Our Practice Manager's Healing Journey with Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)

TMS is a noninvasive technological breakthrough therapy that involves applying a series of short magnetic pulses to stimulate nerve cells in surface areas of the brain and ease symptoms of depression.

Our Practice Manager, Misty, is the first patient to begin TMS treatment at CSC! Here is her feedback on common questions.

1) What does it feel like? The initial mapping has no pain and feels like light tapping on the top of your head. The treatments do feel more intense and have some discomfort involved, but rate around a 3.5-4/10 on the pain scale. I would describe the sensation as someone forcefully flicking the top of my head repeatedly. It is definitely tolerable, but gets sore and is more of an annoyance than anything. There is an acclimation period and the discomfort subsides around 8-10 minutes into treatment. The earplugs are comfortable and do reduce the sound involved, although it is still heard through the earplugs. The chair is comfortable as well.

2) How quickly did you see improvements? Between session 1-3 I did experience a decline in ruminating thoughts. I have not experienced declined mood in the evenings, which is typical for me. I surprisingly feel that my mood is more stable already.

3) What advice do you have for others wanting to seek treatment? The treatment was nothing like I expected it to be. I wasn't expecting it to be uncomfortable or feel like the magnetic field pulses were actually touching me. I would say, temper your expectations and make sure you are committed to feeling a little bit of physical discomfort. If you have a low pain tolerance, bring ibuprofen with you. There are residual dull aches at the treatment site. Overall, I believe that the temporary physical discomfort is worth a chance at being in remission from depression and anxiety.