DBS

[michaela13]

What does dbs improve if you don't have a tremor?

[etterus]

I have non tremor PD. I underwent DBS 13 months ago. The improvements with dystonia in my feet, bradykinesia and balance/gait disorder are approximately 80%. I still need c-ldopa and klonazapam. I wish I had it done a year or 2 earlier.

[etterus in reply to etterus]

Also, I have much less dyskinesias!

[Stve]

Lower frequencies of DBS for people without significant or mild tremor.

This is an initial observation. I would be very interested in anyone else who has similar experience in any respect. When I say minimal or mild tremor I mean being able, with an effort to of concentration, to carry a tray of cups of tea upstairs in the morning without a sill, before taking medication.

This is anecdotal. I had my DBS a year ago. I was diagnosed with PD in 2007, coming up to 9 years ago, I am now 67. Recently, just a few weeks ago, following my participation in an experiment I asked for the DBS pulse rate to be dropped from the normal 130 to 80 pulses per minute. This lower frequency seems to be good for people with minimal tremor. The DBS definitely works for me much better. When I was on 130 I Had to keep the DBS volts very low or I got terrible diskenesias. I never had them before. After reducing the frequency to 80, I was able to up the DBS on my weaker left side (right brain) from 1.75 to 2.4 and have no diskenesias.

I still take medication but significantly less and I may drop down again, see how it goes. It has been tough though, the op seemed to affect my memory, my speech. But the brain is healing and although I am having trouble, I am getting better. The brain as Doige says is healing itself. I am still trying to get my meds sorted.

i may have minimal tremor, but a lot of stiffness, i can't use my left side , leg drags, haand pretty useless at holding or typing. Even right hand can't write much.Prior to getting diagnosed I was heavily into physical stuff and was reasonably Fit. I continue to practice yoga, skiing, climbing, walking (fast is good, like john pepper says), and cycling. These things are all part of the "treatment" and seem to help as well as be enjoyable because they are demanding, they stimulate both the brain and the body.

[michaela13 in reply to Stve]

Thanks for the info