TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) for Parkinson's

Posted by musimary @musimary, Jun 11 6:40am

TMS is FDA approved for depression and OCD but not yet for Parkinson's although research has shown promise. Has anyone used TMS for depression and found that it helps with Parkinson's symptoms?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Parkinson's Disease Support Group.

Hello @musimary,
I did a search on Connect on TMS. Here is a link to all of the Connect discussions that refer to TMS.
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/search/?search=TMS&pg=1
I just looked through several of the pages of the search and I did not quickly see any reference to this therapy's usefulness with PD symptoms.

Here is an article from the Michael J. Fox website which speaks of TMS and Parkinson's
https://www.michaeljfox.org/news/ask-md-stimulating-brain-treat-parkinsons
Have you been recently diagnosed with PD? What symptoms are the most troublesome for you?

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@hopeful33250

Hello @musimary,
I did a search on Connect on TMS. Here is a link to all of the Connect discussions that refer to TMS.
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/search/?search=TMS&pg=1
I just looked through several of the pages of the search and I did not quickly see any reference to this therapy's usefulness with PD symptoms.

Here is an article from the Michael J. Fox website which speaks of TMS and Parkinson's
https://www.michaeljfox.org/news/ask-md-stimulating-brain-treat-parkinsons
Have you been recently diagnosed with PD? What symptoms are the most troublesome for you?

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Thank you for taking the time to reply. My husband has had Parkinson's for 8 years. I'm looking for some alternative therapy to add to the conventional protocol of Carbidopa Levodopa meds, as the doctors keep increasing his dosage and I've heard that after a time, these meds stop working. The Michael J Fox info was helpful. My husband's most troubling symptoms are reduced ability to think clearly, significant fatigue, and reduced mobility.

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@musimary

Thank you for taking the time to reply. My husband has had Parkinson's for 8 years. I'm looking for some alternative therapy to add to the conventional protocol of Carbidopa Levodopa meds, as the doctors keep increasing his dosage and I've heard that after a time, these meds stop working. The Michael J Fox info was helpful. My husband's most troubling symptoms are reduced ability to think clearly, significant fatigue, and reduced mobility.

Jump to this post

@musimary

I can really appreciate you looking for some help for your husband. Have his doctors tried any other PD medications? There are lots of alternative medications these days. You might inquire if another medication could be tried.

What about exercise? Daily exercise is really important. Exercise, when combined with medication are the best way to help delay the disability of PD. If he can't get out to physical therapy, there are a lot of free YouTube videos that provide exercises for people with Parkinson's. Most of these exercise videos are done while seated.

I'm hoping that he is seeing a movement disorder specialist (MDS). These are neurologists who are specially trained in treating disorders like PD. If not, it might be good to get a second opinion from one of these doctors.

I look forward to hearing from you. Will you post again and let me know how he is doing?

REPLY
@hopeful33250

Hello @musimary,
I did a search on Connect on TMS. Here is a link to all of the Connect discussions that refer to TMS.
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/search/?search=TMS&pg=1
I just looked through several of the pages of the search and I did not quickly see any reference to this therapy's usefulness with PD symptoms.

Here is an article from the Michael J. Fox website which speaks of TMS and Parkinson's
https://www.michaeljfox.org/news/ask-md-stimulating-brain-treat-parkinsons
Have you been recently diagnosed with PD? What symptoms are the most troublesome for you?

Jump to this post

Balance and gait seem 2 b the most troubling

REPLY
@musimary

Thank you for taking the time to reply. My husband has had Parkinson's for 8 years. I'm looking for some alternative therapy to add to the conventional protocol of Carbidopa Levodopa meds, as the doctors keep increasing his dosage and I've heard that after a time, these meds stop working. The Michael J Fox info was helpful. My husband's most troubling symptoms are reduced ability to think clearly, significant fatigue, and reduced mobility.

Jump to this post

You echo my concerns with my husband's Parkinson's journey. Fatigue is in charge of him - sleeps at night, all morning, naps after breakfast/lunch, and then again in the evening. Perhaps awake and doing well from 4-8. This coupled to varying ability to think clearly over the day (most significant when he is fatigued) and significant freezing gate at varying times. He just moved to 2 pills /4 times a day of carbidopa/levodopa). He has recently become very depressed and has hallucinations (was given this name by our physicians) about dying, being buried, or someone close to him dying. I was thinking of adding CBD oil.
Wishing you patience and lots of love.

REPLY
@s100

You echo my concerns with my husband's Parkinson's journey. Fatigue is in charge of him - sleeps at night, all morning, naps after breakfast/lunch, and then again in the evening. Perhaps awake and doing well from 4-8. This coupled to varying ability to think clearly over the day (most significant when he is fatigued) and significant freezing gate at varying times. He just moved to 2 pills /4 times a day of carbidopa/levodopa). He has recently become very depressed and has hallucinations (was given this name by our physicians) about dying, being buried, or someone close to him dying. I was thinking of adding CBD oil.
Wishing you patience and lots of love.

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CBD is legal in over 47 states, so I was wondering has anyone had any experience as a patient or caregiver with CBD--either as a stand alone drug or as a or supplement to other PD drugs they may be taking.
Thanks

REPLY
@s100

You echo my concerns with my husband's Parkinson's journey. Fatigue is in charge of him - sleeps at night, all morning, naps after breakfast/lunch, and then again in the evening. Perhaps awake and doing well from 4-8. This coupled to varying ability to think clearly over the day (most significant when he is fatigued) and significant freezing gate at varying times. He just moved to 2 pills /4 times a day of carbidopa/levodopa). He has recently become very depressed and has hallucinations (was given this name by our physicians) about dying, being buried, or someone close to him dying. I was thinking of adding CBD oil.
Wishing you patience and lots of love.

Jump to this post

I have same issues with Parkinsons.extremely frustrating as I don’t know if it is Parkinsons or being 77

REPLY

Hello Mike,
I just finished my third round of TMS, treating severe depression. After trying unsuccessfully 2-14 antidepressants, talk therapy, support groups, and so on, over decades, TMS worked like magic and awoke me from the dead. However, while in treatment, I was simultaneously diagnosed with Parkinson's so I doubt TMS works for PD, but I don't know. I'd never heard of TMS for PD, so thank you kindly for that connection. LaG

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Sorry...I meant 12-14 antidepressants! Good night! (I'm in CA)

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