Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

A New Approach to Treatment of Traumatic Brain Injury and Concussions

Long-term adverse affects can be addressed with MeRT, or Magnetic e-Resonance Therapy.

Simply stated we use a magnetic field to stimulate, balance, and restore brain function, guided by very sophisticated imaging and diagnostics.

MeRT Approach

Concussion and Traumatic Brain Injury

A Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a physical injury to brain tissue that temporarily or permanently impairs brain function. Diagnosis is suspected clinically and confirmed by imaging (primarily CT).

Traumatic brain injuries and concussions are common in athletes who may experience multiple “head hits.” These hits affect the brain, and over time, the damage becomes cumulative. Members of the military are also commonly affected too, but TBIs or concussions can happen to anyone.

Those who have suffered a traumatic brain injury may need other therapies to assist with regaining memory, learning skills, coordination and physical function, speech, and coping mechanisms. Brain injuries are complex and can affect many different aspects of a person’s life including their emotions and the ability to think clearly.

The CDC (Centers for Disease Control) defines a traumatic brain injury (TBI) as:

A blow to the head or a penetrating head injury that disrupts the normal function of the brain. TBI can result when the head suddenly and violently hits an object or when an object pierces the skull and enters brain tissue. An injury can also occur without a direct blow to the head, such as in an auto accident where the forces cause the head to move violently in one direction and then snap back in another direction. This causes the brain to be jostled around inside the skull and can also injure the brain. Suffering a closed head injury can produce symptoms that range from mild to severe, based on the degree of damage that was done to the brain. While it’s possible for a person to experience a TBI to not have a loss of consciousness, in moderate to severe cases, LOC does usually happen. More severe cases of traumatic brain injuries often can result in coma or even death.”

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(619) 255-2101

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Causes of TBI 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 (eg, sports-related concussions)

Symptoms of a Concussion or Traumatic Brain Injury

Depending on the severity of the injury, 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
• Facial weakness
• Loss of function or weakness in other parts of the body
• Loss of bladder or bowel control
• Breathing problems
• Loss of hearing or tinnitus

An Entirely New Approach

MeRT for Treatment of Concussions and Brain Injuries

Simply stated, magnetic fields are used to stimulate and balance brain function, guided by very sophisticated imaging and diagnostics.

Patients who have had Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs) or Concussions can experience after-effects well after the initial injury and some may never fully recover. After the initial recovery, MeRT can be used to stimulate and assist the brain in improving connectivity and communication. In many cases, this has greatly improved recovery results.

See some of the RESEARCH STUDIES.

Call Our New Patient Coordinator to Learn More

(619) 255-2101

Or fill in the form below and she will contact you.

46 Different Specialists, 29 Treatments, 40 Medications—Nothing Helped.

Then he Tried a NEW Treatment for his Traumatic Brain Injury.

David was diagnosed with Traumatic Brain Injury in 2011. He had become entirely unable to help his wife care for their home or their two young children. He was desperate.

For the next five years, he saw 46 different specialists: neurologists, psychologists, pain management specialists, orthopedic doctors, chiropractors, and physical therapists, which included 29 different treatments, from physical therapy to sensory deprivation tanks, meditation to biofeedback, and more. He was prescribed a multitude of different medications and supplements during these years and eventually ended up with a drug addiction problem as well.

While some of these approaches did help, he was still far from recovering his quality of life. Then he discovered MeRT, Magnetic e-Resonance Therapy.

“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 again, 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 have a whole new lease on life. I can focus. I feel good about myself. I feel confident. I laugh again. Most importantly, I can feel the love for and from my family again.”

Non-invasive and Drug-Free

What is MeRT?

MeRT stands for Magnetic Resonance Therapy. MeRT is a tailored, highly individualized form of TMS or Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation. In simpler terms, we use magnetic waves to stimulate specifically targeted areas of the brain that have been found to not be communicating or functioning optimally.

This is determined through sophisticated diagnostic tools and imaging and is used to plan a tailored treatment approach just for you.

How Do I know…

Is MeRT the Right Treatment?

We understand that MeRT is a relatively new, cutting-edge treatment and you may not be certain if this is right for your situation. But this is not a decision that needs to be made right away or all alone.

Your first step would be a simple phone consultation with our New Patient Coordinator. Here you can discuss symptoms and history, ask all the questions you want, and have her explain the protocols, fees, and details of treatment.

If you are interested in taking the next step in seeing if MeRT treatment is right for you, we can set up an appointment for an EEG (a simple, painless, and non-invasive brain scan).

Your first appointment with us will consist of us performing a qEEG (quantitative EEG)/EKG test which is used to evaluate brain activity and will show us any dysfunction or communications that are occurring. A qEEG is sometimes referred to as a “brain map” and shows exact areas of the brain that are experiencing dysfunction. This tool is valuable as it allows us to customize treatment specifically for YOU. This test is performed by our chief neuro technician and takes approximately 45-minutes to complete, however, if you are seeking treatment for your child with autism, please plan on spending an hour with us. We will also gather your new patient paperwork at this time, and get you scheduled for your initial assessment period of treatment.

