Medtronic invited these patients to share their stories candidly. Not everyone who receives Medtronic DBS therapy will receive the same results as these individuals. Some people may experience significant symptom relief from DBS therapy, and others may experience minimal symptom relief. DBS therapy is not for everyone, so it's important to talk with your doctor about the benefits, risks, and which device system may be right for you.
Kristin’s story
Kristin was 15 years old when she first noticed the tremor in her right hand. She didn’t know anyone else that had essential tremor — especially at her age. During college, lifestyle changes like less sleep made her tremor worsen. Kristin wanted to pursue a career in healthcare so she could help others. “Here I was trying to apply a bandage to a patient and I was shaking like a leaf,” Kristin recalls. “How was I supposed to instill confidence in them?”
Kristin tried hand therapy and several rounds of various medications to control her essential tremor. “Medication worked for a short period but the tremors crept back and became worse,” Kristin explains. “Some medication made me drowsy or dizzy, or I’d hallucinate. I was only 18 years old and wondering, 'What if I have to live with this for the rest of my life?'”
How DBS helped Kristin
Kristin researched treatments for essential tremor online. “I found the Medtronic website and learned everything I could about deep brain stimulation. I met with a surgeon and we both determined that DBS was the best option for me. I was 20 years old when I started. I wasn’t nervous about the surgery; I just wanted to get myself back.”
Kristin was awake during most of her procedure. “The doctor would ask me to do things like write my name or hold a glass of water so he could determine if he was accessing the correct part of my brain,” Kristin recalls. “These things had been difficult for me before but now my tremors were controlled and I could do them! I was overwhelmed that all those years of shaking were over.”
For a short time after the procedure, she had limited range of motion in her arm and neck. She also had to get used to the feeling of the neurostimulator under the skin of her chest, and the stiffness in her neck after the DBS wires were placed.
Safety information:
A prescription is required. Not everyone who receives DBS therapy will receive the same results. DBS therapy requires brain surgery which can have serious and sometimes fatal complications. Once implanted, DBS complications may require additional surgery. Medtronic DBS therapy may cause new or worsening neurological or psychiatric symptoms. Patients should always discuss the potential risks and benefits of the therapy with a physician.
Caring for herself, caring for others
Kristin finished her degree, got married, and now has two young sons. She works in healthcare doing cardiac monitoring. “DBS allows me to care for others,” Kristin reflects. “I have to put these itty-bitty ECG stickers on newborn babies’ chests! There’s no way I could do my job without DBS therapy.”
Start the conversation
When talking with your doctor about your essential tremor, be honest about your symptoms and how your treatment is working. Ask about other options you could try. And don’t hesitate to get another opinion.
Find a doctor who specializes in essential tremor treatment
Use the online directory to find a doctor in your area.
Bryan’s story
A 40-year-old engineer, Bryan assumed that since his coworkers didn't mention his tremor, they didn't notice it. But on difficult days, Bryan would need to rest after work for up to two hours. "The days felt wasted," he says.
By the time Bryan was diagnosed with essential tremor, many activities had become difficult for him. “When I used a key, I'd have to try several times. Then I'd have to sit down from the effort." Bryan also played the piano and directed his church choir throughout the progression of his tremor. As his condition worsened, he comforted himself with the thought that he would simply adjust to his new limitations.
But it bothered Bryan that his sons began to notice. "When we'd go to concerts and games for the kids," he said, "they would have to take pictures because I couldn't. They tried to keep me involved, but I didn't like that they always had to do things for me."
Discovering Medtronic DBS therapy
Bryan tried several medications to manage his tremor, but they caused side effects like weight gain and sluggishness that felt worse than the tremors themselves.
Bryan had already heard of deep brain stimulation when his neurologist suggested the therapy. When Bryan began the therapy, he said, “The change was incredible.” It helped to still the tremors that had dominated his right side for 11 years.
Bryan was awake during the procedure. “They tell you that your brain doesn't have any nerve endings,” he said. “In the back of my mind I kept thinking it would still hurt. But I didn't feel anything. Not even pressure.”
Bryan did experience some tingling sensations in his hands before the programming was fine tuned. He said he can feel the neurostimulator in his chest and the wires under his scalp. “But they don't bother me. I wish I had started using stimulation 10 years ago.“
Safety information:
A prescription is required. Not everyone who receives DBS therapy will receive the same results. DBS therapy requires brain surgery which can have serious and sometimes fatal complications. Once implanted, DBS complications may require additional surgery. Medtronic DBS therapy may cause new or worsening neurological or psychiatric symptoms. Patients should always discuss the potential risks and benefits of the therapy with a physician.
Resuming normal life
These days, Bryan runs errands for his family and helps his children with their school projects. He's also more involved at church, where people tell him his piano playing is much better.
Bryan has also become more confident at work. “Before the surgery, I had been hiding out in my office without realizing it,” he recalls. “Within a week of going back to work, I was out talking to people, which I hadn't done in a long time.”
Risks of the procedure and stimulation
DBS therapy requires brain surgery. Risks of brain surgery may include serious complications such as coma, bleeding inside the brain, stroke, seizures, and infection. Some of these may be fatal. Once implanted, the system may become infected, parts may wear through your skin, and the lead or lead/extension connector may move. Medtronic DBS therapy could stop suddenly because of mechanical or electrical problems. Any of these situations may require additional surgery or cause your symptoms to return or worsen.
Medtronic DBS therapy may also cause new or worsening neurological or psychiatric symptoms. In patients receiving Medtronic DBS therapy, depression, suicidal thoughts, and suicide have been reported.
Information on this site should not be used as a substitute for talking with your doctor. Always talk with your doctor about diagnosis and treatment information.
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