But the Glen Innes Severn councilor knew the benefit was worth the risk.

And four months on the operation has proved such a success Col is now trying to convince others of the benefits of the new deep brain stimulation operation.

For the twelve years Col Price has known he has Parkinson's disease, he's been deteriorating slowly.

The degenerative disease has slowly eaten away at his ability to walk, at his quality of life - even at his confidence.

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"I remember 12 months ago at (a) Christmas tree thing, I remember making a bit of a goose of myself there because I was just frozen; couldn't do anything, couldn't move," he said.

"I was unable to move; I was freezing on the spot."

Finally, on August 8 the former wool grower and football coach subjected himself to having holes drilled in his skull and electrodes placed on his brain.

The deep brain stimulation procedure has had famous failures, including deaths - and, he said, only some successes.

It was a "daunting decision" he said - and a fairly terrifying process to go through.

The Westmead screwed a cage to both axis of his head for an operation set for "I think" the morning. A lot of his memory surrounding the operation has gone.

"It's a pretty testing operation, because you're awake for part of it.

"And (in hindsight) you're not sure what part you're awake for and what you imagined and what was anesthetic.

"I lost a day somewhere. Firstly they're manipulating your brain and then you've got the effects of anesthetic on it as well. There was a fair bit of confusion for a few days.

"I felt like I'd been there for three days."

Post-operation Col is wired up to electrodes attached to his brain, fed through wires through his skull and regulated by what looks like a pacemaker under his skin.

The holes leave little "horns" in his head: "It's just as well I'm not bald or they'd look a bit unusual," he laughs.

They release a trickle of electricity into the part of the brain affected by Parkinsons, suppressing the symptoms.

"It's been a phenomenal success. I've gone back 15 years to where I had no symptoms," he said.

The councilor explained that he still has Parkinson's - "you're always degenerating." But now he's slowly sinking from a much higher point and has the option of racking up the charge on the electrodes.

The councilor has the faith of the converted. He wants other Australians people living with Parkinson's know: this operation can work.

"I just don't have symptoms; all the symptoms of Parkinson's I used to deal with and were so concerning because they were accelerating - I don't have them now.

"It's a tough operation but if you can be as successful (as me) you'd undoubtedly do it."

He's gained 10 kilograms of weight, reduced his medication - and confidence is coming back. The operation has left him a different man.

"Everything I do I don't take anything for granted," he said.

"Things I used to struggle with - if I'm doing them easily now I don't take them for granted."

Over 100,000 Australians have Parkinson's disease, with 38 people diagnosed with the disorder every day. Just 2000 Australians have had the deep brain stimulation operation completed - but Col credits the Westmead hospital's Dr Mahant and Dr McMaster with his positive results.

The disease results from the loss of cells in various parts of the brain, which leaves nerves less able or unable to control movement and coordination. Symptoms like tremors and rigidity tend to gradually appear over years - but every patient's symptoms are unique.