brain pacemaker for pwp

[Stopfalling]

my name is Jude and I was diagnosed with PD about 16 years ago. 18 months ago I had DBS and the result was amazing. I had diskynesia badly enough for friends to say that I made them feel Seasick! Well, I woke from the anesthetic cured of it. It felt great to be still. The downside was a loss of balance which is not addressed by the DBS, unfortunately. So now I’d like more information about the pacemaker for Parkinson’s because I’m tired of falling over and breaking various bones.

[Markbit]

Balance is usually one of the symptoms addressed by the B1 therapy

[Juliegrace]

Did your balance get worse after DBS or just became more noticeable?

[eschneid in reply to Juliegrace]

My balance is terrible after 17 years and have that same DBS question-will the procedure make it worse .

[Juliegrace in reply to eschneid]

I’m going to have DBS this fall but have not met with the neurosurgeon yet. I had my neuropsych appointment today and am waiting on imaging. I plan to ask about the aDBS when I see him. Can the current probes be adapted? My neurologist said that DBS will not help with balance and gait issues, but I don’t recall her saying it would make them worse. I’m hoping to reduce my meds (c/l) because they are the cause of my balance problems.

[eschneid in reply to Juliegrace]

Hi Julie grace,

Wishing you all the best with your procedure. I think the electrode question is for the neurosurgeon. All the professionals I've heard from say meds can be cut to 50-60% of pre-DBS total.

Interesting point about balance worsening from the c/l increasing over time, Not sure I ever thought that way.

Where are you having it done?

[Juliegrace in reply to eschneid]

Evergreen Neuroscience Center in Kirkland, WA. A suburb of Seattle. Dr. Ryder Gwinn.

[Stopfalling in reply to eschneid]

I had no balance problems before the DBS and got vertigo shortly after the op. I must say the sensation of being inside a washing machine full of washing and me was most unpleasant. Unfortunately, DBS cannot address balance problems so I am reduced to using a walker all the time and falling down without warning a lot. But I am very glad to have no more dyskinesia. The operation went very well and I went home the next morning.