What Does TMS Therapy Feel Like?

We often get asked questions regarding what TMS Therapy feels like. Most patients have a comfortable experience throughout their TMS Therapy sessions. Sometimes a light tapping sensation to the scalp can be felt that eventually dissipates as the patient acclimates to treatment. For the few who experience discomfort, it often has to do with an individual’s anatomy and not their innate pain threshold. Discomfort can arise from inadvertent stimulation of a scalp or facial nerve.

There are a few options that a treating TMS physician can consider if a patient experiences discomfort:

1. slightly moving or rotating the magnetic coil can move the energy field off of the nerve that is causing discomfort
2. setting the motor threshold as low as possible can also improve comfort
3. sometimes the treatment location or the pulse sequence can be modified
4. changing to another TMS device (FDA has approved 5 devices)

The vast majority of patients do not experience discomfort and acclimate to treatment by the first few treatment sessions.

If you are experiencing ongoing discomfort during treatment, we encourage you to discuss your concerns with your TMS Physician.

To learn more about TMS Therapy, please visit greenbrooktms.com

Please be advised that the information presented here is for information purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. All patients are encouraged to discuss any issues or concerns they may have with their behavioral health providers.