Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

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Permalink Reply by maggie on February 17, 2014 at 16:30

I would strongly advise getting advice from a GP and then if it is thought to be of clinical use then seek referral through the proper channels.
As a general rule I would not go independently (i.e. Harley Street) nor trust my brain/ body to anyone who is offering a medical service for profit rather than simply for medical benefit, after all Harley Street Clinics and many Private Hospitals lack the medical back up in terms of the full gamut of qualified staff and services, (in other words if something goes wrong they may not be able to cope, this sometimes happens in the private sector and the good old NHS has to pick up the pieces).
I have seen single TMS in clinical use (in measuring the connection between the primary motor cortex and a muscle to evaluate damage from stroke, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, movement disorders, motor neuron disease and injuries and other disorders affecting the facial and other cranial nerves and the spinal cord. Wiki) You can get a referral from your GP to a Clinical Neurophysiologist based in an NHS Department of Neurophysiology, I don't know the nearest but know that it is carried out at the London Hospital, Whitechapel E1.
If instead you are talking about repetitive TMS I would do a med search of the pros and cons and again get a proper referral from your GP. There is some interesting results on its use in combating depression however proper trials are still being carried out. N B Disclaimer- I am not a doctor, I am not medically qualified, I am a retired physiologist.

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Permalink Reply by Philip on February 17, 2014 at 16:55

Thanks for that Maggie. I would agree with going down the nhs route but just wondered if anyone knew stuff. Helpful points.

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