Tms Effects On Ptsd

[KwanYingirl]

I have a new Psychiatrist. My old one retired. This new one introduced me to a treatment called Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation. He gave me some literature about it and recommended I do some poking around the YouTube world. It appears to be a treatment for depression, not PTSD.

Has anyone had this done? If so, can you please share with me your experience with it? The info I have says a 20 minute treatment is done every day for 4-6 weeks. Not sure if I have the courage to dive into that.

Thanks for any perspectives on this.

 

[desiderata310]

Well, I'll let you know in a few weeks what i think. I seem to be about to start down that path in a month or so.
I did the initial evaluation about a week ago and I have my next one next Friday.

 

[joeylittle]

@KwanYingirl - I've had it, twice. I'll try and find the most recent posts I've written on it.

 

[FauxLiz]

My Pdoc offered this to me about six months ago and after doing all the research I said not only No but Hell No. I have lived/struggled with chronic daily migraine for close to 30 years. One of the primary side effects of TMS is headache. Now I understand not everyone is effected by every side effect of a treatment but the reality is with only 5-7 days a month that I don't live in chronic headache pain that has hospitalized me more times than I can count I have no intent of trying a treatment that could make them worse or take away the few days a month that I am pain free.

 

[Freedomfighter]

I have a new Psychiatrist. My old one retired. This new one introduced me to a treatment called Tra...

Wow, that is something I was not aware of. To stimulate the brain with magnets sure sounds strange. But if it could treat anxiety and depression, both of which can afflict PTSD patients, it may be worth investigating.

I assume such techniques could be used perhaps for patients that are not reacting well to other kinds of therapy.

I myself do not consider such a therapy as a needed therapy. I am helped quite a bit with the regular techniques of EMDR and meditation and other exercises.
But every patient is different, you will have to feel comfortable with it though. So perhaps you could just try a session and see what that does for you.

I am myself very very open minded. When I have any kind of health condition I research many many different options. I also often consider and reconsider different treatments.

As long as the patient is an active part in that then he or she may certainly go ahead and try new therapies, why not?

Fear of course would be a common side effect of new therapies as well I imagine.

 

[joeylittle]

These are probably the most useful posts I've written on it:
Tms Therapy (short thread, more about TMS and depression).
Etns [external Trigeminal Nerve Stimulation] To Treat Ptsd Symptoms - Anyone Tried It? (kind of sums up the process, esp. differences between the Brainways machine and Neurostar machine.)
Link Removed (more of the process stuff)

It appears to be a treatment for Depression, not PTSD.

Definitely. Because TMS is effective with depression and chronic suicidality, it can be observed to alleviate those symptoms in a PTSD sufferer as well. But it's not specifically 'meant' for PTSD.

The info I have says a 20 minute treatment is done every day for 4-6 weeks. Not sure if I have the courage to dive into that.

That would be the Brainways machine, which is more physically aggressive. It's not quite every day - five days a week for 4-6 weeks, otherwise known as 20-30 sessions. Missing a day here and there is not the end of the world - but they generally count number of sessions, as opposed to weeks.

Something I preferred about the Neurostar experience was that you could more easily do things during the treatment time. Since the pulse was not as aggressive, it was less all-encompassing. On the other hand, that's 40-45 minutes 5 days a week.

Please let me know if there are any other questions you have. I've spent a lot of time with the whole TMS concept, research, execution, etc., and am glad to have somewhere to put the stuff I've learned.

 

[shatter eyes]

I just got referred to rTMS.

TMS may help with TBI related headaches, selfharm impulses, and PTSD symptoms too.

It depends which part of the brain they TMS and at what setting from what i understand.

I had it once for my motor cortex and had my fine movements come back for few days.

TMS is not covered in Canada.
It is private self pay.