What is TMS Therapy
TMS therapy
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a noninvasive procedure that uses magnetic fields to stimulate the nerve cells in your brain to improve your symptoms. It activates certain areas in the brain to treat mood disorders like; depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD and more. TMS can also treat substance abuse, pain and migraines. TMS does not require any anesthesia. You will be awake and wearing headphones due to the machine’s noise. Although there are plenty of ways in how TMS treatments are conducted, one of which is where an electromagnetic coil is placed against your scalp. The coil, painlessly delivers magnetic pulses to stimulate nerve cells in the part of your brain controlling moods.
Where traditional modalities of psychotherapy don’t work or your treatment plans have side effects that worsen your symptoms then TMS might be the right next step for you. With TMS treatments, there is no one size fits all approach. At SayMed we tailor each of your symptoms to your own personalized plan. The best part of a TMS treatment is that it takes about 20 to 40 minutes each session, there’s no pain and once it’s done you’re able to go to your normal day to day activities.
What steps need to be taken for TMS to be done?
Once you book an appointment, our doctor will see if TMS treatment is the right fit for you by taking measurements, going over your medical history in great detail, and even an EEG (electroencephalogram). An EED is a scan that looks at the outer surface of your brain that has the most nerve activity to map where the TMS is needed. Then, our doctor or a technician will map your brain to customize the treatment settings. Lastly, once those steps are completed, TMS sessions will begin!
Benefits of TMS Therapy
TMS is determined safe by the National Institutes of Health and was FDA-approved in 2008 as a treatment for Depressive Disorder. While FDA-approved for depression only, it is also safely used “off-label” to treat other disorders, including anxiety, PTSD, bipolar disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Typical TMS Treatment
A TMS procedure is non-invasive and relatively painless. During the TMS procedure, a coil device is placed over the patient’s head to deliver magnetic pulses to the brain. These pulses cause electrical changes within the underlying brain circuitry.
Depending on your treatment plan, each session can take about 15-45 minutes to perform. The best part, patients can resume their regular activities immediately after each session. Each patient is different and the way they respond to treatments will differ; however to achieve the most effective results, patients will need to be treated five days a week for four to eight weeks. But as previously mentioned, treatment times will vary on the individual.
Results of TMS
After treatment, patients will notice a reduction in symptoms which persist beyond complete termination of treatment.
Side Effects of TMS
While TMS is a safer and less invasive alternative to other brain stimulation procedures, there are certain side effects associated with any type of treatment. Most patients undergo TMS with no major side effects. However there is always a chance that some patients may feel; a mild headache, lightheadedness, tingling/spasm or twitching of facial muscles or scalp discomfort. These side effects typically occur within the first week of treatment.