Deep Brain Stimulation

[Joolsg]

Study from China on Parkinson's patients with RLS showed Deep Brain Stimulation reduced RLS & helped sleep.I certainly wouldn't consider it. Seems too extreme but if the Parkinson's patients are having the treatment to help tremor, it would be sensible to see if stimulation in another area relieves RLS.

mdpi.com/2076-3425/12/12/1645

[Kakally]

definitely interesting !

[Memmy]

Thanks for the info. Does this require surgery

[Joolsg in reply to Memmy]

Yes. They open up your skull while you're still awake but sedated. So definitely NOT for me.

[Memmy in reply to Joolsg]

Not for me either

[Madlegs1]

Probably extensively researched in certain provinces of the glorious People's Republic.🤔💀

[Joolsg in reply to Madlegs1]

Yup, my first thought!

[Graham3196 in reply to Madlegs1]

I don't think we should criticise someone else's science on political grounds. In Australia we get a never ending blast of anti asian propaganda that makes it hard to know what's happening.

Although only faintly political we should steer away from this type of comment in accordance with our forum rules. Kaarina

[Amrob in reply to Graham3196]

(Reply deleted as on review it didn't make sense. Amrob)

[Madlegs1 in reply to Graham3196]

I see no criticism? Perhaps a realistic scientific observation?

Did I mention Asia?

Although only faintly political we should steer away from this type of comment in accordance with our forum rules. Kaarina

[martino]

Hi Jools. I have followed the progress of DBS in the Dystonia world. Dystonia comes in varying forms but the first uses of dbs were with people with generalised Dystonia. I am not surprised that uses have moved into other areas. There were recognised concerns with a 4% mortality risk. I don’t think I would like to be a candidate but it is interesting

[Joolsg in reply to martino]

I understand those with severe Parkinson's tremors risking the procedure but as Dr. Buchfuhrer says, 97% of RLS patients can be treated successfully ( if they find a doctor as knowledgeable as Dr. B).

[pennygates]

OMG

[Amrob]

Thanks very much for sharing Jools.

The paper cites studies where DBS has reduced RLS and also studies where it has made it worse. This echoes my experience of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS). It would appear that in both DBS and TMS, some people may be better candidates than others OR that some protocols are superior to others OR protocols needs to be tailored to each individual OR ...................?

[discgolfrules]

oh thank you so much. I have PD and RLS. I will discuss this with my neurologist after I complete my Ropinorole ween down. Down from 4 mg to 3.25. with 900mg gabapentin, one at lunch, then two at night when I take my ropinorole. The invisible people that were screaming at me has now turned into sounded like neighbors arguing, which is so much better. But isolating in a room, especially near fans or machines is still no good. Just giving an update on progress for the board. Again thank you so much, because we are still kind of in the dark regarding the next step after ropinorole.

[ratfancy]

I have a VNS (vagus nerve stimulator) implant and it doesn't impact RLS. Works great for depression, though.

[Lespenney]

my dad has one for essential tremors.

I asked if it would be a benefit for rls but the doctor said it wouldn’t based on his knowledge it doesn’t work for rls.

[Joolsg in reply to Lespenney]

Yes, I would agree. I think there are several causes of RLS. Low brain iron seems to cause the majority of cases but there are others, like damage to the spinal cord.