My lead placement was to stop tremors. other placements are possible. some
lucky people ae able to cut their meds in half. might be worth the trouble.
gwc
----- Original Message -----
From: "Sandy Fliegelman" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, September 09, 2003 8:25 AM
Subject: Re: New subscriber with question about DBS


> Thanks, George.  These are good things to know.   Her leg strength is
already
> borderline for walking and she does not have tremors but instead freezes
up.
> The sinemet has helped for a long time but now, of course, after using it
for a
> long time, she has terrible dykinisia.   Problems with balance were
actually
> some of the first symptoms she had before she was diagnosed.   So to hear
that
> your leg strength and balance are actually worse is discouraging but good
to
> know, nevertheless.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Sandy
>
> George Campbell wrote:
>
> > My bilateral DBS 16 months ago has controlled terrible tremors quite
well.
> > But my over all pain is worse. Also, my balance and leg strength are not
> > nearly as good as they were prior to DBS. There are several places where
the
> > electrodes can be placed, so  maybe she could get some relief. DBS is
not
> > perfect. There are side effects. The surgery is a big deal. Follow up
visits
> > to adjust the units  will likely take more time and money than planned.
All
> > total, DBS has been a lifegiver for me.
> >
> >  People tend to love their DR. but with emotion not reason. The
Neurologist
> > should do only motion disorders. The Surgeon should do ONLY halo
surgery.
> > She should have a dedicated halo surgery room, surgery staff, and follow
up
> > staff. KNOW the real  success rate. Some DR's do two are three halo
> > surgeries per failure, some two or three hundred per failure.
> > Be careful. The prestige and money surrounding DBS can be blinding to
some
> > DR's. They might be tempted to imply more than they can deliver.
> > GWC
> >
> > --- Original Message -----
> > From: "Sandy Fliegelman" <[log in to unmask]>
> > To: <[log in to unmask]>
> > Sent: Monday, September 08, 2003 2:32 PM
> > Subject: New subscriber with question about DBS
> >
> > > Hi, my name is Sandy.  I am a new subscriber to this listserv and I
have
> > > a sister, Pat, who has had Parkinson's for over 20 years now, since
she
> > > was in her early 30s.   She recently had a laminectamy to treat severe
> > > sciatica that was the apparent result of one or more herniated discs
in
> > > her lower back.   It's been several weeks since the surgery, she is in
a
> > > rehab center, and she is still having severe pain in her back with the
> > > pain just recently (in the last 3-4 days) recurring in her affected
> > > leg.  She is in so much pain right now that they are giving her what
> > > they say is the maximum amount of painkiller and she still can't
fathom
> > > sitting up or getting out of bed.  (She was walking a bit just last
> > > week.)   I did some research on the Internet over the weekend and
found
> > > several articles that indicated that pain can be caused by Parkinson's
> > > itself but that the mechanism by which it occurs are somewhat
> > > mysterious.  The articles also seem to indicate that the brain's
> > > interpretation of pain signals may also be altered.   The research
into
> > > pain led me into several articles on Deep Brain Stimulation.  Some of
> > > these articles indicate that DBS can help with the pain in addition to
> > > restoring a great deal of lost functionality.   My questions are as
> > > follows:  1) Does anyone have knowledge or experience of DBS and it's
> > > effects on pain, and 2) Can anyone give me advice as to how to find a
> > > good Doctor and/or hospital to perform this procedure?  (My sister and
I
> > > live near the city of Chicago in the state of Illinois in the USA).
> > >
> > > Thank you,
> > >
> > > Sandy
> > >
> > > ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> > > To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to:
> > mailto:[log in to unmask]
> > > In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn
> > >
> >
> > ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> > To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to:
mailto:[log in to unmask]
> > In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to:
mailto:[log in to unmask]
> In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn
>

----------------------------------------------------------------------
To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask]
In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn