Nuero Optometry& Chiropractic Nuerology
 

Hello,

In late June, I have an Appt. In Chicago (I'm in Maine) to go see Dr. Deborah Zelinsky- a highly skilled Nuero Optometrist who seems to be on the cutting edge of the field.
I also am considering trying Chiropratic Nuerology (the Ted Carrick approach) as there is a very well established office here in Portland, which is affiliated with the Carrick Center. My question is whether anyone sees an issue with doing both of those treatments at the same time?
My understanding is that much of what the chiro would do, among other things, is give me a serious of eye excersizes, while the optomotrist is likely to treat me with a type of prism glasses. Personally, I see these two treatments as potentially working together quite well, and am considering doing them both, assuming insurance covers it.
Can anyone who has had experience, or has extensive knowledge of one or both of the treatments weigh in? I will likely be asking this question to the Dr's, but would like to here what anyone here has to say.

many thanks,

Jamie

Due to the individual nature of mTBI and concussion injuries, I doubt others can provide a reliable assessment of either. I agree with the potential of overlap but I see a greater chance of conflict. Since you have a local chiro neuro, it sounds like that would be the first place to try. But, Carrick helps some and is a waste of big money for others.

I doubt insurance will cover chiro neuro. Going out of network for the Chicago neuro-opto may be difficult for insurance coverage.

Both are expensive diagnostics and treatments. I'd suggest getting the insurance questions answered before moving forward.

Thanks Mark,

I've Checked it out, and believe it or not, both are covered by my insurance which is both surprising and fortunate. Thanks for the input- I understand that this is a difficult question to answer, but what sort of potential conflict do you see?

Have you tried vestibular therapy with a really good therapist? I only ask because insurance will probably not cover chiro. neuro. I considered going to a chiro. neuro., but then I found a vestibular therapist that specializes in vestibular issues and only vestibular issues. She by far understood post-concussion more than any other doctor or specialist I have seen. She helped me a lot. I don't know what your specific issues are, but you might consider that as well.

I live in Maine also and my personal experience with the chiro neuro here has been really incredible. (I am pretty sure there is only one so I assume we are talking about the same one) I think you may be surprised at how much is covered by insurance. I only pay my co-pay except for my VNG and CAPS test which was about 100. (Worth a call to them to check?)

I have prev only been a "lurker" on this site trying to learn as much as I can about post concussion syndrome and why I feel the way I do. But when I saw your post I wanted to reply. I feel like they have given me my life back with the therapy I am in there. The therapy they provide is probably not for everyone but in my experience they are really open and honest about what they feel they can do.

The testing they do helps tailor the therapy to your needs...I have eye exercises for gaze stability I do at home and different ones when I am there in the office. I also do balance board, muscle stim, adjustments, stretching etc when I am there. Soon I am moving on to some depth exercises!

Welcome Jenrob. :Wave-Hello:

Jen,

Thanks so much! I think i'll give them a call. Glad to hear they've helped you. How long have you been going to them for?

Also, it's great to know that there are other people going through the same thing I am nearby. Maybe I'll see you there sometime.

Jamie

Wow, Good for you.

It is amazing you have been able to get insurance to cover Chiro neuro. I have fought with various insurance cos and they say they will cover spinal manipulations but not the diagnostics or other treatments. Others have had this same experience.

Some clinics have other specialists who can bill for care other than chiro. Plus, it may be that the tests they are doing use the same ICD and CPT codes as medical providers use. This can get past the gatekeepers at the insurance companies, especially if the invoice does not say chiropractic.

The overlap problem can be two fold. First, if you are following two different treatments, how do you know which treatment is providing benefits ?
Second, there may be treatments that interfere or over work a specific system.

Health care providers do not often like to compete with other providers. It may be ego or lack of understanding what the other provider is doing.

Good luck. I hope you find benefit.

Jenrob,

Which CAPS test did they do ? There are three. Vestibular, PTSD and vocational ability. I'm thinking the vestibular although many clinicians are concerned about PTSD with severe concussions. .

What is a CAPS test?

My chiropractic neurologist and developmental optometrist worked together well. They collaborated as doctors. Probably the only doctors I saw that actually spoke on the phone with each other without my asking. I also found the treatments worked together quite well. My

tinted glasses made all the difference for me. The chiro neuro advised me to get them but the developmental optometrist was able to prescribe them. But all doctors are different so, as you say, you probably would be best off asking the doctors when you see them. Congrats on the insurance coverage!

Jamie~
I started there at the end of January. I fell down the stairs in August and then was in a minor car accident 3 weeks later. I wish I had started seeing them right away..Hopefully I will see you there! They are great! I feel like I have my life back.

@ Mark- not sure how everything is covered by insurance but it is! I never looked to see how it was coded. I have had the vestibular CAPS. (The VNG and CAPS were not but it was 140.00 the first time and then when I retest it is 100.00.)

For me my symptoms have had a lot to do with how my eyes are tracking. I still have some light sensitivity but dizziness and off balance feeling is SO much better. Sleep is back to almost normal and thankfully almost no anxiety anymore.

Awesome- Thank you so much for the advice! I scheduled an appt. this morning. It's been about 2 years for me, but hopefully this will be of help.

-Jamie

Jamie- great to hear! Follow them on facebook too. I think they post a lot of good stuff. Let me know how it goes!


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I'm from Chicago and have gone to both dr. Zelinsky and brain carrick center. My advice, go to Dr. Zelinsky and cancel carrick appointment. The tinted glasses I got from her saved my life. It gave me relief of my really bad headaches and allowed me to stare at a computer screen for more than 20 min. I have been wearing them for almost 3 years now.

I went to brain carrick center a few months ago and wished I would have saved my 8k. It's basically just doing vision therapy 3 times a day and they do a bunch of stuff that is shady(quack alert). I left there feeling way worse than I came and after a week was back to how I was before I came. Basically I don't think the vision therapy is meant to be done 3* a day and it overloads the brain. Better off paying for vision therapy at 1/4 the cost and can do a lot of exercises at home. PM me if you want further info.

GL!

Visit to Zelinsky?
 

Hello! I came across your post as I am trying to decide if I should go see Dr. Zelinsky for PCS problems. I was wondering if you could please tell me how it went for you? Did you get treated by her? Thanks!!

Therapies that helped me the most
 

Found comments interesting re overlapping therapies, for mine were often concurrent.
I found the behavioural optometrist to be most beneficial, my comment being, "She returned my world to me." Second chiro I visited made a big difference and acupuncture too has paid big dividends. Three years post accident I continue with these therapies as and when needed, the BO a yearly appointment.

Whilst everyone is different these 3 modalities have been of the most benefit to me as opposed to Occupational Therapy, physio, neurologist etc etc.
Here it is again a podcast I have just listened to in response to an earlier post.

Understanding How the Eyes Are Affected After a Brain Injury w/ Dr. Zelinsky 2/16 by Faces of TBI | Health Podcasts