The Who, What, Where, When, and Why of Deep Brain Stimulation for Parkinson's Disease

Live from the #MDSCongress2017! Exciting interview with Eric Rhoden, PT from Neurology Solutions Movement Disorders Center about the Who, What, When, and Why of DBS for Parkinson's Disease. #Together4PD

[@StewartWachs]

These folks really know what they're talking about. I live in Japan, where I was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 2008. In 2014, age 63, I had bilateral DBS to the sub-thalamic nucleus (STN). What Eric describes as the "lesioning" effect, in which symptoms were substantially relieved just from the surgical implanting of leads in the brain, before any electrical stimulation was applied, is exactly my experience. After DBS I was able to gradually stop taking a dopamine agonist medication which had for two years been causing me severe side effects. In my case, the two DBS pulse generators and the wires were implanted two days after brain surgery under general anesthesia. Everything else Eric says is also true to my experience except 1) the big metal frame that is screwed into the head for guiding the surgeons was not so painful bc local anesthesia was used, and 2) No one I met in the DBS community "freaked out" during the brain surgery due to being awake. Yes, one is mildly sedated, but it's essential to understand that drilling occurs only on the skull, which is very well-numbed, and in the brain there is no drilling, only the guided insertion of the leads, and importantly there are NO PAIN RECEPTORS in the brain. Far from freaking out, patients with tremors who are awake help their doctor find the sweet spot and then experience the sublime moment when their thrumming, incessant tremor stops completely! It's indescribably wondrous.

[@greggeorge3638]

I had DBS about a year ago (for essential tremor--not Parkinson's). It's been a miracle! Gave me back my life. The awake surgery was indeed intense. I was awake as I ever was although I was intensely curious, I kept asking questions of the surgical team, but I had no fear and a minimum of pain. It did hurt when they screwed the halo to my head, however. I would do it again in a minute, though.

[@inthekitchenwithbubby7724]

My 2nd DBS for ET is tomorrow!

[@greggeorge3638]

@@inthekitchenwithbubby7724 Congratulations and break a leg!

[@Texastentialist-ls9kz]

I live in McKinney Texas. Do you have a physical therapist here that you’d recommend?

[@billglisson7982]

PT use a vibrating belt occasionally. What is that procedure.

[@raihansharif142]

What is fuctional altra sound? Where it is available?

[@billglisson7982]

What is the difference between DBS and spinal cord stimulators?

[@capalmr]

My husband had dibs surgery 6 months ago. He went from dry mouth to drooling non stop. He also still has difficulty getting up from a chair and in and out of the car. Are these programming issues?

[@billglisson7982]

Does the stimulator implant need adjustin by me from time to time? How does the SCS

[@ArvinTravels]

I had my DBS a year back, PT for parkinsons is overrated, walking and light weights is all that is needed, along with proper diet, sleep, and stress free life

[@taxidermy_12]

Is this person a neurologist or a neurosurgeon? Is he competent to perform this operation? Or do physical therapists just like to be smart?