What you need to know about TMS therapy
What exactly is TMS?
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is a treatment procedure intended to improve symptoms of depression and other brain related disorders by stimulating targeted nerve cells in the brain. Dated back to 1985, TMS therapy as it is now has proven to be a safe, effective alternative than the other available treatments like medications, talk therapies, and Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT). Ongoing research is looking into expanding the scope of TMS to treat numerous disorders of the brain that can significantly improve the quality of living for the patients.
During the therapy session, a specially trained TMS therapist will use the magnetic coils of the TMS device to influence the electrical activity in the brain in order to provide relief from your symptoms. The treatment is completely non-invasive with little to no side effect. The patient will be kept awake during the session and can indulge in leisurely activities like reading or watching TV, and can go home on their own after the procedure.
Who needs TMS?
TMS therapy is proven to be highly effective in helping patients with Major Depressive Disorder. Especially for those patients who are tired of depending on medication to get through their day to day lives and still fail to find any improvement in their condition, TMS therapy can be of immense help in restoring normal brain activity with the help of the targeted magnetic stimulations. The therapy sessions conducted several times a week for several weeks in succession depending on the severity of the condition and the patient’s response to therapy can be a lifechanger for such patients.
The United States Food and Drug Administration has approved TMS therapy for the treatment of four conditions:
- Major Depressive Disorder including treatment resistant depression
- Obsessive-compulsive Disorder
- Smoking cessation
- Migraines
If you are someone struggling with any of these conditions and are in need of something more effective than medication while also avoiding ECT, TMS is the right choice for you.
Will there be side effects?
Studies have shown that TMS therapy is very unlikely to have any lasting side effects. Some patients may experience mild headache or some discomfort in the scalp after a session which usually goes away on its own without any medical intervention after a few minutes. In some extremely rare cases (less than 1%), the patient may experience seizures.
Why you should choose TMS
Minimally invasive and highly effective: One of the key attractions of TMS therapy to the patients is that it can provide better outcomes while also being minimally invasive. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulations are clinically proven to be highly successful in managing the symptoms to help patients find the relief they need. The therapy session itself is an outpatient procedure that doesn’t take more than 20-40 minutes at a time and the patient can leave immediately afterwards. Having to undergo TMS sessions won’t affect the patient’s day to day activities in any way, shape, or form. Most of the patients drive to the therapy center themselves and leave the same way too.
Compatibility with other treatments: Another major aspect of TMS therapy is its compatibility with other ongoing treatments. Since the procedure itself is very safe and non-invasive, the patients can get TMS therapy while being on other medications/treatments with no problem.
Safety and comfort: The safety offered by TMS therapy is unparalleled and the patients can receive the treatment without fearing lasting side effects they might have to experience with other treatment options like medications and ECT. The patient can get the therapy sessions done in comfort without any added pressure.
Lifesaving treatment: For those patients with severe depression and suicidal ideation, TMS therapy can quite literally be the game changer that saves their lives.
Medical insurance: Most medical insurance providers including Medicare cover the cost of TMS therapy.
What makes you ineligible for TMS?
Since TMS therapy uses magnetic stimulations, patients with medical devices implanted in their bodies may not qualify for TMS. Same goes for patients who have metal fragments inside. A history of seizures and brain damage may also make you ineligible for TMS therapy.
Different TMS machines
TMS therapy has been widely acknowledged as a safe, effective treatment for disorders of the brain which naturally means there are a number of FDA approved TMS machines available from different manufacturers. Some of the most well-known providers of TMS devices include:
- NeuroStar
- Magstim
- BrainsWay
- Apollo
- Nexstim
- CloudTMS
Where to get TMS therapy
As an advanced treatment, TMS therapy is not offered by all healthcare providers. Therapy sessions can only be carried out by skilled TMS technicians specially trained in operating the TMS machine. The frequency and duration of the sessions are to be decided by your doctor. But one thing for sure, under the care of an experienced and qualified professional providing your TMS therapy, you can finally find the reprieve you have been seeking after all along.
Reliance Health Systems has been successfully helping patients with TMS therapy sessions as required to aid them in managing their mental health conditions. As the only healthcare provider in the Tri-state area that offers TMS therapy sessions, our highly qualified experts are dedicated to providing the best relief for our patients with their compassionate care. Make sure you entrust your mental health to the right professionals.
Contact us today to know more about our services in Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation. You deserve to live in comfort, happy and healthy, and we are here to help you make it happen.