Traumatic Brain Injury and Concussion Treatment
Concussions and Traumatic Brain Injuries can have lasting and damaging effects. MeRT (Magnetic e-Resonance Therapy) can help to recover brain connectivity and function.
MeRT Approach
Life can be a burden after a Traumatic Brain Injury. But there is hope.
Headaches, dizziness, nausea, memory problems — if you’ve ever had a traumatic brain injury or a concussion, you know these feelings and more. And while the symptoms can resolve over time if it’s a mild concussion, sometimes they’re more severe. And they don’t improve despite every possible medication or treatment.
That’s when life often becomes unbearable. And that’s when you need a different solution, one that has helped thousands overcome the painful, debilitating symptoms of Traumatic Brain Injury.
It’s called MeRT®, or Magnetic e-Resonance Therapy. Simply stated, MeRT uses a magnetic field to stimulate and balance brain function, guided by sophisticated imaging and diagnostics. And it can result in a dramatic reduction of symptoms.
Talk to our New Patient Coordinator
She is happy to explain how it all works and answer any questions you may have, with no obligation.
Or fill out the form at the bottom of the page and we will contact you.
“I’ve had a radical healing.”
“I’d just always ‘outworked’ it. After the last concussion, that wasn’t an option, even though I had previously walked off a dozen concussions. It’s vital to know that not all TBIs result in massive concussions, but they all add to the erosion of the mind and self if untreated.
“Through EEG, MeRT, and some subtle sleep and attention shifts, I’ve had a radical nourishing, strengthening, and, dare I say, ‘healing,’ bringing me to see life through a filter I’ve never known was available.
“Giving life a chance is sometimes just staying in ‘the Try.’ If you are damaged, confused, and at the end, know that you have allies you’ve never met before.” – Tait Fletcher, Actor and Stunt Performer
What is a Traumatic Brain Injury?
The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) defines TBI, or Traumatic Brain Injury, as “a disruption in the normal function of the brain that can be caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head, or penetrating head injury.” TBIs can range from severe (gunshot) to mild (blow to the head or body).
A concussion is considered to be a mild TBI, and the Mayo Clinic defines a concussion as “a traumatic brain injury that affects your brain function. Effects are usually temporary but can include headaches and problems with concentration, memory, balance, and coordination.”
However, while a TBI may be medically referred to as “mild” since it’s not life-threatening, the results can be anything but mild.
When your head suddenly hits an object or when it moves violently back and forth (such as in a car accident), your brain can bounce around or twist in the skull.
This can also cause chemical changes in your brain or brain cell damage. And these changes may last a lifetime.
Causes of Traumatic Brain Injury include:
- Falls (especially in older adults and young children)
- Motor vehicle crashes and other transportation-related causes (eg, bicycle crashes, collisions with pedestrians)
- Assaults
- Sports activities
Depending on the severity of the injury, TBI symptoms can include:
- Loss of consciousness
- Headaches or Migraines
- Fatigue or lethargy
- Vision changes and/or dilated pupils
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Memory issues
- Confusion
- Cognitive problems or decline
- Inappropriate emotional responses
- Anger
- Depression
- Anxiety or panic attacks
- Feeling of isolation
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Numbness and tingling in different parts of the body
- Loss of function or weakness in other parts of the body
- Breathing problems
- Loss of bladder or bowel control
- Facial weakness
- Loss of hearing or tinnitus
Long-term effects of Traumatic Brain Injury
If left untreated, a Traumatic Brain Injury can lead to a shortened life span and significant complications. According to the Journal of Neurotrauma:
“Traumatic brain injury (TBI) produces both acute and more chronic consequences that lead to permanent disabilities that increase long-term mortality and reduced life expectancy.”
The Journal explains that untreated TBI can result in various secondary pathological conditions. These can include seizures, sleep disorders, nervous system diseases, endocrine disorders, and psychiatric problems.
For patients with a moderate head injury, approximately 60% will make a positive recovery, and an estimated 25% will have moderately impaired function.
Those with severe injuries will have a moderate-to-severe disability: 33% of those with severe head traumas will not survive, and the ones who do survive might end up in a vegetative state.
