TMS of Tennessee

Offering NeuroStar TMS, non-invasive, drug-free treatment for depression and anxiety

By Jason Zasky

“Anyone who suffers from depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a potential candidate for NeuroStar TMS,” begins Dr. Greg Hood, Ph.D., managing partner and co-owner of the TMS of Tennessee clinic in Franklin. “TMS stands for Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation,” he adds, referring to the non-invasive, drug-free treatment, which is FDA-approved for the above-referenced conditions and uses short magnetic pulses to stimulate nerve cells in the areas of the brain that control mood. 

“Most major insurance companies pay for NeuroStar TMS, and if insurance doesn’t cover it, we do in-house financing and have credit companies that help finance medical procedures,” relates Dr. Hood, before noting that a course of treatment consists of 36 sessions of approximately 18 minutes each. Patients sit in a comfortable chair not entirely unlike a dentist’s chair while a cushioned coil delivers the precisely targeted magnetic pulses. A tapping, tingling, or warming sensation may be felt where the coil is positioned, but patients remain awake and alert the entire time and can resume regular activities immediately afterward.  

Dr. Hood says he and his team have seen patients experience remarkable results, highlighting one individual who was depressed to the point that he was spending 23 hours a day in bed.

"He came into the clinic in a wheelchair, and (was so depressed) he wasn’t able to talk and wasn’t even able to dress himself. Before the end of his treatment cycle, he was driving himself to his appointments. NeuroStar TMS gave him a new lease on life,” recalls Dr. Hood, before noting that he sees NeuroStar as the “leading technology in the TMS field—and light years ahead of everybody else.”

The Mississippi native says NeuroStar TMS can also be used to treat conditions other than those for which it is FDA-approved. 

"It can also be used to treat things like tinnitus, fibromyalgia, opioid addiction and concussions,” he adds, highlighting some of the most common “off label” treatments. 

Potential candidates for NeuroStar simply visit the TMS of Tennessee clinic on Downs Boulevard and have a consult with clinic manager Cheryl Long. The next step is an evaluation by TMS of Tennessee medical director Dr. Prasad Kondapavuluru, the latter of whom is responsible for signing off on treatment. Typically, NeuroStar TMS patients have already tried and failed to treat their condition with multiple medications and/or traditional therapy.  

“It’s amazing to see when someone goes from having a depressed brain to a non-depressed brain,” offers TMS of Tennessee’s lead NeuroStar technician Sunni Dunn, who says she often sees tangible changes in patient demeanor and talkativeness—even in the middle of a single 18-minute treatment session. 

Dunn says some patients like the results so much that they return every year or so for a new course of treatment, which is referred to as “maintenance” or “freshening up.”

Life happens, she reminds us, and sometimes, the death of a family member, loss of a job, or other life events prompts people to come back for additional treatment. 

"Approximately 83% of people see great improvement to the point where depression is not controlling their lives,” notes Dr. Hood. “Around 62% of people see such great results from it that they come off their medications totally. Our goal is to get people to the place where they are not dependent on medications, and the body can do what it was designed to do, and they can go back to living a wonderful life.”

CONTACT

TMS of Tennessee

354 Downs Blvd., Ste 108, Franklin, TN 37064

615-997-4213

https://tmstennessee.com/