Has anyone had experience with Gamma Knife without the head frame?
I've not spoken to a specialist about Gamma Knife since probably 7-9 years ago, but it was a recommended option for me. Yesterday, but husband was talking to a guy who comes through his work often and is a radiologist. He says that depending on the AVM, they can do almost all their work framelessly. Wow, really?
Honestly the big reason I haven't taken the leap with Gamma is because I have this horrible fear of the head frame. I've had lots of people tell me it's really not a big deal, but I just can't get past it so a frameless option would be a real game-chamger for me.
First PBR was frame (screws into the head). Chari said they really didn't hurt, but the thought and pressure made them uncomfortable.
#2 was with a bite block: Form fitted to your mouth, with a 1/4" x 1/2" by several inch long steel bar coming out the front. That is what they used to anchor/calibrate. Chari had a gag reflex with her's. They had to drill a hole in it and insert a suction tube for it to work for her.
Both stabilize the head as designed. That's the only two I've heard of. Might be more.
I've never heard of the frameless one. I had the "halo", when I had mine done. It wasnt' that bad at all. My dr. put me out completely and I don't remember very much of it. The only thing I remember is when they first fitted the halo on me. And I was given a mild antistesia for that. Then they put me out completely and I woke up when it was all over. Just the way I like it. LOL