[kfrazier1979]

I was hit on the head with a 32 foot ladder on 5-21-09. i have post concussion syndrome and alot of the symptoms that go with it. i have not gone one day since without a headache. i have had the IME and he said i am just depressed and the vertigo is unrelated even though vng shows no problem with my ears. where do i go from here and what does it take to make them believe that i am suffering every day. i am now going to a brain injury clinic so hopefully that will help with me getting better but that doesnt help pay for doc visits and missed work. they havent paid for anything since before they scheduled the ime 3 months ago. what do i do? I do have a lawyer but i dont know how good he is or if he has handled brain injuty cases. please help. ANY input would be much appreciated thank you.

[Hockey]

Hi,

You might want to repost this under the post concussion syndrome traumatic brain injury forum http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum92.html

There are folks there with lots of experience with all aspects of brain injury and they'll (we'll really, as I'm part of the brain boo boo club, too) be able and willing to help you.

Cheers

[finz]

I would recommend being evaluated by a psychiatrist or psychologist.

If you are depressed, either because of a chemical imbalance or suffering from situational depression because of the chronic pain (most Cp'ers do have depression) they may be able to help with those issues.

Additionally, they may be able to directly help your case against the WC company by documenting that they feel your headaches are not psychosomatic in nature.

I'm sorry that I do not have any advice specifically about post concussion syndrome, but I believe that documentation/evaluation by mental health professionals could help your case.

Good luck

[Hockey]

Post concussion syndrome causes depression. You don't have post concussion syndrome because you're depressed. Frankly, you need a better doctor.

Understanding PCS is an important step in recovering from it. Some excellent sources for further reading include: the Brain Injury Association of America www.biausa.org; www.tbiguide.com and our own TBI forum here on NT http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum92.html If reading gives you headaches, there are a number of excellent TBI videos on You Tube. (Who knew it wasn’t just idiots surfing on cars?)

The Brain Injury Association of America can also be an excellent resource for finding competent medical and legal advice.

A good lawyer will help you build a strong medical dossier. Unfortunately, conventional CAT scans and MRIs cannot show damage to the millions of tiny axions on your brain. As a result, people with obvious cognitive deficits can have "clean" scans. If you want to image your injury properly, you will need a specialized - and expensive - MRI. You should also undergo neuro-psychological testing to see how your brain is really functioning.

Good Luck & Don't Give Up!

[Mark in Idaho]

kf,

What did the IME do to diagnose you as 'just' depression?

You are going to need to find someone who can overrule the IME's diagnosis. It will help to know what tests and other exams he did to diagnose you.

As hockey said, www.tbilaw.com is a great start. He has a link to concussion. He also discusses neuro-psych assessments. You need to be careful who you let examine you. I would not see a psychologist or psychiatrist until you have a proper plan of action.

Many psychologists will misdiagnose concussion as depression. The MMPI-II test will point to depression if the psychologist does not know how to interpret the results for concussion. Psychiatrists are a crap shoot. It is hard to predict how they will respond. Some are prone to psychological angles. Others are more medically oriented. A neuro-psychiatrist might be helpful if you can find one.

Most health care professionals will dismiss your complaint of concussion. They say it is all in your head. Yea, right!! A diagnosis of depression or somatoform disorder is very common for concussion. A medical record that includes too many wrong diagnoses of depression or somatoform disorder will work against you. It better to not create 'bad' medical records.

I have had a lot of experience with Work Comp. I fought for my claim for years. I could not get an attorney to represent me because in California, the attorneys have a limit on the fees they can collect. Most will not take mtbi/concussion cases.

What are all of your symptoms? What tests and exams have you had done ? If you don't want to post this information publicly, click on my name and send me a PM (private message).

You are likely running out of time as one year post injury is coming up. Often, the employee loses some claim opportunities at one year. Ask your attorney what time limits your state has.

If you have not worked since last May, you can start a Social Security Disability Insurance claim. SSDI will approve your application for depression and a myriad of issues. They do not care what the cause was. Some SSDI attorneys also do Work Comp.

