MeRT: A Groundbreaking Approach to Treating Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
This drug-free, non-invasive, and lasting treatment can help reduce the after-effects of a head injury.
MeRT Can Ease the Painful, Lasting Effects of a Traumatic Brain Injury
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) can be shocking and painful. And while many people can recover after the initial head injury, many more are left with long-term effects. These after-effects can cause emotional problems, memory issues, constant headaches, and so much more.
If you’ve experienced a traumatic brain injury, concussion, or other head injury and are still having symptoms long after the original injury, know that you’re not alone — and that help exists.
Here at our Brain Treatment Center, we are proud to offer MeRT treatment for TBI and concussions. MeRT, or Magnetic e-Resonance Therapy, is a non-invasive, drug-free treatment that can achieve remarkable results.
In essence, MeRT is a customized use of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) based on sophisticated diagnostics.
Research shows that altered neural circuits in the brain can cause changes in brain function and contribute to TBI symptoms. MeRT works directly on these altered brainwaves to get them back in communication and functioning better.
Plus, many people with traumatic brain injuries go through other therapies to help them cope with their injury or any disability because of the TBI. MeRT can be used with these therapies to improve their effectiveness.
Contact Our New Patient Coordinator
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MeRT treatment is effective and lasting — and can free you from the debilitating, long-term effects of a traumatic brain injury or concussion.
MeRT Works to Ease Your Specific TBI Symptoms
Traumatic brain injuries are more common than you may think and can have long-term effects if not fully treated. However, treating TBI can be complex, with unique symptoms for each person.
Studies have shown that patients with TBI symptoms have clearly visible markers in their EEG results. Once we identify your precise brain imbalance, we can then strengthen the brainwave activity with targeted TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation).
That’s why MeRT is such an exciting TBI treatment. We tailor MeRT protocols to your unique brain, starting with a comprehensive analysis of your brainwave patterns to determine where they are out of sync.
What makes MeRT such a revolutionary treatment for traumatic brain injuries is the way we analyze your brainwave patterns using a qEEG (quantitative electroencephalogram), also known as brain mapping.
Once we have this information, we then plan a tailored treatment program to neuromodulate your brain waves through our MeRT protocols. By doing this, we can address your specific TBI symptoms and help relieve them by improving brain communication and organization.
What is a Traumatic Brain Injury?
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) can happen to anyone, no matter their age or health. It’s usually caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or body or an object that penetrates the skull and enters the brain.
If you play sports, are an older adult, or have kids or teens involved in physical activities, it’s essential to know the risks of TBI. But it’s equally important to understand that everyone is at risk.
Even if your initial headache goes away, don’t ignore a head injury. Unseen complications can arise and affect different aspects of your life, including your emotions, memory, and ability to think clearly.
Athletes and military personnel are particularly prone to TBI from multiple hits and blast exposures, respectively, leading to progressively severe complications.
If you’ve ever had a traumatic brain injury or concussion, no matter how mild it was, make sure you know the symptoms. Being aware of them can help you get prompt treatment and prevent further complications.
Traumatic Brain Injury Symptoms
- Fainting or unconsciousness
- Head pain
- Tiredness or lack of energy
- Enlarged pupils and changes in eyesight
- Feeling lightheaded or unsteady
- Issues with remembering or recalling information
- Difficulty thinking clearly or making sense of things
- A decline in cognitive abilities or mental functioning
- Inappropriate emotional reactions or responses
- Irritability or feelings of anger
- Persistent sadness or low mood
- The sensation of being alone or disconnected
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms
- Feelings of nervousness or sudden terror
- Weakness in facial muscles
- Loss of strength or inability to move certain body parts
- Incontinence or loss of control over the bladder or bowel
- Breathing difficulties or shortness of breath
- Tingling or prickling sensations in various body parts
- Hearing loss or ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
Life after MeRT Treatment for Traumatic Brain Injury
I’m two or three months past my last treatment, and I can honestly say that my brain is in a better place than it was before. The emotional highs and lows that I was living with have stabilized. I found it to be a very effective treatment. My cognition took off during that period, and it hasn’t slowed down since.”
– NICK HARDWICK, RETIRED NFL CENTER, CHARGERS
Contact our New Patient Coordinator
Or fill in the form at the bottom of the page for more information or to book an initial consultation.
Finding out if MeRT Treatment is Right for Your Traumatic Brain Injury
We understand that MeRT is new, and you may not be certain if this is the right treatment. You don’t have to make that decision immediately. First, get more information in a simple phone consultation with our New Patient Coordinator.
During this no-obligation consultation, you can discuss symptoms and history, ask questions, and have her explain our protocols, fees, and treatment details. Then, if you choose to take the next step, we can set up appointments for testing and consultation. Each of these appointments takes 45 minutes to an hour. The steps of MeRT treatment are as follows:
Step 1
Testing and Consultation
At the first appointment, our neurotechnician will perform a qEEG and an EKG. Both are simple, painless, and non-invasive tests that will show us exactly what is happening in your brain.
Our scientific teams will then analyze the results to better understand your brain state. All MeRT treatment parameters are approved by a licensed neurosurgeon or physician.
A few days later, after we have analyzed the test results, you will have a one-on-one consultation with your clinician. You can attend this appointment either in person or virtually.
During your consultation, you’ll discuss the test results and analysis and get any additional questions answered. Then, together, you and your clinician will determine if you are a candidate for MeRT treatment.
Step 2
Treatment Period
When you and your clinician decide to move forward, we will schedule four weeks of treatment. We perform treatments daily, Monday to Friday, and a typical treatment session takes about 35-45 minutes.
For each treatment session, you will sit in a comfortable chair while our neurotech administers TMS treatment using a hand-held magnet near the scalp.
We deliver the magnetic impulses for 6-8 seconds each minute, and you may feel a slight sensation, like gentle taps on the head, which is not painful.
Step 3
Monitoring and Follow Up
We will perform another qEEG in the middle of the treatment program and compare it to the original baseline qEEG. We do this to ensure you are always receiving the most effective treatment parameters.
Your clinician will also meet with you throughout the treatment to manage your progress closely.
At the end of the treatment period, which normally lasts from 4 to 6 weeks, we will perform another qEEG to review progress.
In some cases, we recommend additional treatment to get the best possible results from MeRT. Everyone responds differently, so treatment protocols can vary.
After successful therapy, it may be necessary to continue with occasional “upkeep” to ensure benefits are maintained.
Strong Scientific Evidence Supports MeRT for Treating Head Injuries
MeRT, a customized approach built on the principles of repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS), is backed by a wide range of independent research conducted over the years. Numerous peer-reviewed studies published in respected scientific journals underscore its effectiveness in addressing the effects of head injuries. Below are several notable examples.
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.”
Hear it from the Patients
Our patients have a lot to say about their experience with MeRT!
“I’m back! My TBI turned me into someone I barely recognized. I was depressed, mean, and short-tempered. I pushed through life filled with frustration and a deep sense of sadness that this was it. And I just had to keep pushing through life with an overwhelming tiredness.
“I’m so glad I was wrong. I think my direct reports and family are even more thankful. This treatment changed everything, and I am forever thankful.”
41-year-old male with TBI
“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 been stabilized. My cognition took off during that period, and it hasn’t slowed down since.”
Nick Hardwick
Retired NFL Center, Chargers“I was offered the opportunity to attend the BTC to help with the effects of the TBIs I had endured over 21 years of Military Service. And I am absolutely glad I did so — I felt the positive effects of the treatment in the first 3 days.
“I had irritability issues, although traffic can do that to you, and sleeping issues, among other things. On Day 3, I started sleeping through the night. And not just sleeping, but sleeping hard and dreaming. So I know I was in R.E.M. sleep.
“It has helped me focus, feel more energetic, less irritable, more caring to others, and helped with joint pain and tinnitus. The staff is also very amazing and extremely professional. I highly recommend the BTC. Trust the process, and you’ll have the same results as I did.”
=TBI Patient
Patient“I did six weeks of therapy at the Brain Treatment Center. I started therapy with anxiety and depression due to traumatic brain injury. After the third week, it felt like a weight was lifted off my shoulders. I started to have ah-ha moments, but it was about things I already knew.
“The therapy allowed me to clear my brain and concentrate on things. I was no longer spiraling about things that really didn’t matter but seemed real at the time. Thank you for my life back.”
TBI Patient
“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.”
TBI Patient
“The team at the Brain Treatment Center are the most genuinely kind people you will ever meet. And the MeRT treatment has made a HUGE quality of life positive change for me.
“I am a vet who got blown up a couple of times and I suffer from TBI and PTSD. These sessions have turned my life around. My wife notices the positive changes in my depression, anxiety, and irritability and says I am fun to be around again.
“I can’t say enough great things about this place. Thank God it exists!”
Cyrus B.
“In the ensuing months after the concussion, I just wasn’t myself. My academics began to suffer as well. I didn’t feel right. My EEG showed me that something had physically changed with how my brain functioned.
“After three days of treatment, I felt substantially better. After two weeks, I felt like I did before my injury. MeRT was life changing.”
21-year-old female with TBI
“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,’ that has brought 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 that you’ve never met before.”
Tait Fletcher
Stunt Performer“I’ve made significant progress in cognitive ability, stress tolerance, and mental clarity. I have been able to handle decisions much better and think clearer. And I have been able to significantly decrease conflict with my family and actually lead much better.”
Male with TBI
The Doctors and Scientists Working Behind the Scenes for Every Patient
Once you have done your qEEG and provided information about your conditions, symptoms, history, past treatments, and other vital information, we send this information to the doctors and scientists at Wave Neuro, the parent company behind MeRT technology.
There, they perform an extensive review and complete analysis of your diagnostics and information. They use a patented approach with your neurophysiological data to develop a completely customized treatment plan. The goal is to improve your brain connectivity, communication, and function.
All MeRT treatment parameters are approved by a licensed neurosurgeon or physician and followed exactly at our clinic for each patient.
Talk to Our New Patient Coordinator for More Information
Our New Patient Coordinator is here Monday to Friday and can help you with any questions you may have. There is no obligation to call and talk to her. She is happy to explain more about MeRT, our protocols for treatment, fees, insurance questions, and more.
If, at any point, you are interested in looking into treatment further, she can also schedule you for the next steps, a qEEG (non-invasive brain scan) followed by a consultation several days later.
Once the qEEG is done, the doctors and scientists at Wave Neuro will carefully study and analyze your testing and symptoms. Our clinician will then discuss the results with you and show you what is happening neurologically.
At this point, we can determine if you may benefit from MeRT treatment, and you can decide if you would like to move forward.
Things Can Get Better
We hope you will consider getting more information, so that you can make an informed decision if MeRT may benefit you or your loved one. With years of successful treatments for a wide range of neurological conditions, we have witnessed improved quality of life for so many!
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Insurance Coverage and Payment Options
Currently, rTMS is FDA cleared for the treatment of Depression. We are able to provide you with all of the appropriate paperwork at the end of your treatment so that you can submit it to your insurance company for reimbursement.
Some patients have reported that they have been able to receive some reimbursement for EEGs, clinical evaluations, and treatment, depending on their health coverage. We accept all major credit cards including Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover.