(Parkinsons is so different in different people. I have over nine years never come across anyone with a condion like mine. For example, I know a guy who finds walking forward extremely difficult but he can run backwards faster than people without PD can run forwards. I started this post after responding to another post asking about DBS for people without tremor.. I am putting this up as a new post hoping there are others who have any related experience. )
Lower frequencies of DBS for people without significant or mild tremor.
What I call minimal or mild tremor Is being able, with a little concentration, to carry a tray of cups of tea upstairs in the morning without a spill, before taking medication. In my case the PD manifests in stiffness, dexterity, dragging left foot, and importantly, a feeling of mental atrophy. Which others claim not to notice.
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 on DBS frequencies, 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 with lower frequency allows me to raise the voltage without diskenesias and thus 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 had 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 I have a lot of stiffness, in spite of practicing Iyregar Yoga for 25 years plus. 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" as well as offering a healthy enjoyable life. i would say because they are demanding, they stimulate both the brain and the body.
Have you considered DBS? It is recommended for people with midstage PD who for whom meds are no longer working well! 
GOING INTO DBS SURGERY
On the fence over DBS
March 11, PTT & me; one month update
