"This is a praise. This is a high five. This is everything. Just be brave enough to say, ‘Yes, I’ll do it,’ and go forward. And you will never regret it, never."
Frequently Asked Questions
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Deep brain stimulation (DBS) uses electrical stimulation in the brain to help control abnormal body movements. The specialists at Miami Neuroscience Institute are pioneers of DBS treatment and work closely with you every step of the way.
During DBS surgery, a neurosurgeon places an electrode in the area of the brain that’s causing abnormal movement and tests it while you are awake to see if it successfully controls your symptoms. A small device that generates electrical pulses along a thin wire is then placed under your skin near your collarbone. The surgical team uses imaging technology to feed the wire through the skin to the electrode in the brain. The device controls the electrical impulses sent to your brain and can be adjusted to deliver more or less stimulation if your symptoms change.
DBS is a minimally invasive procedure that takes approximately four to six hours. An overnight stay in the hospital is rarely needed. After surgery, your symptoms should immediately improve, and you may be able to reduce the number of medicines you take to control symptoms.
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You may need DBS if:
- Your symptoms can no longer be controlled with medicine.
- You can’t tolerate the side effects of your medications.
- You have a debilitating tremor affecting one side of your body.
DBS is used to treat the following conditions:
- Parkinson disease
- Dystonia
- Essential tremor
- Epilepsy
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High-intensity focused ultrasound (HiFu) is an innovative therapy used to treat essential tremor.
Abnormal electrical activity deep in your brain causes essential tremor. HiFu therapy uses image-guided ultrasound to deliver ultrasound energy to the area of your brain where this abnormal electrical activity is happening. The ultrasound energy destroys the cells causing the abnormal electrical activity.
During HiFu you will be inside an MRI scanner. This lets your doctor target the exact area in your brain with abnormal electrical activity.
After HiFu treatment, you should feel your tremor symptoms subside immediately. HiFu is a non-invasive treatment that is usually done only once, allowing you to recover quickly and return to your normal activities.
"First of all, I would say thank you and I’d like to encourage people that might be suffering from this situation — please go check it out,” says Mr. Rodriguez. “It’s not painful at all. And, believe me, you’re going to know the difference — it’s like you’re feeling brand new again."
Conditions & Treatments
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
- Ataxia
- Bell's Palsy
- Huntington's Disease
- Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy
- Movement Diseases and Disorders
- Muscular Dystrophy
- Neuromuscular Diseases
- Parkinson Disease
- Restless Leg Syndrome
- Tourette's Disorder
- Wilson Disease
Our Approach
When you choose Miami Neuroscience Institute for treatment of your movement disorder, you can expect:
- A world-class center with the most advanced technology available, including innovative high-intensity focused ultrasound (HiFu).
- Collaborative care from a team of doctors, nurses and therapists with specialized training in the diagnosis and treatment of movement disorders.
- A personalized experience and a one-on-one relationship with your doctor.
- Physicians who are committed to research and the development of new treatments.
"I'm hoping that this operation, this deep brain stimulation, will make me a father that is proud of his daughter walking down the aisle."
Meet the Team
