Tms Treatment Program

The TMS treatment really helped me to get back to my life and be me again. I am the person I was years before my dad got cancer and I became depressed. I’m happy again and I hope that anyone who is suffering from depression finds relief knowing that if medication doesn’t work for them, this treatment might not just provide relief, but also completely take it away and make you the happy person you used to be!
It’s not magic though… I have to warn people that it is very expensive and during the first week, it really hurt. Though its non– invasive and does not actually harm you, as a very sensitive person, I do recall the treatment feeling like I was getting tapped on the head repeatedly. (Not fun). After the first week, it’s ok though. By the second week, I noticed that physical symptoms (that accompany depression) went away such as breathing easier and sleeping better. And I would say that by the fourth week, my depression was gone! In four weeks, I was a renewed person! Lots of energy, smiling and laughing more and just wanting to do things that I stopped doing a long time ago.
Anyway, Tms treatment is very useful for a lot of things beyond depression like migraines, anxiety, bipolar disorder, parkinson’s disease and many other things. (Right now, you have to have depression to be treated though). What the treatment is, is a magnet placed on the left side of the prefrontal cortex that emits pulses that are hopefully and eventually going to heal you! (Look at the scientific backround of the magnet’s effect on the brain, if «heal you» is not sufficient –http://​en​.wikipedia​.org/​w​i​k​i​/​T​r​a​n​s​c​r​a​n​i​a​l​_​m​a​g​n​e​t​i​c​_​s​t​i​m​u​l​ation). If its not getting the desired results, they can increase the amount of minutes (increasing amount of pulses) and/​or they can switch from just the left side (unilateral) to bilateral treatment (both sides).
How the sessions go is like this, you start out getting treated 5 days per week for 20 minutes. By the end of the second week, if there is no change, the amount of minutes is increased, if you do notice some change, you stay at 20 minutes and repeat the 5 treatments per week for 2 more weeks. By the 4^th week, the doctor said «I was in remission» so he wanted to taper down. Anyway, after 6 weeks, a lot of people just stop doing TMS and are happy with being out of depression. Right now, the Tms treatment is approved by the FDA for getting a person out of depression, however, it has not been studied enough to be approved for keeping a person out of depression. (It’s also only approved for depression right now, even though it has beneficial, therapeutic effects on other illnesses and symptoms.) This is why people stop after 6 weeks and hope it doesn’t come back… Because there’s no evidence to say that continuing treatment after depression or stopping makes a difference when it comes to remission. My personal opinion, though I’m not a doctor, is that if you had depression because of a traumatic event (ie/​environmental onset) than maybe, you won’t have a recurrence and don’t need anything after getting out of it. However, for me, I did an additional 5^th week of TMS and than tapered down to 3x per week, than 2x per week. Ultimately to maybe 1x per month. (My parents’ wishes) This phase is called «maintenance treatments» but exercise might be just as good as warding off depression (after you’re out of it)
So, my review was partially on TMS itself, but it was also on this business. What I wanted to differentiate between this business and other Tms centers is that for one thing, it’s $ 200 per treatment. I know you’re all thinking, that’s crazy! But it’s actually a really good deal. For one thing, it gets you out of depression! Do you remember the last time you were truly happy for at least a whole week? Also, I shopped around and many centers charge $ 300– 400/​treatment… So yeah… It’s a lot, but it’s the best price around and its worth it! You’re worth it! Other places are ok with giving you less pulses because you’re more likely to need more treatments.
Right now, some insurance companies cover it so you might not even need to pay for it! Ask your insurance if they cover TMS treatment or transcranial magnetic stimulation. You will be so happy for it! Think about when you were at your best — so happy, fulfilled and motivated– you can get that again! Also, IT IS COVERED BY MEDICARE! (This applies to people 65 and older AND people with disabilities)
The doctors, nurses and other staff are really friendly and knowledgeable. Just FYI, it is difficult reaching them, but once in the program, they’re great!
Last thing, I think this is the best TMS location not only because of the price being the lowest in the Philly/​main line area, but also because they are very aggressive in treating the depression. If they don’t see change, they increase the amount of pulses or make the treatment bilateral. More pulses means depression free sooner!
Best wishes to a happy, healthy year