MRI? Neuro?
 

I have been told by my GP that I need to have some sort of brain imaging before a neurologist would even talk to me. I did not want a CT due to radiation and I asked if there were other imaging methods that could substitute. After a brief 'discussion' over radiation (his belief is that CT scans do not expose you to enough radiation to worry...my belief is any extra radiation is too much especially when directed at your brain) he landed on my plan of action: get an MRI in 6 to 9 months when my turn comes, and then if still symptomatic he will refer me to a neurologist.

Wondering if I should call his secretary and ask her to get him to fill out the referral. He would have if I pushed. I wasn't in the mood for more stress or arguments. My GP is awful. So I left it as is. I'm thinking now the referral might be more useful, and if the neuro really wants to see a scan they can order it. Am I right?

Have people been seen by neurologists or just family docs? What would be the difference in treatment? I would just like to talk to someone who I feel confident in, as I feel more confident in my ability to find an accurate answer using google than the answer I'll get form my arrogant and uninformed GP.

Is there any chance for you to see a different primary doctor. Its gotta be difficult to feel unsupported. I think seeing a neurologist who specializes in concussions would be good for figuring out what course of treatment you may need or medicines. My primary wasnt as familiar with the drugs that are used to treat PCS headaches and i asked a neurologist at work what she thought, and she immediately said she wanted to see me and treat me. I feel that my neurologist understands what i am going through so much better.

As for CT scan and radiation....you shouldnt worry much about that. The amount of radiation that you are actually subjected to is the same that you might be exposed to in our environment. If you see a neurologist and they want imaging, they will order it. However, it most likely wont show anything. PCS has such microscopic damage that it usually cant be picked up by an MRI or CT scan.

Its hard to hear and to understand, but the best medicine is really rest, good nutrition, and avoiding stress and triggers for your symptoms. If you are working, it may be holding you back from getting the type of rest that you need -both physical and cognitive rest. Hoping you start feeling better soon and have better luck with a neurologist or different primary doctor.

Your GP is mostly correct. You said, <He refuses to refer me to a neurologist telling me they won't be able to help me any more than he can, and that the only treatment option is rest so there is no point. >

There is not much a neuro can do beside understand the report of an EEG or positive image from a CT or MRI. But neither a CT not MRI will show anything. A negative finding from an MRI or CT will not change your symptoms.

There is not anything that can be done to treat PCS. Individual symptoms can sometimes be treated, such as head aches, anxiety, etc. If you are opposed to CT radiation, you are likely reluctant to the experimentation with the various meds that commonly thrown at you to get you out of the doctor's office. Other than trying low doses of amitriptyline to help with head aches, rest and reducing stress is the best short term solution.

You can help yourself by learning ways to work-around your current limitations. This allows you to start to resume some sort of normal life. This in itself, can lower your stress levels.

A very good neurologist may be able to better explain your symptoms but most do not have the time to explain them. Most neurologists will dismiss you if your problem does not show up on a CT, MRI or EEG. Only tumors, bleeds (hematomas), aneurisms (arterial bulges), ruptured aneurisms, embolisms (clots) and epilepsy will show up. PCS does not show up on any of them. Non-symptomatic bleeds from a concussion are absorbed within the first week or so.

If you want a doctor's opinion of Post Concussion Syndrome, check out the books on PCS written by doctors who have lived through the experience. They will tell you far more than any doctors usual clinical experience.

What symptoms are you experiencing?

Thanks everyone for your responses. I think that I'm wondering about a neuro simply because my GP is so terrible and not very knowledgeable or helpful. I imagine by the time I see a neuro I (hopefully) will have very few symptoms and might be a waste of my and his time.

I will look into some books written by physicians that experienced PCS. Thanks for the tip.