Parkinson's Disease Support Group
Parkinson's disease is a movement disorder often characterized by muscle rigidity, tremor, a slowing of physical movement, and in extreme cases, a loss of physical movement. The primary symptoms of Parkinsons are due to excessive muscle contraction, normally caused by the insufficient formation and action of dopamine, which is produced in the dopaminergic neurons of the...
Hi all, I go to my neurologist this thursday. The last two times I was there the casually brought up DBS surgery and how he thought I was a good candidate for it. I'm sure he will bring it up again this week. I have been doing a lot of reading about it. One of the articles was about how wonderful it is because it frees you from taking all the meds. Well the confusing thing to me is every person i talk to that has has it is still on meds, so what's the point. I do believe that if and when i get to a point that none of the meds work anymore that would be an option for me but as i understand it i will still be on meds right?
Thanks and hope you are all enjoying your weekend.
paula
Thanks and hope you are all enjoying your weekend.
paula
I BID YOU GREETINGS FROM DOWN UNDER.
I UNDERWENT DBS TO DEAL WITH DYSKINESIA, WHICH IS THE ABNORMAL MOVEMENTS OF LIMBS, NECK, HEAD AND THE TWISTING MOVEMENTS OF THE BODY ETC. THIS IS DYSKINESIA, WHICH IS NOT SHAKING OR TREMOURS, INDEED TREMOURS AND SHAKING SHOULD NOT BE CONFUSED WITH DYSKINESIA. THERE IS A CLEAR DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO.
DYSKINESIA IS CAUSED BY BEING OVER MEDICATED AND/OR BY THE PROLONGED USE OF DOPERMINE REPLACEMENTS. DYSKINESIA TYPICALLY SHOWS AFTER AROUND SEVEN YEARS OF THIS TYPE OF TREATMENT. NOT EVERYONE, THANK GOD, WILL DEVELOP DYSKINESIA.
ON TO MEDS, WHICH I AM ALWAYS RELUCTANT TO DISCUSS, HOWEVER AS I WILL NOT BE NAMING ANY, OR ANY DOSEAGE, IF FEEL IT SAFE TO EXPAIN, IN ANSWER TO YOUR QUERY.
DBS IS NOT A TOOL TO REDUCE THE INTAKE OF MEDS, RATHER IT FACILITATES THE INCREASE OF MEDS USED TO TREAT THE OTHER SYMPTOMS OF PARKINSON'S, BRADYKINESIA BEING ONE OF THEM AND BY FAR THE WORST.
BY FINE TUNING THE DBS STIMULATOR, THE ABNORMAL MOVEMENTS OF DYSKINESIA CAN BE CONTROLLED, ALLOWING AN INCREASE IN MEDS USED TO TREAT THE OTHER SYMPTOMS.
THE READING OF YOUR POST INDICATES THAT IT IS NOT CERTAIN THAT YOU ARE EXPERIENCING DYSKINESIA. IT SHOULD GO WITHOUT SAYING THAT THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND IDENTIFIED.
I NOTE YOUR MENTION OF A DECREASE IN MEDS AFTER UNDERGOING DBS. WELL LET ME TELL YOU THIS IS DEFINATELY NOT THE CASE, AS I HAVE EXPLAINED THE REASONS.
IN MY OWN CASE, MY MEDS HAVE BEEN INCREASED ACCORDINGLY, AS THE PROGRESSIVE NATURE OF PARKINSON'S TRIES TO DO IT'S WORST.
IF I MAY POINT OUT, IT IS WORTH KNOWING THAT IF YOU DO NOT REACT POSITIVELY, TO DOPERNMINE REPLACEMENTS, THEN DBS WILL BE OF NO USE TO YOU AS THIS TREATMENT WILL NEED TO BE INCREASED AS THE CONDITION PROGRESSES.
AMY POTENTIAL CANDIDATE FOR DBS IS TESTED FOR THIS BEFORE THE DECISION IS MADE TO OFFER DBS PROCEDURE.
DO FORGIVE ME, AS I HAVE MOVED OFF AND AWAY FROM MY USUAL POSITIVE VIEW OF THINGS, HOWEVER IF FEEL IT WOULD BE REMISS OF ME TO GIVE ANY FAULSE HOPE.
BACK ON THE POSITIVE TRACK NOW, I HAVE TO SAY THAT UNDERGOING DBS PROCEDURE HAS BENEFITTED ME IN NO SMALL WAY, I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO REGRETS ON THIS FRONT.
THERE YOU GO PAULA, CLEAR AS MUD, SAYS I. LOL.
MAYBE THIS HAS HELPED IN YOU UNDERSTANDING OF THE ISSUES PRESENTED, MAYBE IT HAS NOT.
DO LET ME KNOW OF ANY OUTCOMES FROM YOUR PENDING CONSULTATION.
MAINTAIN A WINNING POSITION.
.
The physical therapist I go to was the one that told me about the new clinical trials being done on ultrasound treatment vs DBS. He feels that invasive procedures carry too high of a risk of infection which is dangerous in the brain. At least this is also what I have read. It was so interesting talking with him, he really is very up on PD. I will eventually go the medicine route when I cannot endure the PD but am hoping the ultrasound clinical trials will be a success.
I believe there was someone on here that had the DBS done and did get get infection from it but I don't remember who it was. Maybe they will write in and talk about it.
Philip
One thing I know for sure I will never, ever get desparate enough to let someone drill in my head because there may not be anything in there when they get there........ha-ha just kidding !