DBS may be used to relieve symptoms of Parkinson's disease, especially tremor, when they can't be controlled with medicine. It's the surgical treatment of choice for Parkinson's disease. That's because it works better, is safer, and is less harmful to brain tissue than other surgical methods.
DBS of the thalamus is done to treat both disabling tremor caused by Parkinson's disease and essential tremor.
Procedures that stimulate parts of the brain called the subthalamic nucleus and the globus pallidus are done to help control a wider range of symptoms (along with tremor). They are used more often than stimulation of the thalamus. Symptoms that are most often helped (besides tremor) include problems with changes between "on" and "off" time and dyskinesia. "On" time is when medicine taken for Parkinson's is helping your symptoms. Symptoms that are less likely to get better include problems with walking, balance, and speech. In some cases, DBS can make these problems worse.
DBS may also be used to treat severe tremor related to multiple sclerosis (MS). It usually is a last resort after all other options have been tried without success to treat MS tremor. Only people with severe tremor are candidates.
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