(These statistics apply to closed-head injuries.)
Talk to our New Patient Coordinator
She is happy to explain how it all works and answer any questions you may have, with no obligation.
Or fill out the form at the bottom of the page and we will contact you.
“I have a whole new lease on life.”
“Everything changed when I started treatment. Within two weeks, I was sleeping better. I was off all 12 of the meds I was on when I began treatment, and I was starting to enjoy life again.
“After the first month, I was socializing with people, I was able to work out for the first time in years, and I started to help my wife with the bills and our budget.
“As I write this, I just completed my sixth week of treatment. A conservative estimate is that I have had a 60–70% reduction of the symptoms I listed above, and I have a whole new lease on life. I can focus and I feel good about myself. I feel confident. And I laugh again. Most importantly, I can feel the love for and from my family again.” – David, MeRT Patient
The Four Steps of MeRT Treatment
By assessing the communication quality between the networks of neurons in your brain, we can hone in on and gently stimulate and “wake up” those areas to improve function.
Testing & Evaluation
On your first appointment, we will perform the qEEG, also often referred to as a brain scan, and an EKG as described above. This takes about 45 minutes to an hour.
These tests are painless, easy to do, and straightforward. They are performed right in our office.
Once testing is completed, our scientists and physicians will interpret and analyze the results to determine the exact function of the brain.
Analysis
We carefully analyze the test results using a scientific and patented approach. Once the testing is completed and results evaluated, we will schedule a consultation with the Doctor to discuss the results and how these relate to symptoms being experienced.
Based on this analysis, we develop a treatment plan customized to your specific condition and schedule your assessment period of treatment.
MeRT Treatment
Once your treatment protocols are in place, you will come to therapy, five days a week, in two-week intervals. You simply sit in a comfortable chair while a highly-trained neuro-technician places a magnetic coil on your head. This device produces a low-frequency magnetic field to induce mild electrical signals in the targeted areas of the brain.
Time spent in the chair is typically 30 minutes. The stimulation occurs for 6-8 seconds every minute.
Progress Evaluation
We will monitor your progress throughout your daily treatments to confirm how you feel and track improvements. After two weeks of treatment, we will perform another qEEG and EKG to review your progress and make any needed modifications.
If there is a positive response to treatment during the assessment period, you will likely notice some symptom improvements. At that point, we will schedule treatment in two-week intervals.
Some of the Benefits of MeRT
Treatment with MeRT usually runs about six to eight weeks. Patients have experienced many benefits, including:
- Improved sleep
- Increased relaxation
- Better concentration and focus
- Improved memory and mental clarity
- Decreased pain
- Better mood
- Improved ability to cope with stress
- Increased attention span
- More motivation
- Fewer cravings (such as drugs or alcohol)
- Improved emotional stability
- More clarity of thought
- Increased ability to adapt to change
- Improved self-confidence and self-esteem
* Results are based on active and strict observation of our regimens. Results may vary based on the individual user and are not guaranteed.
MeRT Treatment for TBIs Featured on The Broken Brain Podcast
The Broken Brain, featuring host Dhru Purohit, is a popular podcast exploring the inner workings of the brain and body. MeRT treatment was featured on the podcast in an interview with Dr. Eric Won, President and Chief Medical Officer of Wave Neuroscience.
Dr. Won discussed how MeRT has improved Traumatic Brain Injury outcomes for veterans and shared some incredible successes. If you or a loved one are suffering after a TBI or concussion, this podcast is a must-watch.
“I can honestly say my brain is in a better place.”
“I’m two or three months past my last treatment, and I can honestly say my brain is in a better place than it was before. The emotional highs and lows I was living with have stabilized. My cognition took off during that period, and it hasn’t slowed down since.”
– Nick Hardwick (Retired NFL Center, Chargers)
MeRT for head injuries is founded on a history of independent research published over many years
This therapy is a personalized iteration of rTMS (repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) and is based on extensive comprehensive scientific studies. The effectiveness of MeRT is validated by numerous publications in prestigious scientific journals. Here are a few important references.
