Deep brain stimulation
Deep brain stimulation is sometimes used to treat serious tremor in multiple sclerosis.
Deep brain stimulation involves surgery to permanently implant electrodes in the area of the brain called the thalamus. A battery is implanted near the collarbone. This sends pulsed messages to the electrodes that block the nerve messages that are believed to cause tremor.
Deep brain stimulation was originally developed for Parkinson's disease. There have been few studies of the long-term effects in MS. The studies that have taken place found it worked in around 85% of people. However, the effects of treatment were short lived with symptoms returning within three to six months after surgery.
The operation itself carries some risks. A small number of people have a brain haemorrhage during the surgery, and there is the risk of infection, as with all invasive surgery. There is also the chance of developing significant new symptoms, such as speech and swallowing disorders, and balance problems.
Deep brain stimulation tends to be used only for very disabling tremor.
References
- British Journal of Neurosurgery 2007;21(4):349-354. Summary Stereotactic neurosurgery for disabling tremor in multiple sclerosis: thalamotomy or deep brain stimulation?
- Journal of Neurology 2007;254(7):854-860. Summary Post-deep brain stimulation - gradual non-stimulation dependent decrease in strength with attenuation of multiple sclerosis tremor.
- Neurologia i Neurochirurgia Polska 2010;44(6):542-545. Summary Thalamic deep brain stimulation for tremor among multiple sclerosis patients.
- Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery and Psychiatry 2011;82(4):419-422. Summary Permanent tremor reduction during thalamic stimulation in multiple sclerosis.
- European Journal of Neurology 2012;19(5):764-768. Summary Surgical therapy for multiple sclerosis tremor: a 12-year follow-up study.
- Neurosurgery 2012;70(1):66-69. Summary Unilateral thalamic deep brain stimulation for disabling kinetic tremor in multiple sclerosis.
- Lancet Neurol. 2017 Sep;16(9):691-700. doi: 10.1016/S1474-4422(17)30166-7. Epub 2017 Jun 20. Summary Safety and efficacy of dual-lead thalamic deep brain stimulation for patients with treatment-refractory multiple sclerosis tremor: a single-centre, randomised, single-blind, pilot trial.


Dealing with ataxia and tremor
Ataxia is a lack of muscle coordination anywhere in the body, which leads to tremors and can affect speech and swallowing. Here are practical tips you can take to reduce the impact that ataxia and tremor have on you.


Tremor
Involuntary movements, called tremors, can be a particularly disabling MS symptom, but treatments are available.

Thalamotomy
Thalamotomy is a surgical procedure to treat severe tremor that has not responded to other treatments including in people with multiple sclerosis.