the gist of this article says "yes, DBS does help with dystonia" http://www.startribune.com/business/218666581.html

Thanks for posting! My husband just went to the Sacramento Kaiser's for his first appointment for DBS screening. He's had Parkinson's since about 1999 and he's 68 years old. He's been doing tai chi and I give him some herbal supplements-green tea, curcumin, omega 3 and magnesium along with his multi-vitamin. He just seems to have come to the end of his "okay" status and is looking for relief. His tremoring, dystonia, walking difficulties, etc., have just gotten really worse and he's in distress. His MDS said he looks like a "go" so he'll get the video taped on-off session, neuropsychological battery, team assessment and we're guessing surgery in January. The MDS told us that Kaiser's is the #2 DBS surgery center having done about 800 of them. He himself is from UCSF where they have a Parkinson's Research Center. UCSF puts on great workshops on Parkinson's!! Keep us posted on your journey. Christy

I had DBS for essential tremor last year. I am 52 and in good health. I was wondering something. Is it possible to have PTSD from that? I LOVE the outcome of the surgery by the way. I had to have it done twice because of violent reaction to sedation the first time, throwing up during surgery so they stopped. Three mos later I had surg again, but this time with NO sedation to put the head cage on and locals didn't work well. It was like a horror movie, AWFUL!!!! Anyway, I have little panic attacks when I think of it, heart pounding, fear. I want to run away and regret doing it. Thoughts come and go, maybe once a week. Life isn't changed by this, but it's mostly sad that this has to haunt me.

I had DBS last year for ET. I won't kid you, it was an awful surgery, scary, moving into the unknown, but totally worth it. Yes, few minor speech issues, but you do have control over it with the stimulator to some degree AND you can always just turn it off! I give myself credit for bravery and rescuing my quality of life! I was 50 when I had it. I wanted to be able to fix thanksgiving dinner, feed future grandchildren, hold a drink at a party. You can do it, be tough, be strong. I'm not on any meds!

I forgot to mention, I am no longer on PD MEDS!!

I too had dystonia, particularly in my feet and ankles, and head and neck. Gone.

I was walking with a cane, sometimes wheelchair bound. No more.

The DBS paired with excellent gait training was a miracle for me.....best!