Deep Brain Stimulation

Your nervous system (which includes your brain and spinal cord) allows you to feel, communicate and move around. But in some instances, your nervous system may become impaired through injury, infection or from medication side effects. Severe impairment can lead to movement disorders that cause uncontrolled physical movement or tics. Medication can be helpful, but sometimes, it’s not enough.

Deep brain stimulation is a surgical procedure that helps you regain movement control with advanced technology carefully implanted under your skin near your chest that speaks to your brain. In this procedure, your surgeon will gently enter your skull and insert electrical conductors called electrodes that send impulses throughout your body. These impulses impact your abnormal nerves and help how you move.

The pacemaker-like device implanted near your chest controls the electrodes and is programmed by your surgeon. Deep brain stimulation has proven so effective that many people who undergo the procedure to correct their movement no longer need daily medication.

This is a highly effective and advanced procedure that involves an expertly trained group of providers across many specialties. Your care team will consist of a neurologist, neurosurgeon, physical therapist, speech-language pathologist and a social worker who can help tend to your unique needs.

Deep brain stimulation is helpful in treating a variety of movement disorders, like:

Dystonia

This is a condition that makes your muscles contract, twist or repeat movements throughout your body, often affecting your neck or hand control. Dystonia can be mistaken for a seizure, but there is no loss of consciousness. Deep brain stimulation isn’t always a quick fix for people with dystonia. Some do not see a response until a year after surgery.

Essential Tremor

Essential tremor is usually a result of a genetic mutation. It happens when your nervous system no longer has proper control of your body, causing you to shake. Essential tremor can affect your head or voice but most often affects your hands.

Parkinson’s Disease

This is a condition that can cause shakiness or stiffness, among other symptoms. Over time, this disease tends to become more severe, and can advance into difficulty with walking and speaking.

If you have Parkinson’s, deep brain stimulation can help with movement control and speed. However, it does not fix non-movement-related Parkinson’s symptoms, like mood, memory and trouble sleeping.

In addition to helping with movement control, deep brain stimulation is also used to treat addiction, depression, stroke and traumatic brain injury.

Unlike many surgical procedures where you’d be under anesthesia, brain surgery can be especially effective if you are awake for some of it. Your neurologists and neurosurgeons will recommend “asleep” or “awake” deep brain stimulation, based on your unique needs.

“Asleep” Deep Brain Stimulation

While you’re under general anesthesia, your surgeon will use imaging techniques like computerized tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as a guide to insert electrodes into your brain. This type of procedure may be an option if you have symptoms that are controlled only by medication, or if you’re anxious about being awake during surgery.

“Awake” Deep Brain Stimulation

In some cases, you benefit most when you’re awake for the procedure. Images from a computerized tomography (CT) scan guide your surgeon inside your skull. A specialist will administer anesthesia to ensure you’re comfortable and don’t feel anything but are alert enough to answer questions. This interaction helps your surgeon identify where to place the electrodes.