Living with chronic pain — whether that’s back pain, migraine, or even lingering pain from an old sports injury — can feel like an endless cycle of trying one treatment after another.
If medications, physical therapy, injections, or other therapies haven’t provided the relief you were hoping for, you may be wondering what's next.
If you’re at that junction, our team at International Spine, Pain & Performance Center may recommend transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Read on to learn more about this noninvasive procedure and how you might know if it’s right for you.
TMS is a noninvasive procedure that uses magnetic pulses to stimulate specific areas of your brain involved in pain processing and mood regulation.
Unlike surgery, TMS doesn’t require incisions, anesthesia, or implanted devices. During treatment, you remain awake while we place a magnetic coil against your scalp to deliver magnetic energy pulses.
Most sessions take about 20-40 minutes, and you can usually return to your normal activities afterward.
Chronic pain doesn’t always originate from the same place. Depending on the condition, it may stem from your joints, muscles, or even your nerves.
For example, osteoarthritis typically causes pain in the affected joint (whether that’s your knee, hip, or spine), while fibromyalgia causes widespread musculoskeletal pain throughout your body.
Chronic pain can do more than affect the area where it began. Your brain itself can become more sensitive to pain signals. This process is known as central sensitization.
As a result, your brain may continue to amplify pain, even after the original injury has healed or inflammation has decreased. Central sensitization is common with many different pain conditions, including tendinopathy, several types of arthritis, and fibromyalgia.
TMS helps with chronic pain and central sensitization because it can stimulate specific areas of your brain involved in pain processing. According to a review in the Journal of Personal Medicine, TMS stimulates the primary motor cortex in your brain, which may then help reset abnormal brain activity. As a result, you may experience reduced pain intensity.
TMS may be right for your pain if you:
Although TMS is best known for treating depression, researchers continue to explore its use in managing several chronic pain conditions, including:
Not everyone responds the same way, which is why we start with a comprehensive evaluation to determine whether TMS may be appropriate for you. In many cases, it may be just one pillar of your pain management plan.
People with certain implanted metal devices or some neurological conditions, including epilepsy, may not be ideal candidates for TMS. If TMS isn’t right for you, we walk you through other pain management options.
TMS isn’t a one-and-done treatment. Think of it as a commitment. Most people start with treatments five days a week for 4-6 weeks, although your schedule may vary based on your condition and personalized treatment plan.
The more consistent you are with your sessions, the better your chance of achieving meaningful results.
TMS isn’t a magic wand, and it doesn’t work overnight. Instead, it works best as part of a comprehensive pain management plan that may include physical therapy, stretching and strengthening exercises, lifestyle changes, medications, and interventional pain procedures.
Our goal isn’t just to reduce your pain, although that’s a big part of it. We want to help you move better, function better, and get back to the activities you enjoy, and TMS could be part of that plan.
Living with chronic pain doesn’t mean you’ve run out of options. Our team of providers in Washington, DC, and Arlington, Virginia, and at our Mountain Spine & Pain location in Pulaski, Virginia, takes a comprehensive approach to pain management.
It’s why we offer advanced treatments and curate treatment plans to each person’s specific condition and goals. Pain management is never a one-size-fits-all treatment, and that’s something we live by.
If you’re interested in learning whether TMS may be part of your personalized treatment plan, we’re here to help. Call our office to schedule your appointment, or use the Request Appointment button.
