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Doc says time for Deep Brain Stimulation

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Parkinson's Disease
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Posted 3/3/2010 11:10 AM (GMT 0)
  1. Hello All,

I am 37 and have had PD for 9 years now. So I guess I deffinately fall into the young onset catergory. On many meds. Sinemet,Sinemet SA,Mirapex,and Selegeline. I take these throughout the day to where I am taking meds every 2 hours. Just recently, past 3 months my symptoms just did a 360. My gait is slow,rigid shuffled,complete loss of arm swing and hunched over posture. I look like I'm 100 years old. This is so humiliating to me being 37 and recently retired from the Army. This army ranger that use to be able to do so much is now dependant on my wife and children.

My neurologist is in the process of getting the wheels turning on my DBS surgery. Already had an MRI and am meeting with the Medtronics Representative this Thursday. I do know that the surgeon that is doing the procedure is very seasoned and from what I am told had done more of the DBS surgeries than anyone around. But very nervoues about the procedure and will it help with my quality of life. I do not want to be bedridden when I'm 40 or 45. Anybody out there had this procedure and if so how was your experience.

God Bless,

RangerVictor

Posted 3/3/2010 10:24 PM (GMT 0)
When I was 45 I was diagnosed with early onset PD.  My medications also stopped working.  I ended up with a diagnoses of MSA, one of the atypical PD syndromes.  I do know several people personally that had DBS in their early 40's.  My current neurologist is also nationally recognized expert in DBS.  I went to him originally for a DBS evaluation.  He was kind enough to keep me as a patient, even though I am not a surgical candidate. Talk to lots of patients that have had this surgery.  Ask you MD if he has patients both surgical successes and nonsuccesses that you can talk to about their experiences.  It is a very big decision.  It many cases people move back into the world of being able to function with little or no meds.  I have also known others that did not tolerate the surgery.  One had a bleed on the table (small stroke) and another had poorly placed electrodes that were never able to be programmed correctly. I am all for medical technology.  I currently have 2 implants, a intrathecal medication pump and a neurostimulator.  They have totally changed my life.  They were the best thing I could do.  Obviously your surgery has so many pros and cons.....the one thing my friend did wish she had done was check out her surgeon more thoroughly.  As with everything, there is better, best, and great when it comes to surgeons.  She wished she had interviewed more surgical teams - even out of her state. Good luck.
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