Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim0918
Yes, I think its true that the DBS is only as good as your best on. For me the symptoms were the dyskinesia and the bradykinesia. I dont have any tremor. With the DBS I don't get the dyskinesia anywhere near what I had before. I was a train wreck prior to the DBS, it was a great help to me. I just can't believe that I still am taking so much medication to get through the day. I guess that it is what it is?? If you have a tremor I think your results will be dramatic! I take comtan 3x a day.
Jim
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]Yup, thats what they say, I know though I was asymptomatic for years after mine. I still do not take any PD meds on a regular basis. Balance is my main issue now.
MRI vs CT Scan
A MRI is definitely the preferred imaging technique to use. The problem is one of liability. Medtronic used to say that a MRI at 1.5 Tesla power or lower was ok. NOw they recommend NO MRI's. There are facilities that still do them. HEck, Dr Starr at UCSF uses a special MRI that gives realtime images to locate is leads. There is no definable problem using a MRI at 1.5 Tesla to do a head scan. It just everyone is afraid of being sued if anything does go wrong.
The median result for a DBS-STN is a 80% increase in "on " time and a 50% reduction in meds. I personally am always on (scary thought no??) and take no meds save one 25/100 every 3 weeks or so for jaw tremor. There is nothing that helps balance although there is an experiemental DBS that targets the PN (PPN?) that seems to give good results.
Charlie