has anyone tried this? Has it worked for you?
Yes- I've had TMS, a few times now. And yes - it really did work for me.
I should probably just write an article about it for the site, so I can link to it when this comes up...
It really is non-invasive. There have been no reports of any negative side effects, aside from:
- On the Neurostar machine: a brief headache that one can have for the first week while one is adjusting to the physical experience. I'd compare it to a woodpecker knocking on a point on your head.
- On the Brainways machine: inadvertent stimulation of the trigeminal nerve during treatment, which is an unpleasant sensation, causing lock-jaw. It only occurs when the machine is 'on'
I don't know whether the UK has both machines.
The benefit of the Brainways is that the treatments are shorter - it only takes about 25 minutes to get through a full cycle. This is because they pulse a wider area, stronger, with less rest in-between.
The Neurostar is a much gentler process, and their protocols use a smaller target area - which keeps them from hitting the trigeminal nerve system.
It is the only thing that has ever put a dent in my suicidal ideation, specifically. It also helped with mood, where I've never found a drug that has. TMS, as far as I'm concerned, is a real benefit for those with treatment-resistant depression. I don't know that I'd feel confident recommending it for the depression that is associated with PTSD, on it's own - I think that aggressive trauma therapy is much more warranted. My diagnosis is MDD and PTSD, and I had my first TMS treatment before my PTSD presented itself/was diagnosed.
TENS machines have been around for a long time; I've personally never used one. I think if they were highly effective, they would have become a much more prominent technique. That doesn't mean that they don't work for people, just that (IMO), if your depression is severe, it's not worth the money. If what you are looking for is a little something to give a small potential boost to medication that is already working decently, or for those who are non-medicated and have minor depression and are looking for a non-pharmaceutical option, it could be worth trying.
It's pretty expensive [around 4000 USD] here in the UK and not covered by health insurance,
Yeah, this part sucks. The first time I did it, it wasn't covered. I was lucky to be going through a hospital that gave a very steep discount to people who were self-pay. Still, it was a lot. Insurance is now covering it in the US rather widely - as it becomes more and more recognized, hopefully it will be accepted by the NHS as a valid treatment. It really can be life-changing.
My disappointment was that it ultimately didn't last. The doc who was administering it to me had good explanation for that, based on his own research experience. What he wasn't sure of was whether if I continued to try it, it would eventually help me stabilize. So, that's the road I'm trying to go down. It is daunting, because of the time involved and all the paperwork. But I'd still rather that than ECT, which is the next option up in terms of strength and effectiveness.
