I have retained an attorney with experience in PCS and mTBI, and I am now just trying to navigate the system with some help. Just having the help has dropped my stress level.
I did notice, from the beginning, that most of the medications I was prescribed had the same side effects that it was supposed to be treating. I am not taking a sleeping pill regularly, but we still haven't found a dosage that doesn't leave me in a fog all day or doesn't allow me to get enough sleep at night. I have also found that most medications do not help with my symptoms. The Nortriptyline seems to help, but I also then feel completely out of it for the rest of the day.
You make a lot of sense when you say the WC doctors just try to mask the symptoms and get you back to work. I have just been faced with that, but fortunatly my attorney is helping with this as well. I am in the process of getting second opinions, with the state's approval, from doctor's that my job did not send me to.
Luckily I was approved to go to one specialist, but once again I've run into some roadblocks with that as well. It seems that once the original course of treatment didn't work he didn't know what to try next, but he doesn't feel I'm ready to go back to work. I was also sent to a designated doctor from the state who agrees with the neurologist that I'm not ready to go back to work, but the WC dr said "back to work" and I almost didn't fight it.
Fortunately I have some great friends who are more informed than I am, and they really helped me find a good attorney who is willing to fight for me! He is helping me find a doctor who will help me get better...not just back to work!!!
Thank you for all the advice and support in this matter. It has been 5 months now since the original concussion and some of the symptoms seem better, while others seem worse. It really just depends on the day. Ever once in a while I wake up feeling great, and usually end up pushing myself to much which causes me to then be down for the count for the next 2-3 days.
Every day I'm learning and journaling trying to find a pattern or a solution to my symptoms!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark in Idaho
aggieteacher,
Just noticed your post of the 15th.
You should check with an attorney before you go any further with the WC doctors.
The sleeping meds are all you need. And even then, you want to be careful. There are no meds that really make any difference with PCS besides low dose amitriptyline for head ache, sleep, and depression like issues. Nothing else has been shown effective.
Besides things like Neurontin for seizure, body tremors, and sleep issues, over the counter pain meds should be able to help with 'most' Post Concussion headaches.
If you do any serious research into may of the meds prescribed for PCS symptoms, you will find that many of them cause the symptoms that they are prescribed for. The WC idea of meds is to try to hide the symptoms to get you back to work and off WC as fast as possible. If they can drug you into a stupor that allows you to work, the WC docs have done their job.
WC docs are tasked with getting you back to work, not getting you back to health.
Work Comp protects Employers. It never protects the lowly employee. That is why you need to talk with a WC attorney.
Where I was injured at work in California, the WC regs prevent the employee from hiring a good attorney for head injuries by limiting the fees the attorney can collect. Thus, no good attorney will take a mTBI case because they take too much work for the meager pay.
I hope Texas is better.
Google concussion and Work Comp and you should find a specialist.
And, stay away from the WC docs until you do.
My best to you.
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