37 snowboarding and horseback riding. Talk with your DBS clinicians before doing any new or more intense activities with DBS.
+ Battery recharging If you have a rechargeable battery, how often and how long you need to charge depends on several factors. These include your settings and your charging schedule. Some people“ top off” for 10 or so minutes every day or every other day. Others let the battery go lower and charge for one to a few hours every week or couple of weeks. The longer you go between charges, the longer it’ ll take to fully charge the battery. Typically you can move around and do light activity around the house while charging.
Medical and Dental Procedures
Inform or remind providers about your DBS before any procedure, treatment, or alternative or complementary therapy. Bring your ID card and personal programmer to all appointments.
+ Brain and body imaging With all currently available DBS devices, you can have most imaging, such as ultrasound, x-ray( including dental x-rays and DEXA scan), CT scan or MRI. For MRI, the device must be set to specific safety settings or placed in“ MRI mode.” The MRI center should also use appropriate“ low energy” settings and equipment, so it is best to get your MRI at a center with DBS experience, if possible. For mammograms, pads should be positioned or rotated to avoid pulling or placing pressure on the device or wires. Make sure the radiology technician has experience with DBS or cardiac pacemakers, which are similar.
+ Medical testing Turn DBS off during brain wave( EEG), heart rhythm( EKG) or nerve conduction and muscle( EMG / NCS) studies to avoid interfering with readings or results.
+ Medical procedures and surgery Avoid diathermy, or“ deep heat,” which delivers energy to muscles and tissues to treat pain, joint problems and other issues. Do not have transcranial magnetic stimulation( TMS), which uses magnets that impact brain signaling to treat certain conditions. If you have kidney stones and need lithotripsy, which breaks up the stones, make sure your doctor knows to avoid your device. If you need cardioversion for a heart condition, like atrial fibrillation, turn the device off. Do not use hyperbaric chambers, which could damage the system. During most surgeries, DBS should be set to“ surgery mode” or turned off. Always speak with your programmer and Parkinson’ s doctor before any surgery, where possible.
+ Massage or chiropractic treatment Avoid head turning, neck twisting, other head and neck manipulation. Do not get massage on the neck, scalp or chest, or directly over or near device components.
+ Dental care Most dental care is fine, but your dentist may need to make slight adjustments for specific procedures. You should also take antibiotics before major dental work, including root canals.
Hospital and Emergency Room Visits
Keep an up-to-date list of medications and doctors in case you have to go to the hospital. Add your DBS device information and team member names to that list. When going to the hospital for any reason, take your ID card and / or a copy of it, personal programmer and battery recharger, if applicable, just in case you have a longer stay. Remind every provider you see, especially those who order or do any medical test or procedure, about your DBS. Nicely, but firmly, request that your hospital team communicate with your DBS team and Parkinson’ s doctor, particularly if they are at separate locations or centers.
Life with DBS