What is Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)?

Category: Equipment

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Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a neurosurgical treatment which stimulates the brain with mild electrical signals. DBS is used to treat tremor and other motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. DBS has been applied to the thalamus, subthalamic nucleus and the pallidum areas of the brain.

Reported purpose & perceived effectiveness
Purpose Patients Patients with evaluations Perceived Effectiveness
Parkinson's Disease 213 61
Stiffness/Spasticity 16 6
Dyskinesia 11 5
Dystonia 6 2
Tremor(s) 6 3
Improve mobility 4 2
  • Major
  • Moderate
  • Slight
  • None
  • Can't tell
See all 163 patients currently using Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)

Side effects

Side effects as an overall problem

side_effects of Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)"

Severe
 3
Moderate
 13
Mild
 25
None
 36

Commonly reported side effects, conditions, and hospitalizations associated with Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)

Hospitalization 58
Balance problems 5
Weight gain 5
Depressed mood 4
Headaches 4
Speech problems 3
Show all 63 reported side effects

Dosages

Why Patients Stopped Using (multiple reasons could be selected)
Reason Patients
Not indicated 87
Did not seem to work 3
Side effects too severe 2
Doctor's advice 1
Other 1
Course of treatment ended 1
See all 91 patients who’ve stopped using Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)

Duration

How Long Current Patients Have Been Using Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)
Duration Patients
0-1 month 0
1-3 months 1
3-6 months 2
6 months-1 year 5
1-2 years 8
2 years or more 42
How Long Patients Used Before Stopping
Duration Patients
0-1 month 0
1-3 months 0
3-6 months 0
6 months-1 year 5
1-2 years 2
2 years or more 2
Adherence
Always
 68 88%
Usually
 4 5%
Sometimes
 2 3%
Never
 3 4%
Burden
Very
 3 4%
Somewhat
 13 17%
A little
 14 18%
Not at all
 47 61%
Cost
$200+
 10 25%
$100-199
 0 0%
$50-99
 0 0%
$25-49
 3 8%
< $25
 27 68%
Last updated:

20 patient evaluations for Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)

Sort by: Most recent
ozzieartist
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ozzieartist
Sex: M
Data Quality: 2 stars
On
Mouth/throat: mild
Arms: mild
Chest: mild
Legs: mild
I am: g
I have:
Parkinson's

See ozzieartist's full Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) history

Feb 25, 2014 (Started Dec 01, 2013)

  • Perceived effectiveness for Parkinson's Disease: Moderate
  • Side Effects: None
  • Adherence: Usually
  • Burden: Not at all
Dosage: 1 other Every Other Week
Advice & Tips: Ii ask my self the question "if you needed dbs as you know it , would you take it again" answer = yes
Cost: $200+ monthly
  • 0 helpful marks
stickyfingers
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stickyfingers
Sex: M
Data Quality: 2 stars
On
Mouth/throat: none
Arms: none
Chest: none
Legs: moderate
I am: g
I have:
Parkinson's

See stickyfingers's full Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) history

Sep 27, 2013 (Started Aug 26, 2013)

  • Perceived effectiveness for Parkinson's Disease: Moderate
  • Side Effects: None
  • Adherence: Always
  • Burden: Not at all
Dosage: 1 other Daily
Advice & Tips: Still balancing meds. I have about 3 hrs on time and 3 hrs off presently when meds wear off.
Cost: < $25 monthly
  • 0 helpful marks
Shakin
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Shakin
Sex: M
Data Quality: 2 stars
On
Mouth/throat: mild
Arms: mild
Chest: mild
Legs: mild
I am: vg
I have:
Parkinson's

See Shakin's full Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) history

Oct 27, 2012 (Started May 10, 2011)

  • Perceived effectiveness for Parkinson's Disease: Major
  • Side Effects: Moderate
  • Adherence: Always
  • Burden: Not at all
Dosage: One time
Advice & Tips: DO IT!!! Find an excellent Movement Disorder Specialist go through all the evaluation process and get the implants. It will change your life. Very little and mostly no shaking any more. I am completely off the medications (I insisted). I can now sleep again (that is the best benefit) although my body is still trying to catch up for all the nights that I only got 2~3 hours sleep.
  • 3 helpful marks
Last updated:
Showing 3 of 20 patient evaluations for Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)