Deep brain stimulation (DBS)
#1
Thu, 26/03/2015 - 20:50
Deep brain stimulation (DBS)
Hi everyone,
I have an appointment with a neurosurgeon in May to discuss DBS...I was wondering whether anyone has had it done? And how people have found it? I am having conflicting thoughts... really nerve wracking but also potentially a life changer for the future.
Thanks,
Claire
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Claire
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Hi Claire
yes a few of our members have had DBS, it works very well but there is no guarantee how well it will work or if it will work at all. This is what it says it is deep brain stimulation. A hole is drilled in the skull and electrodes are placed on an area at the base of the brain, so they have to go down thru the brain to get to it. When the electrodes are placed, your level of consciousness is raised so that the surgeon can ask you questions about what you can feel etc - don't worry nobody ever remembers that bit! Then under full anaesthetic the wires are placed and go from the base of the brain to the battery/stimulator unit placed under the skin of the front shoulder or in the abdominal cavity. the battery is charged by an external device and you also have a handheld device which can turn the level of stimulation up or down. A similar procedure is done for Parkinson's disease.
Hope that helps!
Val.