The second appointment is a clinical evaluation with Kate Ryan, R.N., and takes approximately 45-minutes. This appointment can be completed via Telemedicine or in-clinic, whichever you prefer. Please note that if you choose a Telemedicine appointment and are seeking treatment for your child, your child will need to be present. During this consultation, Kate will answer any questions you may have and discuss your applicable treatment plan. Additionally, you will have an opportunity to meet with our physician and Medical Director, Julie Kim, M.D.

6-weeks of treatment is recommended for patients undergoing MeRT in order to achieve optimal and long-lasting results. However, prior to committing to the 6-weeks of treatment, we have each patient first go through an assessment period of treatment to see how they will respond. The assessment period is included in the 6-weeks of treatment.

The assessment is 1 to 2 weeks long depending on the age of the patient. For children who are 10 years and younger, the assessment period is 1 week in length. It consists of attending 4 treatment sessions, Monday through Thursday, and is followed by a repeat qEEG to determine progress.

Assessment for anyone 11 years and older is 2-weeks in length and consists of 9 treatment sessions followed by a repeat qEEG. Treatment would be provided the first week, Monday through Friday, and the following week, Monday through Thursday. A typical treatment session lasts about 30-45 minutes.

Additionally, the follow-up qEEG results will be covered with you by your provider.

If clinical changes are occurring as they should, and the qEEG also shows progress, then you would then continue treatment which would occur 5 days per week, Monday through Friday. Generally, you will begin to feel the benefits of treatment within a week or two, but because treatment is cumulative, should continue to note improvements throughout the course of your treatment, and even for some weeks after treatment. Because treatment is consecutive, you must be able to stay in or around the Newport Beach area while undergoing your therapy.

For those who are not ready to commit to an assessment period, or if we need to see the results of the testing to confirm that MeRT can help, we also offer the option of coming in for a qEEG/EKG and then having a consultation with Kate and/or Dr. Kim to go over the results. After your clinical consultation, you will still have the option of going through an assessment period should you choose to do so.

Improvements and results of MeRT are based on strict and active observation of our treatment protocols. Results may vary based on each person and are not guaranteed.

Because each person’s brains and conditions are unique, treatment protocols are customized specifically for each individual which is guided by the qEEG results. Repeat qEEGs and clinical consultations occur every 2-weeks throughout treatment. The effects of treatment generally last a lifetime, though some folks do prefer occasional follow-up treatment as needed.

During your treatment session, you will sit in a comfortable chair while the neuro technician administers this gentle treatment with a hand-held magnet that is held near the scalp. While you may feel a slight sensation during treatment, it is not painful or uncomfortable. Magnetic pulses are delivered for 6-8 seconds during each minute of treatment.

Potential side-effects of treatment are minimal and should begin to dissipate after you begin to progress through treatment.

Insurance Coverage and Payment Options

We can provide you with the appropriate paperwork at the end of your treatment so that you can submit it to your insurance company to see if they would provide you with any reimbursement. Currently, rTMS is FDA cleared for Depression and OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.) Treatment for all other conditions is considered “off-label” at this time, though we are hopeful that treatment for TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) and PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) will be FDA cleared at some point in the next couple of years.

Some patients have reported that they have been able to receive some reimbursement for EEGs or clinical evaluations, depending on their health coverage. Medicare patients have reported that their coverage provides no reimbursement. For non-FDA-approved treatment, it is highly unlikely that any insurance will provide reimbursement for the actual treatment.

We take all major credit cards including Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover.

MeRT Treatment Featured on “The Broken Brain” Podcast

If you suffer from Depression, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), or Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), we highly recommend watching this incredible podcast. Dr. Erik Won, from Wave Neuroscience (the parent company behind MeRT technology), speaks about how this technology has evolved and the utilization of MeRT treatment for members of the military who have experienced Depression, TBI, and PTSD as a result of their service to their country. Dr. Won also gives testimony to the incredible successes that these veterans have realized as a result of going through treatment.

With other repercussions that can occur, for both military and veterans, this is incredibly important. For example, suicide is at twice the rate for veterans, with approximately 17 veteran deaths per day. In a high-stress environment, such as serving in the military, the transition afterward can be complicated and there are often underlying reasons for conditions that may occur. MeRT may help to address these issues.

Depression, Anxiety, PTSD, and TBI don’t just affect veterans; if you are experiencing any symptoms as a result of any of these conditions, this podcast can be of help to you. Click here to watch this amazing podcast! 

Interested but not sure?

Talk with our New Patient Coordinator

It doesn’t cost anything to call us and talk about what is happening. Our New Patient Coordinator is here for you. She understands your pain. She listens. She can explain the process and protocols, costs, possible insurance benefits, and any other details you want to know. She can answer your questions. There are no obligations and she will take the time you need to know whether or not you should take the next steps.

Call Our New Patient Coordinator to Learn More

(619) 255-2101

Or fill in the form below and she will contact you.