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Jackie - Regarding pallidal stimulation: In a message dated 97-04-06 09:31:39 EDT, you write: > >Does anyone know if this procedure helps with the slowness of movement >(bradykinesia)? I saw a TV show and saw that it did help reduce the >tremor, but I can't remember if it helped the slowness. > > In the over-a-year period since Dick had his second pallidal stimulation, we have forgotten whether the docs told us it should help with bradykinesia or not. We remember being told the surgery was targeting dyskinesia and dystonia, and was not specifically targeting tremor. Dick found it helped his dystonia (he didn't have much, if any dyskinesia) and almost entirely eliminated his tremor, which was severe. However, his bradykinesia has definitely progressed over the past year, along with bradyphrenia. He also didn't see any improvement in freezing or balance, and he believes he is having more frequent problems in those areas. I'm going to contact one of the other pallidal stimulation recipients and see if he remembers what he was told about bradykinesia. If he remembers, I'll report back to the list. For those in the Kansas-Missouri area, the PD symposium coming up in Kansas City on April 24th features Dr. Steven Wilkinson, the neurosurgeon who performs the pallidotomies and pallidal stimulations as well as thalamotomies and thalamic stimulations at KU Med, who will speak about surgical treatments for PD. Sincerely, Margie Swindler cg for Dick, 52/15 [log in to unmask]