My DD thinks I should consider it for my chronic pain/fibromyalgia - I am on daily pain meds (not depressed per se but have tried various anti-depression meds in the past with zero results) - I wonder whether it’s worth a shot?
I also wonder how much insurance covers - though most insurances do seem to cover it.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/transcranial-magnetic-stimulation/about/pac-20384625
TIA!
I have not, but will probably be starting it soon for treatment-resistant depression and SAD. My doctors are very worried about how I will do this winter; every year the SAD gets worse.
5 days a week for 7 weeks is a lot; I may have to interrupt my job search. OTOH I had a great interview for a job at the hospital where I would get the TMS, so that could make it easier.
That’s very interesting – I would love to hear how it works for you! I posted this a while ago, my daughter had suggested it because of my chronic pain – might be worth a try because what could be the downside?
I had a co worker who used/s this therapy to treat her depression (I am using the term very broadly as I don’t know her exact diagnosis, but she described being in a timeless fog and her work was suffering during her episode). She had been on and off various medications but this actually made a huge difference for her. It was intensive - I don’t remember if it was daily or just multiple times per week, but within a month she felt positive changes. I believe she finished a course of treatment that was maybe 3 months? She knew it might not last forever but she was willing to go back if needed. I got the impression it was a last chance effort but it worked for her.
it works for some w/ treatment resistant depression, but I don’t believe it is fda approved for chronic pain conditions, other than migraine. if this is the case, you’d be using it off label and insurance won’t cover it.
Ahhh.
This is informative - so thank you! Does one need a diagnosis of depression before insurance will cover it?
What my psychiatrist said is yes you need a diagnosis of depression, and some insurance will require you to have tried two medications with no improvement.
Ahhh, thanks.
Looks like a no-go for me then! I have been on a few anti-depressants over the years (a LONG time ago), but they did nothing for my fibromyalgia - so it was just a waste of time.
IOW I wouldn’t “qualify”, I guess 
Thanks for the clarification!
Ive not heard of TMS therapy but a quick look and it seems to be similar to PEMF as they both use electromagnetic fields. TMS uses higher frequencies which primarily are for mental health treatments/depressions/anxiety and other neuro disorders while PEMF is lower frequency and used more for physical healing/pain management/reducing inflammation/increasing circulation.
Im a big PEMF fan, Ive got the BEMER set for my horse and I use a NeoRhythm for myself at home. The NeoRhythm has pre-set programs or you can choose your own frequencies. I use it regularly as part of my ongoing therapy for my chronic pain, anxiety, and brain fog/clutter and have found their vagus nerve programs to be the most noticeable for me. If I stop use for too long, I do notice that I get more of a punchy feeling starting to bubble up. I have the headband and the pad. Their devices are a couple hundred bucks and I think they give you a pretty good window to try them and return if you don’t feel they are benefiting you if insurance is problematic.
Still worth asking your doctor IMO.
Update: the process of getting screened etc for TMS is taking some time. I spike with the clinic’s head psychiatrist on Thursday; she thinks I’m a good candidate and the clinic has started the approval process with my health insurance. I have an appointment with the clinic’s neurologist tomorrow. If everything works out, I’ll start treatment in mid-December.
As I’m getting it done at a research hospital, they’ve asked me to be in an MRI study of TMS patients - but it’s not required. I’d get 3 brain MRIs, before, during, and after treatment. They’re trying to find out if MRI imaging would allow placement of the magnetic plates customized to the patient, and if that would.improve outcomes.
But the psychiatrist says it helps about 60% of people… And it’s such a commitment, 5 days a week for at least 6 weeks, though mine will go a little longer as the clinic is closed on Christmas and New Years. She did say it’s ok to skip a day here and there as long as I’m getting at least 3 sessions a week.
She said if this doesn’t work, the next treatment to try would be esketamine.
So… I’m 6 sessions in, not enough to know if TMS is working. I will say, it’s very weird. The TMS has been described as a “woodpecker pecking your head” and that’s really a perfect description. It is painful but I have a reasonably high pain tolerance. It hasn’t given me a headache. Some people premedicate with Tylenol or Advil beforehand.
The whole appointment takes about 30 minutes, but 5 to 10 minutes is spent calibrating, getting ready etc. I will say that the technicians are wonderful, two very nice young men from rural Maine… also easy on the eyes!
DH and I have been talking, and I actually could retire if I can’t find another job doing what I’m good at. That is a huge relief and maybe I’m a bit less depressed now. He’s 61 and has been retired for about 20 years. I’m 60. Obviously we’d take a huge hit for health insurance through the ACA until age 65. No cheap plans because I have a lot of health issues and a team of doctors I don’t want to leave. We don’t qualify for a subsidy.
My last session was today. I actually got 10 extra sessions approved by my insurance because I was starting to respond by week 7, so I had 46 sessions over 14 weeks. Because of holidays etc the treatment took twice as long as normal.
My overall opinion? It helped, but not a lot. The biggest change was that I became a lot calmer. I’ve backed way off on the Buspar, too.
I did start pre-medicating with Advil before my sessions.
There was just too much other stuff going on to get a good response.
I was getting treatment when my SAD was at its worst.
I was on Wegovy, and when I upped my dose just before Thanksgiving, I developed horrible GI symptoms and missed some sessions because I needed to be near a toilet all of the time. (I am now on Zepbound and playing with the dosing a bit by taking a half dose of the 5 mg every 4 to 5 days.)
My FIL got very ill in mid-December and was in the hospital for 3 weeks. DH was gone that entire time; I was able to visit a couple of times but drama around the Very Large Dog made it stressful. About 3 weeks after he was discharged, he was hospitalized again for almost 3 weeks. It’s really hard on my MIL; my FIL is a difficult man to start with, but he’s become extremely grouchy. Very Large Dog drama prevents me from being able to help much.
Finally - I know we’re not supposed to talk about politics, but it’s been less than 7 weeks and Trump and Musk have destroyed so much, they are Chaotic Evil - and the GOP is spineless, at least publicly. I’ve been grant-supported by the NIH and PEPFAR/USAID for much of my career, and I’ve been watching grant-funded job listings just vanish since January 20. So regardless of how I feel, I’m being forced into retirement.
Sad to see. I was on the hospital medical staff at the NIH Clinical Center years ago. Where will patents with rare and orphan disease problems be referred to if the NIH clinical activity loses staff
and funding. Do they not think things through?
I honestly don’t believe they think at all.
I don’t think they care about the patients, as well.
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