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TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) Types

Chronic pain, persistent migraine headaches and emotional disorders wreak havoc with your activities of daily living, your career, your relationships … every aspect of your life. Yet no matter what kind of treatment you’ve sought, you may have found little long-lasting relief. Visit the renowned neurologists at Neuro Injury Specialists with offices in New York City and New Jersey for a variety of treatments, including transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). There are TMS types that can finally bring you relief. Call these experts to set up an appointment to learn how this treatment can be a game-changer.

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    What Conditions Are Treated with Different Types of TMS?

    TMS treatments can be highly effective and useful whether you have psychiatric disorders or neurological conditions. If you’re living with obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors or experiencing emotional highs and lows, bTMS may help you gain better control over your symptoms.

    Conditions that are successfully treated with different types of TMS include:

    TMS is a powerful tool used to treat many of these conditions that, without proper treatment, could get much worse. If you live with untreated PTSD, for example, it could lead to severe emotional distress. You may experience more frequent flashbacks, nightmares and heightened irritability, which makes it difficult to cope with your everyday life.

    What Are the Different Types of TMS and How Do They Work?

    Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a treatment that helps you manage mental health disorders, especially if you have conditions like depression, anxiety or other conditions for which pharmacological intervention or other treatments haven’t worked. Different types of TMS may open new options for you. Every type of TMS works differently.

    They include:

    • Deep TMS (dTMS). dTMS penetrates deeper into the brain around four to five cm beneath your skull and targets regions that control your emotions.
    • Repetitive TMS (rTMS). rTMS delivers short bursts of magnetic pulses to the areas that help regulate your mood.
    • Theta burst stimulation (TBS). TBS might be a quicker option for you; it generates bursts of magnetic pulses that mimic your brain’s natural rhythms.
    • Single-pulse TMS. It delivers one magnetic pulse at a time to help researchers and doctors understand how different parts of your brain respond to stimulation.
    • Paired-pulse TMS. This TMS method sends two magnetic pulses in quick succession to study how different parts of your brain communicate.
    • Accelerated TMS. You receive more frequent sessions over a shorter period, facilitating a more rapid delivery of therapeutic magnetic pulses to your brain.
    • Express TMS. This option delivers the same treatment as traditional rTMS, but in a much shorter session. You can have an Express TMS session that’s 15 to 20 minutes quicker than regular TMS.

    Whether you need dTMS for more intense brain stimulation or rTMS for ongoing therapeutic pulses, experienced doctors at Neuro Injury Specialists bring specialized training and years of experience to your treatment.

    Their range of services include:

    • Botox for migraines
    • Nerve blocks
    • Cognitive behavior therapy
    • Neurostimulation
    • Pharmacological treatments

    What Are the Advantages of TMS Compared to Other Treatments?

    You won’t suffer side effects, like you may with other procedures like electroconvulsive therapy. You can continue your daily activities right after each session. If you’ve taken anti-depressant medications, you may be familiar with common side effects like weight gain, sexual dysfunction or fatigue. TMS only targets specific areas of your brain, so it’s not like other medications that affect your whole system and cause unwanted side effects.

    Advantages of TMS include:

    • No systemic effects
    • Long-term results
    • Quick recovery
    • Customized treatment

    TMS doesn’t just provide temporary relief, you may experience long-lasting improvements. Your TMS session typically lasts between 30 and 60 minutes. If you choose methods like TBS, your sessions could be shorter, lasting as little as three to 10 minutes. You may need to attend TMS sessions five times a week for several weeks, which usually range from four to six weeks.

    What Are the Side Effects of TMS Therapy?

    TMS side effects are usually mild and temporary. You may notice mild headaches following your treatment. However, they are typically short-lived and can easily be managed with pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen. TMS involves magnetic pulses on your scalp, so you might feel mild tingling or discomfort at the treatment site. This sensation usually decreases as your treatment sessions continue.

    Other minor side effects may include:

    • Light-headedness
    • Twitching or muscle contractions
    • Jaw or tooth discomfort

    Seizures are a rare but potential side effect of TMS. If you don't have a prior history of seizures, your risk of having one is less than 0.1 percent. If you do have a history of seizures, your neurologist carefully examines your medical background to check whether TMS is safe for you. They adjust the treatment protocol to minimize any risks. Throughout your TMS sessions, they monitor you and make sure everything goes smoothly.

    At Neuro Injury Specialists, their expert team led by doctors like Dr. Dmitry Dvoskin, Dr. Mark Cohen, Dr. Leon Reyfman and Dr. Anthonette Sparman has helped countless patients regain control of their lives after brain injuries and chronic pain. They offer modern solutions like TMS to help treat your mental health conditions. Contact Neuro Injury Specialists, available in NYC and NJ, to receive safe and effective TMS treatment.