That neuro is dead wrong. Just because the damage is not imageable on normal grade CT or MRI does not mean the damage does not exist.

My neuro knows quite the opposite. Some time ago, the University of Utah football team was given a research grade MRI with a 6 Tesla magnetic power. This MRI was able to image microscopic damage. The researchers started using it to research concussions suffered by the football team.

The concussions were very evident in the MRI images. After doing this on the football players, the coach finally decided to stop letting the players be imaged. The players were becoming paranoid of concussion injuries and it was effecting the intensity of their play. They turned the MRI over to the Psychology Department.

Eventually, the Psychology Dept ran out of funds to maintain the MRI coolant. The super conducting magnetic coils are cooled with liquid helium that is expensive to maintain. This caused the magnetic coil to overheat and be damaged beyond repair.

So, yes, there is imageable organic damage caused by concussions. It just requires a very high power MRI.

The other way to image organic damage caused by concussion is with properly operated qEEG equipment. It requires computer software to show the brain wave form that signify the damage. The use of qEEG to diagnose concussion has been fought by the medical industry and insurance companies despite the 97% accuracy.

Another way to diagnose the organic damage from a concussion is by measuring a protein. There are different proteins that have been studied in this area. The first to be identified was S-100B as compared to C-tau levels. Other proteins are c-myc protein and C-Fos protein.

None of these tests has been established as an FDA approved diagnostic procedure. The clinical trials are just too expensive to get FDA approval of these diagnostic tests.

Regarding organic brain damage and Second Impact Syndrome and Multiple Concussion Syndrome.

Second Impact Syndrome is when the recently concussed brain has lost some control of its ability to properly regulate intracranial blood pressure. This weaken ability is then challenged by a Second Impact that further damages this function. The failure of this system allows the blood pressure to exceed the brain tolerance levels, sometime to the point of herniating the brain into the brain stem canal.

This invasion of the brain stem's space can cause death due to a failure of the autonomic nervous system. Regulation of breathing and heart rate is lost resulting in death unless life saving measure are taken immediately.

Snow boarder Kevin Pearce came very close to death due to suffering two serious concussion within a three week period.

Multiple Impact Syndrome is an accumulation of damage to brain cells, neuron, axons, dendrites and even blood vessels that leave the brain in a weakened state that is beyond the brain's ability to accommodate. The progression into MCS is like trying to keep a marble rolling around on a board. As the marble rolls (a concussion) you try to move the broad to keep the marble from dropping onto the floor. At first, the marble starts rolling very slowly and is able to be kept on the board. As time goes by, attempts to keep it center start to fail due to fatigue. Eventually, that fatigue cause the marble to drop to the floor. Voila', You have Persistent Post Concussion Syndrome (PPCS) or Multiple Impact Syndrome.

This last example of trying to keep the marble balanced is like trying to avoid the stresses and other triggers that slow recovery. In the very early stages, the effort is much easier to handle. After a few more concussions, the effort become next to impossible. Welcome to my life......

With MCS or PCS, the goal is to learn skills to help manage the symptoms and work-around the dysfunctions and disabilities.

Now, I will turn off the fire hose.