Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

What is TMS?

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) uses intense magnetic energy pulses to activate electrical currents in brain cells.

During therapy, Dr. Cohen places a magnetic coil on your head. The coil produces pulses that penetrate the skull, stimulating neural activity and improving communication between brain cells. 

It’s a noninvasive therapy that benefits brain function, treating a diverse range of conditions that resist traditional medical interventions. 

What conditions benefit from TMS?

Chicago Neurological Services uses TMS to treat many conditions. You may benefit from this therapy if you have:

Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) TRD is a type of depression that fails to improve with traditional antidepressant medications and psychotherapy. TMS therapy is an FDA-approved treatment for TRD. It stimulates the area of the brain responsible for the low mood, alleviating symptoms.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) OCD is a serious mental health condition that affects how you think, feel, and behave. TMS is an FDA-approved treatment for people with OCD. The therapy reduces the anxiety and obsessive thoughts that occur with OCD, making you more responsive to therapy.

Current medical literature indicates the benefits of TMS use for stroke recovery, fibromyalgia, and mild cognitive impairment.  While it is considered to be investigational, Dr. Cohen proudly offers such services to his patients to achieve results when other therapies fail. This noninvasive therapy may also benefit people struggling with anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, and Parkinson’s disease.

Investigational use of TMS is not covered by health insurance, but at Chicago Neurological Services, Dr. Cohen and his team offer a self-pay rate for TMS that is consistent with the Medicare fee schedule.

What does TMS therapy feel like?

TMS therapy at Chicago Neurological Services is well tolerated. You may feel a tapping sensation and hear a clicking sound during treatment. 

At your initial TMS visit, Dr. Cohen does brain mapping to determine the placement of the magnetic pulse for your therapeutic plan. This first visit may take up to an hour. All follow-up visits take about 30 minutes.

You may have mild head pain following your TMS therapy, but these side effects resolve quickly.

Dr. Cohen customizes your TMS therapy plan, but to achieve the true benefits of TMS, you may need five TMS sessions a week for up to eight weeks.

When can I expect results from TMS?

It may take about two weeks of TMS therapy until you notice improvements in your symptoms, with continued improvements over the next several weeks. You need to continue your traditional medical treatments for your condition while undergoing TMS therapy. 

If you don’t experience improvements in symptoms after two weeks, Dr. Cohen may suggest other interventions.

Call Chicago Neurological Services today or schedule your TMS consultation online.