No_tbi,

There are things you can do to better your situation but first, you need an attitude adjustment. Getting down on yourself because of your injuries is not going to help anything. Actually, your depressed mood could hinder your recovery. Rehabilitation is truly 85% attitude. The John's Wayne Cancer Institute even conducted a study that showed those with "bad" attitudes were significantly less likely to make it through their cancer then those with a "good" attitude. Also, at this point, you don't know how much recovery you can make because you haven't begun any rehab program. You may make a complete recovery or you may not make any recovery at all. The main thing is not to worry about that until you get to that point. So, chin up as you begin your recovery process.

First, you need to ascertain whether or not you have damaged your pituitary and HPA axis. If you're not familiar with these terms, your pituitary gland is your "master hormone" gland and it often gets damaged from whiplash or a head injury. It sends out the signals to your other glands to produce the correct hormones for proper functioning. Your HPA axis (hypthalamic - pituitary - adrenal axis) is responsible for regulating stress in your body. Often times, after a traumatic event your this is significantly disturbed. Most of the time it will reset itself on its own but sometimes intervention is required. You will need to get the following tests done: TSH, FT4, FT3, RT3, Growth Hormone, Testosterone (free and bound), complete metabolic panel, B12 and Vitamin D. Ensure that you go to an MD or DO who specializes in hormone replacement therapy and not an endocrinologist or GP (they are completely clueless when it comes to hormone replacement therapy). Also, in order to get insurance to pay for it you will need an MD or DO. To assess adrenal functioning, you will need to get a 24 hour saliva test done. If you can't find a doctor, or don't want to go through one, you can order these tests on your own without a prescription. Just ask and I'll give you the info on that.

Second, you need to find a LENS neurofeedback practioner in your area. LENS neurofeedback is quickly becoming very popular for rehabilitating brain injuries. It is an FDA registered device and is currently being reviewed by the Veterans Administration for use on Iraqi/Afghanastan war vets with brain injuries. You should also get the book "The healing power of neurofeedback" by Dr. Stephan Larsen. It gives a history of the evolution of LENS and gives some case studies. The one I like is the girl who has sustained 4 serious head injuries and she made a complete recovery after doing the LENS. Just google "LENS and your town/city" and you should be able to find one in your area. If you need help, let me know. Also, other neurofeedback modalities are also effective for treating head injuries. So, if you can't find a LENS practitioner, another practitioner who is experienced in treating head injuries may suffice.

Third, you need to ascertain if you have damaged your vestibular system. This includes your inner ear, temples, and cerebellum. You can do this through an Ear, Nose and Throat specialist or you can find a physical therapist who specializes in this therapy and have them diagnose you directly. IF you don't have insurance, the latter route will save you some money. If you have damaged it, then you should begin therapy to rehab that.

Fourth, you may also want to get in touch with a Upper Cervical Chiropractor. Many times with a whiplash injury you damage your upper cervical area, which can cause problems with balance and cognitive functioning.

Caveat: Some of these will be covered by your insurance and others will not. If you are in financial need, be sure to contact your State's brain injury association to see if there are any resources for you to use. Also, many times the doctors themselves will offer significant discounts for those who quialify for them.

Good Luck!