Transcranial magnetic stimulation is a non-invasive technique that stimulates your brain cells to improve symptoms of neurological and mental health disorders. It elicits magnetic energy that turns into an electric current under your skull to help regulate your emotions. Bedford TMS therapy is commonly used to treat depression. Doctors will recommend this therapy if you are not responding to antidepressant medication and psychotherapy. You can also have TMS if you have experienced adverse side effects after using antidepressants.
Procedure
TMS therapy is an outpatient procedure that a TMS technician carries out in a clinic or a hospital. Before the process, your specialists will order you to remove all the sensitive magnets you may be wearing, like jewelry. You will then sit on a comfortable chair, ready for treatment.
The procedure does not require any anesthesia administration; you will be awake throughout the process. Your physician will have you wear earplugs to minimize the clicking sound of magnetic impulses. If it is your first session, the physician will do some tests to determine the best places to put TMS coils on your head. Other tests measure the minimum amount of power it takes for your thumb to twitch. The doctor will personalize the TMS machine to energy fit to stimulate your brain cells.
Your doctor places the coil above the front area of your brain. You will hear a clicking sound as the magnetic impulses are being released. You also feel a tapping or knocking sensation beneath the magnetic coil. The entire procedure takes between thirty to sixty minutes. You can resume your regular duties after the treatment.
You will repeat the procedure five days a week for about four to six weeks for effective results. The number of sessions you will take will depend on how you respond. The condition you are experiencing can also determine the length of your treatment.
Benefits
Minimal side effects
Almost every treatment has a side effect. TMS therapy has no or reduced risk of side effects, and most people do not experience any sensations. Tingling or mild headaches are the common side effects of TMS treatment. These side effects only last for a few days. In case the effects become persistent, seek immediate medical attention.
TMS therapy treats various disorders
TMS is mainly known to treat depression. This therapy treats various neurological and mental health conditions, including anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, schizophrenia, and Parkinson’s disease. Doctors can also recommend this therapy for chronic pain such as fibromyalgia. TMS controls neurotransmitters involved in pain.
It does not interfere with your daily activities
TMS treatment is a convenient therapy that takes a short time, one hour at most. You can schedule it between your daily engagements. Some treatments, like certain medications, can cause fatigue or drowsiness, hindering you from your usual duties. The essential benefit of TMS therapy is that you can get back to your regular engagements and drive immediately after treatment.
After receiving TMS treatment, most patients report a reduction of neurological and mental symptoms, and half get complete recovery. Schedule an appointment at Innovative Psychiatry Center for TMS therapy to relieve your depression.