It would appear that your attorney does not understand concussion. If he did, he would be directing you to proper help and working to over-turn the IME's diagnosis.

btw, I follow the post concussion forum listed previously.

[vini]

hi kf

with all work related injury you need to speak with a lawyer now,I know you just want to get well but good advice early on is so important I am not in the US and do not know the system there or how the accident happen, or your employment situation . but like you had a bad blow to the head I do not know if you have on win no fee lawyers over there

best wishes

[tshadow]

You MUST get a consultation (hopefully free) by a good work comp attorney.

[Jomar]

Originally Posted by kfrazier1979

I was hit on the head with a 32 foot ladder on 5-21-09. i have post concussion syndrome and alot of the symptoms that go with it. i have not gone one day since without a headache. i have had the IME and he said i am just depressed and the vertigo is unrelated even though vng shows no problem with my ears. where do i go from here and what does it take to make them believe that i am suffering every day. i am now going to a brain injury clinic so hopefully that will help with me getting better but that doesnt help pay for doc visits and missed work. they havent paid for anything since before they scheduled the ime 3 months ago. what do i do? I do have a lawyer but i dont know how good he is or if he has handled brain injuty cases. please help. ANY input would be much appreciated thank you.

You might want to read about upper cervical adjustments - also called c1/c2, atlas /axis - it has to do with the top c spine vertebra getting knocked out of balance & alignment.
It happens often with head hits - but MDs and PTs don't seem to mention it. The chiropractor vs the MD thing I think

there are many sites about it but here is one I like best - explore the whole site -
http://www.upcspine.com/self.htm

The next step would be to find a DC that will work within the wc system.

I did pay cash and got the help for my RSI/TOS/misalignments on my own - but that was my way to deal with it - outside of wc.
I happened to find a really good chiro that helped all my symptoms more than any MD did.. some from wc & my own personal MDs as well as PT as they have to go by what the treating MD writes

I did come across a few good & adv PT but they were limited to what they could address & tx.
I also paid cash -outside of wc- to one adv PT I found myself and he was very helpful, I still use his advice yr later & he found something to add to my chiro treatments.

general tips -
IME is not on your side - you need a good dr to refute the findings that the IME reported.

Don't talk about the case or complain about work or boss or anything - mums the word only talk to your wc atty.
If atty isn't guiding you- research and find a better one.

Mine had a unorganized office & staff and I should have changed when I figured it out , but I didn't ...

read on your wc state site and see how to do the change if you plan to - I know I couldn't really talk with or interview new ones - since I was already signed with one.

[tshadow]

Originally Posted by finz

I would recommend being evaluated by a psychiatrist or psychologist.

If you are depressed, either because of a chemical imbalance or suffering from situational depression because of the chronic pain (most Cp'ers do have depression) they may be able to help with those issues.

Additionally, they may be able to directly help your case against the WC company by documenting that they feel your headaches are not psychosomatic in nature.

I'm sorry that I do not have any advice specifically about post concussion syndrome, but I believe that documentation/evaluation by mental health professionals could help your case.

Good luck

Warning - don't just run out to a doc. If you're in work comp, there are procedures which MUST be followed or you get charged with self-procured medical treatment.

First, ask your attorney how many brain work comp cases he's done.

If not enough, say nothing, but afterwards, get out your phone book and start calling that and the State Bar for a work comp attorney who knows brain injuries. Even a doctor who specializes in brain injury - he or his staff may recommend on.

Ask your attorney to explain WHERE YOU ARE IN THE PROCESS. It's a process, a tunnel, and you need more info. at this stage. Write this all down and all your notes. SAVE and GET each and every written report on you, whether by your docs or theirs. Keep them oldest to newest - tab them. Later for trial, you can make notes such as treatment your doc asked for and they ignored. Or those URS - if you get one, call or read it and see how often they may do it - then start keeping track, as they may do as mine did, instead of every 60 days, it was 25 days - I'm going to tell the judge!

You're got to be an active part of this process.

Ask me more questions. I answer when I can, using voice software.

[lefthanded]

Ditto to above comments. Having an industrial injury claim is often the most challenging full-time job you will ever experience.