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    Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is an innovative treatment for back pain, particularly if you haven’t found relief through traditional back pain treatment methods like medication or physical therapy. TMS back pain treatment is a specialty at Neuro Injury Specialists in NYC and New Jersey. Their team of doctors offers this pain-free, non-invasive procedure for back pain, as well as for other neurological and physical disorders, ranging from depression to arthritis. Call this highly trained team of experts to learn more about TMS for back pain and how it can help you.

    How Does TMS for Back Pain Work?

    Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a treatment that uses magnetic fields to stimulate the specific areas of brain that cause pain. It’s been discovered that TMS is helpful in chronic pain conditions like sciatica or nerve pain. TMS interrupts specific pain pathways so the normal brain activity can return.

    TMS back pain helps with:

    • Targeting pain centers. TMS focuses the motor cortex and prefrontal cortex to regulate the pain, which reduces excessive pain signals from the brain.
    • Resetting pain pathways. TMS retrains your brain to respond differently to chronic pain signals and provides long-lasting relief.
    • Enhancing your mood. Severe back pain leads to depression and anxiety disorder, conditions that also respond well to the non-invasive treatment, designed to improve mood by stimulating brain areas that regulate emotions and pain perception.

    TMS for back pain is an excellent option if you’ve been looking for a way to manage your chronic back pain and haven’t found relief from conventional treatments like medications or physical therapy. If you want to prevent surgery or opioid medications, this is a great second choice as well. Neuro Injury Specialists is a neurological center with a team of well-trained TMS professionals who provide well-rounded back pain management with different types of TMS.

    Who’s at Risk of Getting Back Pain and Why?

    Back pain is defined as pain or discomfort that occurs anywhere along the spine, from the neck to the lower back. Your spine may also be the cause of pain in other parts of your body, due to a pinched nerve or radiculopathy. A backache is usually sudden in its onset when it’s due to an injury, but it can come on gradually if it’s from progressive strain.
    The pain can take the form of a dull ache to a sharp or stabbing sensation that prevents you from carrying out any physical activities. Back pain becomes more likely after you turn 30, and common past the age of 50 as the spine naturally changes with age.

    Others at risk for the need of TMS back pain treatment include:

    • People engaged in manual labor like builders and nurses
    • Those engaged in physically demanding sports like football and golf
    • Individuals with a family history of back pain
    • Those with a high BMI who are especially prone to lower back pain

    Why Is TMS More Beneficial than Other Treatments for Back Pain?

    Transcranial magnetic stimulation is a drug-free, non-invasive stimulation of targeted areas of your brain that rids you of pain. During your TMS session, an electromagnetic coil is placed on your scalp, which passes magnetic pulses to the areas of brain responsible for feeling pain.
    Unlike other methods, it works on both your physical and emotional discomfort. Under the guidance of a trained TMS doctor who maps out the best direction for the pulses, TMS is an alternative that helps you stop the pain by changing your brain’s reaction entirely, thus avoiding addictive opioids. One of the best things about TMS for back pain is that its effects remain far beyond the treatment itself. In fact, it trains your brain to respond in a different way to the pain and helps you manage it for the long term.

    Additionally:

    • TMS has very few side effects as compared to other treatments, which makes it easy to fit into your routine. You can resume your normal activities immediately following a session.
    • TMS is tailored according to your needs. It depends on intensity and coil placement based on your pain levels for maximum benefit.
    • TMS doesn’t involve surgery, injections or medications, sparing you from the risks and recovery time that come with invasive procedures.
    • TMS sessions are short in duration, around 20 to 40 minutes long with no recovery period.

    TMS isn’t just a quick fix; it can be incorporated into long-term management plan for chronic low back pain. You may notice some relief of your back pain as soon as in two to four weeks. However, it generally requires the full course of four to six weeks of therapy for you to experience significant lasting results.

    What Are the Side Effects of TMS for Back Pain?

    Side effects are mostly mild to moderate in nature and resolve quickly after a session, especially when you rely on the expertise of doctors like you find at Neuro Injury Specialists. Side effects tend to decrease with additional sessions too.

    Some of the common side effects include:

    • Scalp irritation and tenderness
    • Headache
    • Tingling, spasms or twitching of the facial muscles
    • Dizziness

    TMS for back pain is generally safe and well-tolerated, but rare serious side effects can occur. These are unlikely, but may include seizures, which is why you most likely aren’t a candidate for TMS if you have a history of seizures. With years of experience serving patients all around New York City and New Jersey, each of your doctors specializes in different areas of pain management and is certified by the Academy of Certified Brain Injury Specialists. Contact Neuro Injury Specialists today to learn if TMS back pain treatment is right for you.