Deep Brain Stimulation For Stubborn Treatment Resistant Disorders

Deep brain stimulation is also popularly referred to as DBS. It is a surgical technique in which a device called the brain pacemaker is implanted in the brain. The brain pacemaker sends out signals to specific parts of the brain commanding them to respond to a situation in a specific way. These signals are pre programmed in the brain pacemaker. Approved by the FDA years ago, this technique has brought about great progress in helping put under control various treatment resistant disorders like tremor, dystonia, Parkinson disease and others. For all patients who have undergone this medical surgery procedure, it has proved beneficial to them. It is extensively used to ease depression and chronic pain. For general wellness, there is no doubt that DBS is a great leap for medicine.

Unlike lesions, which cannot be reversed, the DBS operation is indeed reversible. As such, it has a number of benefits but chief among them is that it is now used to ease the symptoms of severe depression and Parkinson’s to bring about general well feeling. In addition, the electrical stimulation is adjustable, unlike in other operations. As the patient responds to the DBS, adjustments in the electrical stimulation can be done. There will be no need for a repeat surgical operation.

In case the brain gets other infections, the DBS is not going to be a hindrance to other surgical operations. Since it is battery operated, it can simply be turned off. This is not the case, however, with other brain surgery procedures like pallidotomy, which is quite destructive. Of late, DBS is becoming a favorite for many people because it offers so many advantages. However, the benefits of this operation are not only mechanical because at the same time, there is a lot of good that will accrue. Once the patient starts to respond to treatment, there will be a lot of medical benefits for them to enjoy.

Among the people who benefit a lot from DBS are those who suffer from movement disorder. People under severe depression have also benefitted to some extent from this surgical procedure. However, how and why it is done differs from one individual to another, and this is left to the discretion of the experts. In most cases, people who have undergone a number of medications but their conditions remained stubborn are advised to try this one. In most cases, it will only be performed on people over whom the other types of medications concerning their condition have failed. The team of DBS experts will work in conjunction with the patient to set the stimulator’s operations within the parameters that give the maximum performance.

To date, the deep brain stimulation is hailed as the last resort for movement disorders under which the Parkinson’s disease falls. This disease had hitherto proved stubborn by responding and not responding to treatment. That means that sometimes medication could work resulting into more relaxed movement. Sometimes, medication could fail altogether resulting into stiff posture and pain. Note that even though it does not cure Parkinson’s disease, subliminal technology improves the quality of life a great deal.