New Cutting Edge Treatment for Brain Injuries

Wouldn’t it be a wonderful blessing if you could help your loved one or have help for your own symptoms of brain injury?

OF COURSE, IT WOULD!!

Well, from our psychiatrist we were offered a treatment called MeRT for Veronica. After 15 years of living with her brain injury, it has changed her life. It has helped her continue healing after 15 years of living with her severe traumatic brain injury.

Have you ever heard of MeRT? It stands for Magnetic Resonance Therapy. MeRT can be used to treat Autism Spectrum Disorder, Depression, Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Traumatic head injuries, and more.  Resource: Magnetic Resonance Therapy (MeRT)/ TMS Institute of Arizona https://tmsinstitute.co>mert-therapy

What is MeRT? MeRT is a cutting edge treatment using a combination of three therapies: TMS (Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation), qEEG (Quantitative Electroencephalogram) and EKG (Electrocardiogram). Resource: What is MeRT? braintreatmentcenter.com

TMS is a procedure that uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain to improve symptoms of major depression. It’s called a “non-invasive” procedure because it is done without using surgery or cutting the skin. Resource: Apr 7, 2023 Transcranial magnetic stimulation-Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org>about

qEEG can show if activity in a brain is too high or too low, and it can reveal how your brain cells are communicating with each other. It can be helpful in many ways including: Identifying cognitive and psychiatric problems. Showing how your brain wave patterns can be improved. Resource: QEEG/Quantitative Electroencephalogram Test https//:www.amenclinics.com>qeeg

EKG records the electrical signals in the heart.It’s a common and painless test used to quickly detect heart problems and monitor the heart’s health. Resource: Mar 19, 2022. Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)-Mayo Clinic

Results are individual in nature, depending on the initial presenting symptoms. Common benefits of functional recovery include:

• Increased sleep quality
• Increased motivation
• Increased attention span
• Increased concentration and focus
• Increased sociability
• Increased emotional stability
• Increased ability to adapt to change
• Improvement in clarity of thought
• Improvement in mood
• Improved self-confidence and self-esteem
• Reduction of Anxiety

It is commonly recommended to receive at least one month of treatment (20 MeRT Treatment sessions) after the assessment period. Results may vary per individual. In general, the longer the length of treatment the longer the changes remain, especially if receiving treatment for greater than one month. If a reduction in positive gains are noted after a period of time, clients may return for additional treatment. Resource:  MeRT Treatment-Frequently Asked Questions MeRT Brain Therapy Australia

Veronica’s psychiatrist recommended I take Veronica to treatment for about one-half hour Monday through Friday for six weeks after her first week assessment. It is quite a commitment. Veronica was treated. A cap with magnets in it was placed on her head and she had to sit with her eyes closed, but not sleep, for 30-minute sessions. The test showed where Veronica’s brain needed the most treatment and the magnets were placed accordingly. We were given a chance to see the results of the test in the beginning to see where Veronica’s brain waves needed improvement. Some of her brain waves showed she was in a sleep state even though she was awake.

After a couple treatments, Veronica began experiencing much more sleepiness than usual. This did not subside after treatment was completed weeks later. We saw the results of her later test after her treatments were completed and there was literally a change in where and how her brain waves were working. Her brain waves showed improvement. It was very impressive on paper, but we were not told her exhaustion would continue. Veronica slept hours and hours during the day, for literally two to three months afterward and that scared us. We thought something was very wrong. We took Veronica to the doctor more than once. She had exams and blood tests. All came back normal. Well, we know the brain heals while we sleep, so we had no choice but to let her rest and ride it out. After her long period of sleeping and she began staying awake her normal amount again, with a nap during the day, we began to notice changes. Veronica began to show motivation. After years of not much activity on a regular basis, Veronica began working out with a trainer and has lost over 40 pounds, needed, and has stuck with it for 11 months now. She had such a lack of motivation and initiation (adynamia) before this. And her impulse control has improved greatly. No more inappropriately cussing or unexpected flashing others on a whim, which was very common prior to treatment. Her thoughts are more complete, and her vocabulary has grown. People that know her have seen great improvement and comment on her growth frequently. Her maturity has grown in leaps and bounds. All of this has taken many months to reveal itself fully. Veronica’s neuropsychologist says, “I swear Veronica’s frontal lobe is growing back.” I swear by this treatment. One thing that hasn’t been improved by this treatment unfortunately, is Veronica’s decision-making skills, but for the wonderful things that have come of it, I will take it! What a huge blessing! I wish I had done more research on it prior to Veronica receiving it, but now that I have, I want to share my knowledge. I am also thinking about asking to receive this treatment myself. At times it can help so much that not so many medications are required for mood disorders, I have been told. Many medications can cause similar effects as a brain injury, making it hard to tell if the deficits such as forgetting your words, being more sleepy, slow processing and cognition are caused by a brain injury or medication. Our insurance did pay a good amount for this treatment, too.

Thank you so much for reading my blog.

If you would like to learn more about our first 12 years of recovery from our brain injuries, please read my book titled,

A Miracle a Day, One Day at a Time: Hope after Traumatic Brain Injury

Available many places books are sold online.

OR to make it easy, just press this link.

https://store.bookbaby.com/book/a-miracle-a-day-one-day-at-a-time

Have a beautiful, blessed week everyone. Make the most of your day. Tomorrow is not promised.