TRANSCRANIAL MAGNETIC STIMULATION RESEARCH
A study published in the Journal of Pain has shown that rTMS, Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, had shown significant reduction in the symptoms of phantom limb pain.
“Phantom limb” refers to the sensation that a missing or amputated limb is still there.
It is estimated that up to 87% of amputees will experience phantom limb pain.
The study was carried out by researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital and Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital on a group of 54 amputees who had lost limbs as a result of land mine explosions. Half received rTMS treatment and half a placebo.
Co-author Ronald G. Garcia, M.D., Ph.D Dr. Garcia of Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School said:
“In our current study, results showed that treatment with rTMS for two weeks induced a clinically significant pain reduction in 70 percent of traumatic amputees with phantom limb pain up to 15 days after treatment with no serious side effects.”
While rTMS is NICE approved for treating depression in the UK, this study provides new evidence of the potential uses of rTMS for a broad range of issues.
The full article appeared in The Journal of Pain August 2016, Volume 17, Issue 8
https://www.jpain.org/article/S1526-5900(16)30064-5/fulltext
SMART TMS CLINICS
Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) is a technological breakthrough in the treatment of depression. Research is now showing potential for treating a variety of other conditions too, without the need for medication, by working directly on the relevant area of the brain.
The treatment is now available in London, based at The Smart Clinics Brompton Cross (South Kensington).
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