The use of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) following traumatic brain injury (TBI): A scoping review:
“Evidence suggests that rTMS has the potential to be an efficacious therapeutic intervention for multiple symptoms after TBI, including depression, dizziness, central pain, and visual neglect. “
Neuromodulatory Interventions for Traumatic Brain Injury:
“In this special issue of the Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation, we share with readers some of the latest advancements in neuromodulation specific to TBI, while providing the framework to further our understanding of how and why functional skills are likely improved. While neuromodulatory interventions can play a critical role in functional recovery for those with TBI, the heterogenous nature of TBI means that clinical implementation of neuromodulation will require understanding, at the individual and group levels, of how, when, and where to alter brain activity to support sustained recovery of sensory and higher order functions.”
The role of transcranial magnetic stimulation in treating depression after traumatic brain injury:
“This study suggests that rTMS is a potential treatment option for depression following TBI. Both 15 to 16 session and 30 to 38 session cohorts showed significant decreases in depression as measured by PHQ-9 following rTMS treatment. These findings support the use of rTMS in post-concussion depression treatment and highlight the need for more research on rTMS therapy following TBI.”
Randomized trial of rTMS in traumatic brain injury: improved subjective neurobehavioral symptoms and increases in EEG delta activity:
“Subjective measures of depression, sleep dysfunction, post-concussive symptoms (PCS), and executive function showed significant improvement with stimulation, retaining improved levels at two-week follow-up. EEG delta power exhibited elevation one week after stimulation cessation.”
Neural mechanisms of emotional health in traumatic brain injury patients undergoing rTMS treatment:
“Our findings uncover the neural mechanisms underlying the improvement in emotional well-being in TBI due to application of neuromodulation. The main effect of rTMS is to reduce emotional disorders and hence consequently it may improve cognitive and executive functions.”
Low frequency transcranial magnetic stimulation for cognitive recovery after traumatic brain injury: A case report:
“Our results are consistent with studies showing improved cognitive functioning in TBI following a unilateral or bilateral rTMS protocol that used low frequency rTMS over the right DLPFC. Therefore, this stimulation site may be promising for improving cognitive recovery in TBI, especially when combined with cognitive rehabilitation.”
Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Treatment of Depression in a Patient With Severe Traumatic Brain Injury:
“Case Report: A 37-year-old male with history of anxiety and bipolar depression incurred a TBI after a 60-foot fall. After his physical recovery, the patient had refractory depression. Eight months after the TBI event, he underwent a 6-week course of rTMS treatment and had a 70.8% improvement in mood symptoms by the end of the therapy as indicated by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, transitioning from severe to mild depression according to the scoring system. Clinical correlation during the months following conclusion of rTMS therapy showed no signs of remission or adverse side effects. The patient remains stable and lives independently 1 year after treatment with mood-stabilizing medications.
“Conclusion: This case provides evidence for successful treatment of refractory depressive symptoms after severe TBI with the addition of rTMS to psychotherapy and mood-stabilizing medications, supporting the safety and tolerability of this novel therapeutic approach. Further studies are needed to validate the contribution of rTMS for management of mood symptoms in patients with TBI.”
An Interview with Nick about MeRT for Head Injuries
Got Questions?
Talk with our New Patient Coordinator
Our New Patient Coordinator is available to answer any questions that you may have about how MeRT can help you.
She’ll take the time to listen to your concerns, answer your questions, explain costs, and any other details. She can also assist you in getting scheduled should you decide to move forward with treatment.
We understand what you may be going through, and our goal is to help guide you through the process with quality care in a warm and compassionate environment.
You don’t have to make any big decisions right off. You can start with an EEG and a consultation with the doctor, and together you can decide if you may benefit from MeRT.
While MeRT is a relatively new treatment protocol, it has shown some remarkable results. It doesn’t cost anything to call us and talk. Our New Patient Coordinator is here for you.
Talk to our New Patient Coordinator
She is happy to explain how it all works and answer any questions you may have, with no obligation.
Or fill out the form at the bottom of the page and we will contact you.
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