Day 15: Why Not Use TMS?

Welcome to day 2 of my 3-Day discussion of TMS. Since it's Friday, today's post will be nice and sweet. So sit back in this comfortable-looking chair and relax!

 

In my past posts, I've discussed some of the therapeutic and experimental applications of TMS. So TMS sounds like a pretty nifty thing, right? Why not go to your doctor right now and demand TMS treatment? I'm only joking. Before you sign up for a TMS session, read on and discover the risks of TMS.

Part 2: Risks
Here is a list of some of the risks from using TMS.

1. Seizures and syncope. Seizures from TMS are said to be caused by single-pulse or rTMS. The risk of getting seizures today though is "very low" (Wikipedia). 
2. Discomfort or pain. Appears at locations of stimulation on the scalp. Discomfort is more associated with rTMS than with single-pulse.
3. Hearing diminishes. TMS can emit very loud clicking sounds that can affect hearing after long periods of time (so it's associated more with rTMS), but this can easily be avoided through the use of hearing protection.
4. Skin burns. This may seem odd, but remember on Day 9 when I attached electrodes to myself to measure data? Well, when rTMS is near incompatible electrodes, it may cause damage to the skin.

So now that you have become more knowledgeable about TMS, you can weigh the benefits vs. the risks before being involved in the TMS therapeutic applications. Stay tuned to hear about the different coil types for TMS!

References:

1. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation. Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transcranial_magnetic_stimulation (accessed Feb 19, 2013)