The human body has an amazing ability to heal itself. While medications play a vital role in health care, often, all your body needs is a nudge that allows it to tap into its own resources.
The emerging field of regenerative medicine, which draws upon your own growth factors and therapeutic stem cells to repair and replace damaged tissues, is a great example.
Likewise, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) offers a drug-free way to initiate a reaction in your brain, enabling it to release neurotransmitters — serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine — to change the chemical activity, reduce pain, and improve mood.
The experienced team at Vital TMS Therapy in Washington, DC, and Chevy Chase, Maryland, offer this cutting-edge treatment to our patients whose chronic pain and mood disorders haven’t responded well to other approaches. TMS is noninvasive, painless, safe, and proven. Here’s what you need to know.
The TMS track record
Building upon centuries of evolving technology, the first viable TMS device emerged in 1985. That early prototype proved that magnetic stimulation could affect the brain’s motor cortex, which had significant implications for the treatment of conditions such as depression, stroke, and multiple sclerosis.
After years of research and improvements, today’s TMS device can target and influence any region of the brain by painlessly passing magnetic pulses through your skull. When delivered in rapid succession — called repetitive TMS or rTMS — these pulses can generate lasting changes in your brain activity.
As the earliest adopter of this game-changing technology, Canada approved the TMS device in 2002. The United States’ Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gave its stamp of approval in 2008, green-lighting TMS for treatment-resistant depression, and the UK followed suit in 2015. In 2018, the FDA extended its approval of TMS for the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
Vital TMS Therapy is in good company
Over the last decade, some of the most prestigious medical institutions in the US have adopted TMS technology. World-renowned hospitals, such as Johns Hopkins Brain Stimulation Program, Cleveland Clinic’s Neurological Institute, and Mayo Clinic’s Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, all administer TMS with great success.
In fact, since the FDA approved TMS, more than 20 million treatment sessions have been delivered throughout the country.
In the Washington, DC, and Chevy Chase, Maryland, area, Vital TMS Therapy is among a handful of practices that specialize in TMS. And we’re a boutique mental health practice, which means we limit the number of patients we see so we can focus our attention on you.
Is TMS effective?
Yes! Up to 60% of people who have tried for years to treat their depression with various medications have reported marked improvement in their symptoms after TMS therapy, and about 33% of them fell completely well.
Compared to medication, this is ground-breaking. Up to 50% of people with depression don’t respond to traditional first-line treatments, which typically involve a combination of medications and cognitive-behavior therapy. TMS offers them hope and a proven track record.
But don’t rely on stats alone — talk to others who have turned to TMS for much-needed relief. Our satisfied patients are overwhelmingly pleased with their Vital TMS experience.
Although TMS doesn’t cure depression, it can give immediate relief from some or all of your symptoms. Should the depression return, we can easily turn to TMS again to keep the mood disorder at bay.
Why we trust TMS
The Vital TMS team successfully treats patients with TMS therapy day in and day out, so we know the technology, the research, and the results like no one else. Here are some of the many benefits of TMS:
Alternative to medication
Whether you can’t take medication or would rather not, TMS offers an effective alternative.
Quick, easy treatment sessions
TMS only takes 20-30 minutes, and you can read, watch a movie, or answer emails during your therapy session.
Few side effects
Unlike medication, TMS comes with almost no side effects. The most common complaint is slight scalp irritation, which fades quickly.
Usually covered by insurance
If other treatments haven’t worked for your depression or OCD, your insurance company may pay for your TMS treatments. We can help you check with your provider to find out if your policy includes TMS.
TMS treats multiple conditions
At Vital TMS Therapy, our team specializes in this 100% noninvasive, pain-free treatment, and we have used it to successfully treat several stubborn conditions, including PTSD, OCD, major depression and anxiety, chronic pain and fibromyalgia, ADHD, and migraines.
To find out if you’re a good candidate for TMS, contact us by phone or online today. Relief may be just a few painless TMS sessions away.
