Recently I heard a story that there is a brain operation which helps
MS. Even if true, sounds risky to me! Do you have any information on
this?

---

Request for Question Clarification by answerfinder-ga on 18 Dec 2005 08:27 PST

Dear jimen-ga,

I suspect that you may have heard reference to Deep Brain Stimulation
which was originally used in the treatment of Parkinson?s. It has now
been tried on MS patients who suffer from tremors - unfortunately with
less success. It involves implanting "electrodes to deliver continuous
high-frequency electrical stimulation to the centre of the brain. The
stimulation shuts the brain cells down, helping to rebalance messages
throughout the movement control centres in the brain.?

These two documents from the UK's MS Society's site will provide you
with some of the details. Please note the first notes that ?These are
major surgical procedures with risks and potentially serious
side-effects associated with them both. These include weakness,
hemiparesis (a mild stroke) and problems with speech. These risks
appear to be lower with deep brain stimulation but the comparative
benefits and risks of lesional surgery and deep brain stimulation in
treating MS tremor are not yet clear.?
http://www.mssociety.org.uk/doc_store/Tremor_and_MS__OCT_2004.pdf

Page 10
http://www.mssociety.org.uk/doc_store/Research_Bulletin_27.pdf

If this sounds like the operation you heard about, let me known and I
will find some addition reports from the US MS web sites.

answerfinder-ga (fellow sufferer)

---

Clarification of Question by jimen-ga on 18 Dec 2005 09:34 PST

What I heard (if I recall correctly) was of an operation done in
Germany which apart from the risks involved is tremendously expensive!
I live in Brazil and would not have health insurance for this (I have
for reasonable things)!
This operation may well be the one you mentioned.
As you well know, any port in storm is welcome to us. 
Thank you for your help.

---

Clarification of Question by jimen-ga on 18 Dec 2005 11:29 PST

Dear answerfinder-ga,

I think you answered my question and I would be interested in the
further research you promised. Don't give up!

Dear jimen-ga,

Thank you for your clarification answer. Here are some additional
research items on deep brain stimulation, but again please note that
this treatment is being used for tremors.

National Multiple Sclerosis Society
Thalamotomy and deep brain stimulation
http://www.nationalmssociety.org/Brochures-Tremor03.asp

The Cleveland Clinic give some detailed information on the procedure.
http://www.clevelandclinic.org/neuroscience/techniques/dbs.htm

Three recent papers on deep brain stimulation.
Chronic deep brain stimulation for the treatment of tremor in multiple
sclerosis: review and case reports
Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery and Psychiatry 2003;74:1392-1397
http://jnnp.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/74/10/1392

Thalamic Stimulation in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis: Long-Term Follow-Up
http://content.karger.com/produktedb/produkte.asp?typ=fulltext&file=SFN20030801_4048

Deep brain stimulation in the management of neuropathic pain and
multiple sclerosis tremor.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15097292

You may find this web site as a useful starting point for any further
information you require on the disease.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/multiplesclerosis.html


I hope this answers your question. If it does not, or the answer is
unclear, then please ask for clarification of this research before
rating the answer. I shall respond to the clarification request as
soon as I receive it.
I hope that this helps you in your struggle with MS. Personally I find
that trying to keep a positive mental approach to whatever life throws
at you is part of the battle. Good luck.
Thank you
answerfinder

Many thanks for a first rate answer and for your encouragement!