Finding care to help alleviate the symptoms of depression isn’t always easy, especially for those dealing with treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Even a combination of psychotherapy and medication fails to bring long-term relief for some people. The good news is there are innovative treatment options that have shown the ability to help, such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS).
What Is TMS Therapy for Depression?
TMS works by using a specialized helmet that sends out magnetic pulses in order to target the regions of the brain that regulate both anxiety and mood. The pulses help produce electrical currents in brain cells within the targeted regions. The electrical currents help boost communication in the pathways that are integral for affecting behavior, mood and anxiety, modulating the nerve activity in the treated areas. The results of TMS, for many people, include the alleviation of TRD and other types of depression. Some types of TMS, including deep transcranial magnetic stimulation (dTMS), offer even deeper and wider ranging brain cell stimulation.
The treatment process is simple and short. Sessions last about 20 minutes and do not require anesthesia or hospitalization. TMS is safe and has minimal side effects. Patients can return to their regular daily activities once the session is complete.
At The Remedy, we begin TMS therapy by going through an in-depth consultation to establish your unique treatment needs. From there, we develop a personalized treatment plan designed to fit into your life and deliver relief from the persistent symptoms of depression you are experiencing.
Does TMS Therapy Used for Depression Help With Chronic Pain?
An effective depression treatment for many people, TMS has a wide range of other benefits. Among these is relief from chronic pain. In fact, according to Stanford Medicine research, TMS could be used as a treatment option for chronic pain in the future. This is because chronic pain is connected to how your brain processes pain signals, and TMS treatment influences the types of connections that send these signals. Further research is ongoing about how TMS and more in-depth dTMS treatments could more specifically target these parts of the brain and help alleviate chronic pain.
While not currently FDA-approved for the primary use of treating pain, studies are ongoing and the potential for approval remains. For now, any pain relief brought about by TMS treatment is an ancillary benefit in the treatment of approved usage, including conditions like TRD and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Does Medicare Cover TMS Therapy for Depression?
At The Remedy, we accept Medicare coverage in Minnesota and Wisconsin Medicare at our Wisconsin locations. Other TMS therapy providers will have their own unique policies about the insurance options they accept.
While we do accept Medicare, we encourage you to check your specific policy to see if TMS therapy is covered by your plan. To understand your coverage before pursuing treatment, explore the providers we accept.
TMS Therapy in Minnesota, Wisconsin and South Dakota
At The Remedy, we’re dedicated to providing the very best TMS treatment possible with our dTMS services. Our dTMS treatment uses the same general process as standard TMS (with a different type of coil in the helmet) and produces a deeper stimulation for brain cells across a larger area of the brain. This can result in more effective and broader treatment for those living with treatment-resistant and other types of depression.
Get the care you need without upturning your life to do it. Explore the services offered at all of our locations to find a clinic near you that offers dTMS treatment for depression and then reach out to set up a consultation or to learn more.
