New in January 2016
This new “machine” is a portable, single-pulse Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (sTMS) device.
It has been approved by the FDA “for acute treatment of pain associated with migraine headache with aura.” From the manual, “The SpringTMS is intended for self-treatment and delivers a non-invasive, brief, single pulse of magnetic energy to the back of the head. This creates a brief electrical current in the brain intended to stop or reduce the effects of migraine headaches.” These mild electrical currents excite and depolarize neurons in the brain. They inhibit CSD or cortical spreading depression and thus have the potential to terminate aura and subsequent headache.
I have chronic migraine with aura, but my auras occur 1 to 4 x monthly while my headaches are a near daily occurrence. While the FDA has approved the sTMS for migraine with aura only, some studies cite evidence that it is effective for migraine with and without aura.
The sTMS became available for rent from eNeura Inc. by prescription in the U.S. in January of this year. The cost is approximately $250.00 per month. While I am in the process of applying for coverage from my insurance company, there is no guarantee they will agree to reimburse me. Representatives from eNeura have been accessible and cooperative in working with me on reimbursement request. The eNeura nurse/ patient representative is also readily available by phone to discuss the finer points of using the device and answer any questions that may arise.
Zapper
In consultation with my doctor, I’ve worked out a treatment regimen. I use my zapper, as I call it, in the morning and in the evening for prevention. I deliver 3 pulses each time. When I have a headache, I give myself 3 consecutive treatments or pulses. If the headache doesn’t go away in about 10 minutes, I repeat once or twice with another 3 pulses. I try to use the device as soon as I feel a headache coming on.
The treatment doesn’t hurt. You only hear and sort of feel a “thunk” inside the mechanism.
The sTMS was approved in Britain for use with patients with migraine with or without aura and became available in Jan. 2014, a year earlier than in the US. Post market studies show optimal dosing for symptoms in the range of 10-12 pulses per treatment day.
So far so good
I’ve now had my SpringTMS for three months so this is a preliminary report.
The good news: there is no doubt that it is aborting my headaches most of the time. My headache journal supports this conclusion. When I do have a headache, I treat with the sTMS fairly quickly, and the headache usually goes away. My use of abortive medication has decreased from 3 or 4 times a week to once or sometimes twice weekly.
I’m less sure whether or how much regular use of the device is acting to reduce the frequency of my headaches. This will become more obvious in the next few months. I’ll keep you posted!
On days when I use the SpringTMS multiple times to abort a major headache, I still sometimes feel the after effects including fatigue and depressed mood the next day, but I’m more or less functional and not in pain. While my energy may be low, I can still do routine activities. This is a huge difference. I now feel like I can engage in activities that I wouldn’t consider 2 months ago. I am thinking about taking a writing workshop in June and an art class in July. Since this requires not only sustained attention and tolerance for being around groups of people for hours at a time, but also tuition, I just haven’t been willing to make this kind of commitment for a long time.
Traveling
In February we spent 10 days in Melaque, Mexico, a trip that had to be postponed in December because I was just feeling too lousy. In spite of coming down with a Mexican cold, my headaches didn’t spike and I was able to enjoy swimming, walking on the beach, sampling the food and practicing my Spanish. I had no trouble traveling with my zapper although it kicked off the scanner as it went through security, and I had to step aside for a more thorough inspection. Word to the wise: keep it easily accessible in your carry-on luggage. I did take the manual and my prescription with me as documentation; however, no one seemed concerned or asked for my papers.
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