We all like to stick with what we know because it’s comfortable, familiar, and safe. Unfortunately, when it comes to managing chronic conditions, what you know may not be what’s best.
We understand that trying new treatments can be unsettling at first — unless you have help from the experts.
Here at the US Neuropathy Centers in Marietta, Georgia, Stephen Barrett, DPM, and Sequioa DuCasse, DPM, are proud to offer transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). It’s the most advanced technology for managing chronic pain and other health problems.
We’re also dedicated to helping our patients know exactly what to expect every time they come to see us. Here’s what you should know about TMS and what to expect from your first appointment.
This revolutionary technology allows our patients to find lasting relief from a wide range of debilitating conditions, without surgery or drugs.
TMS delivers the power of magnetic fields through coils that stimulate nerve activity in various parts of your brain and target your neuropathic pain receptors.
Not only is TMS noninvasive and proven effective, but it’s also versatile. Depending on your needs, we may recommend it as treatment for:
TMS is also an option if you’re suffering from widespread or chronic pain. The target magnetic field effectively disrupts the false pain signals traveling along your nerves and into your brain, helping you live a pain-free and active life.
While the thought of your first TMS session may be intimidating and overwhelming, the good news is that it doesn’t hurt, it doesn’t take long, and you have nothing to worry about. You relax comfortably the entire time with no threat of pain and without assistance from anesthesia.
During your first appointment, we spend most of the time customizing your treatment plan. Here at US Neuropathy Centers, we use a specific type of TMS technology called CloudTMS. This means we can save your exact measurements from the first appointment, so your subsequent appointments are a breeze.
To get your measurements, we place the TMS coils carefully on your head. We measure the angles on your head and the distances between key features to get an accurate location of which area of your brain we need to target.
Once we’ve stored your measurements and have the coils securely in place, we turn the machine on to create the magnetic field. At most, you may feel a tapping sensation. You may also hear the machine emit noise as it works.
Because TMS is noninvasive and doesn’t require extensive pre- or post-treatment care, you can drive yourself home immediately after your session and return to your daily routine.
While your first appointment typically takes two hours, your next appointments are much faster. Since we already have your measurements, you can sit down and start treatment quickly and be done within an hour.
Most of our patients need more than one treatment to see results — often five days a week for several weeks. We conduct a thorough review of your health history and symptoms to determine exactly how many treatments you need.
If you’d like more information or if you’d like to see if you’re a candidate, don’t hesitate to request an appointment at our Marietta, Georgia, office by calling or using our online tool.
