While not the same,we are looking at doing TMS which is very pricey and not covered by insurance....or I came across this guy's stuff which seems like it may, kinda, do the same thing but on the body v. the brain:

http://drpawluk.com/products/

Has anyone used one of his products (or heard anything about them?) His products are expensive too, but not nearly as much as the TMS sessions (have to go 20 consecutive times, at a minimum!). Share if you have any experience with any of this, thanks!

Hi lurkingforacure,

My mom and I had a consult with this doctor to ask if he could help with PD. He had successfully treated one patient with PD with a very expensive machine that is only used in-office (unless, I guess, someone could afford the $20k to purchase one). The patient apparently had some benefit but was unable to keep returning for the sessions, so purchased a less intense (and less expensive) machine for home use. The doctor said that he thought that the patient had maintained his improvement by using the machine at home, but he wasn't certain, because the patient hadn't remained in touch.

He recommended a machine for my mom, but it was over $1000 so we didn't go for it. Seemed like too much trial and error.

May I ask what clinic will do TMS for PD? I have had a hard time locating one. I think we'd be more comfortable with a clinic setting (if it were affordable), because doing it at home seems like a lot of guesswork.

Best wishes to you.

I just found out yesterday that no one in the US will do TMS for PD....they will, however, treat PWP for depression with TMS. However, the coil that goes on the head for depression is NOT the same coil used with PD, so unless you have depression, and apparently pretty severe depression at that, you can't get TMS help

Kicker: TMS is actually approved for PD in the EU. They have the coil pieces for both depression and PD (and other indications as well). In the US, it would be considered an off-label treatment, and again, no one I know of has the coil to treat PD with TMS.

I have a call in to a center in San Diego that uses TMS for autism (off label), hoping they have the same coil that is used in Europe for PD, but haven't heard back from them yet. I'll update when I find out more.

I just found out yesterday that no one in the US will do TMS for PD....they will, however, treat PWP for depression with TMS. However, the coil that goes on the head for depression is NOT the same coil used with PD, so unless you have depression, and apparently pretty severe depression at that, you can't get TMS help

Kicker: TMS is actually approved for PD in the EU. They have the coil pieces for both depression and PD (and other indications as well). In the US, it would be considered an off-label treatment, and again, no one I know of has the coil to treat PD with TMS.

I have a call in to a center in San Diego that uses TMS for autism (off label), hoping they have the same coil that is used in Europe for PD, but haven't heard back from them yet. I'll update when I find out more.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24726453

Lurkingforacure,

We found out that Dr De Erausquin in Florida treats PD patients with rTMS. Not feasible for us to travel at this point, unfortunately, but if you are close to Florida or able to travel more easily, you may want to look into his clinic.

Lurking.....this doc has published numerous studies through the NIH working with TMS and PD - http://health.usnews.com/doctors/reuven-sandyk-83759 -I believe he is also associated with a Greek doc (Dr. Allonysis ....sp..?) who works with PD too...do keep us posted - I use an earth pulse device ...

There are a number of Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) devices on the market including SOTA, Curatron etc. which appear to be essentially similar to TMS devices as they also use pulsed magnetic fields. Neurostar rTMS is FDA approved for depression. Brainway rTMS is apparently approved for Parkinson's in Europe.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8Q1iRCD2zA

TMS has approval for treatment of Parkinson's Disease in Australia. Generally it is only available in private hospitals so it is expensive unless somebody has private medical insurance.

More generally, a while ago I listened to a talk about Parkinson's Disease at a scientific conference. The guy who gave it was from Cambridge and has both a PhD and a medical degree (impressive!).

He made the point that Parkinson's Disease (like cancer) is probably not "one disease" - rather it is a multitude of conditions with some clinical signs in common. That could explain why the various therapies for Parkinson's Disease are effective for some people but not for others.

Pulsed electric fields are apparently now approved by the FDA to treat cancer.

The portable device weighs about six pounds (three kg) and is used continuously throughout...

Tumor Treating Fields is the name given to low-intensity electrical fields emitted by a range of new medical devices. The FDA (US Food and Drug Administration) has approved subtle energy treatments for patients as an alternative to chemotherapy. The non-invasive treatment by Novocure uses "Tumor Treating Fields" (NovoTTF) to treat cancerous growths and is now available for adult patients with recurring brain tumors (recurrent glioblastoma or GBM). The treatment delivers electric fields to a patient utilizing a portable, wearable device that permits the patient to maintain normal daily activities without down time.

"Our device provides patients and physicians with a novel, non-invasive alternative to chemotherapy that is safe and effective," said Eilon Kirson, M.D., Ph.D., Novocure’s Chief Medical Officer. "The device allows for continuous treatment without the usual, debilitating side effects that chemotherapies inflict on recurrent GBM patients and indirectly on their families."

The portable device, which weighs about six pounds (three kg), is used continuously throughout the day by the patient. Tests indicate that the device can slow and reverse tumor growth by inhibiting mitosis, the process by which cancerous cells divide and replicate. The NovoTTF treatment involves placing pads onto the patient’s skin that creates a low intensity and alternating electric field within the tumor.

http://drsircus.com/medicine/tumor-t...cancer-program