck and into his chest to a rechargeable battery placed just under his skin.
"It works by passing a very fine electrical current to specific areas of the brain," Dr Bittar said.
The battery that creates the electrical current that travels up the wires into the brain is almost robotic and just like a TV you can turn it on and off using a remote control.
"It's all very state of the art, artificial, it's cutting edge technology we're taking advantage of here," Dr Bittar said.
"We're putting all of that in the human body and using it to our best advantage."
Following the procedure, Jamie said he feels peaceful and his muscles are relaxed.
"My life's changed completely, I'll be able to go out, go to the movies, it's just a completely life-changing experience for me and my family," he said.
Contact details
Dr Richard Bittar
Precision Neurosurgery
(03) 9821 5718
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