feeling discouraged after neurologist visit
 

Yesterday was my referral appointment with a neurologist. After various tests he said 'I can't find anything wrong with you.' I've been referred for an MRI scan (I've already had a CT scan which didn't show anything up) and he said my symptoms will either subside in about another 6 months (I was concussed six months ago) or I won't get better.

He prescribed me amitryptiline for my chronic headaches, but I am very wary of anti-depressants even at lower doses because I have ongoing depression and have always reacted badly to meds. I haven't picked up the prescription yet. Something in my vision now isn't working properly either and he suggested I go to an optician.

I would like to try and help my recovery through lifestyle, supplementation and diet if possible. I don't really know where to start.

I feel disheartened as my symptoms really affect my life - fatigue, headaches, memory/vision problems, speling/counting difficultes etc. I just feel like I've been a bit 'dismissed' and a case of 'there there you'll eventually recover.'

Any advice? :(

I don't know if I said this before, but head aches often manifest from upper neck injuries that go undiagnosed. Others are just from the PCS. It is worth ruling out upper neck injuries. Icing the upper neck and back of the head may help. If it does, continue the icing as long as it helps.

The vitamin supplements I recommend has been top posted again.

I am adjusting my diet to vegetarian. Immediately after my injury I had BP, cholesterol and weight gain issues. I take some supplements B vitamins and fish oils, omega 3,6 and 9. I am adding in moderate activity with many breaks. Since changing my diet I feel better overall. Mind you I had a well balanced diet before. The biggest difference is less red meat and FRESH vegetables and fruits.

And as far as the feelings of being dismissed, you have been. But the reality is there is little they can do to help you other than a few prescriptions drugs to take the edge off and get you out of their offices. It is maddening because your injuries are real but you are your only witness. I was told that the cap on healing time is 5 years and anything still unresolved would remain unresolved. My advice is don't be too hard on yourself for not healing as fast as you think you should. "Easier said than done" applies to my advice as well, I know.

Hi!

This is standard treatments from a neuro, so don't worry. I did not get an MRI till 1 year, like a lot of other posters here.

Basically neuros will not help so much beyond tests and meds for headaches. Just tell them your symptoms and progress and don't expect much. I would go to my doctors thinking they would be very concerned and the truth is some are not.

They will wait and hope the headaches and symptoms go away and then if not they will start you on a med testing period. With any med, just take a small dose and rest all day when starting one hopefully with someone around. At least for me I would get sick from everything and would last only a couple days. I think I took 2 doses of amiltriptyline and got really depressed.

You never know which med will help you! Some people have great responses.
The main thing is to rest and don't worry about the doctor's too much. You don't have to take any med you don't want to. I would feel pressured to take something because the docs can get irritated if you come back with side effects complaints. But I ended up taking ibuprofen and tylenol because I could not handle most meds.

Mark mentioned checking your neck. I would definitely ask for a neck MRI. This can rule out anything else that can help you like Physical Therapy. This helped me immensely and I did not get my neck checked till months later and I believe that if I had therapy before it would have been better. Ask!

And go get your eyes checked if possible. Anything non invasive that you can get looked at is great. Best wishes!

I had a period where I would go to the neuros a lot trying different meds and getting sicker, basically when I stopped going and rested 24/7 did I get better. One doctor said " The doctor gets the check, God gets the credit". Hope I helped some!

I realize I'm posting this in the wrong place but it's the closest I can get and I really need some help. I was recently diagnosed with Atypical Trigeminal Neuralgia by my Neuro. I was in a car accident (passenger, rear-ended), the moment it happened I felt a very sharp pain shoot up the right side of my neck. I also suffer from Dystonia so I instantly went into a cervical spasm, shaking, and my hands went into spasm as well. I did not go to the emergency room BECAUSE of the Dystonia, I have found that many doctors become so concerned by the spasms that they completely overlook the real reason I am there. Anyway, I figured that everyone is sore after a car accident and most likely I would feel better after a couple weeks . . . that didn't happen. The reason I write is because I'm not seeing all my symptoms online. i.e. The muscles in my face tend to move around on their own (eye brows up or down, chin twitches, etc). When the Neuro performed my exam he had me follow his finger with my eyes and when he moved it to the left I went straight into double vision (I haven't seen that online at all), my fingers are tingling like crazy (first three on each hand), Neuro said I'm crazy but I have bulging disks at C6 & C7. My mouth waters during really bad attacks, what is that? Can anyone answer any of these questions? Please???

l84dnr,

Welcome to NeuroTalk. From what you posted, it sounds like this forum is as good as any other to discuss your symptoms. The C-6 and C-7 bulging are common to people with head injuries. I have slight bulging in the same area. Before getting into any suggestions, what have you tried?

My problem manifested as tingling in the fingers, gastric distress, even blood pressure and breathing abnormalities. I still have them occasionally but the chronic problems are gone.

What do you do each day? What kind of work? Hobbies? Sleep habits? Other activities?

btw, You should remove your full name from the poem you posted on the other forum if you hope to maintain any identity privacy. The moderators can edit it for you until you have posted enough to get the edit function enabled.

My best to you.

Thanks so much, it would be great if someone could remove my name for me since I cant yet :)

As far as daily activities, not a whole lot. I'm disabled - movement disorder (unknown), my hands allow me to be a bit but my muscles fatigue VERY easily. My Neuro says I'm a mystery . . . so does my Pulmonologist (and I have the best Pathologist in the World - out of the Mayo Clinic), Yet they can't diagnose the reason, type, or treatment for my lung inflammatory disease so most likely I'm going to die of that in the end anyway (though I think everything is interconnected but no one will talk to each other). Anyway. My biggest concern is the weird things going on with my face and the double vision thing and the salvation during the sever burns of the face. I for sure have all the other symptoms of ATN, I just don't understand the other stuff and I want to make sure my Neuro didn't miss something since he blew me off re the tingling fingers. I'm a bit freaked out about the diagnosis as it is as I deal with a LOT of chronic pain as it is and this really is the last thing I need but I don't know anyone who has this. Thank you!!!

You are not alone
 

You are not alone. I was in a car acident about a year ago.. Made a few mistakes like working and trying to do chiro treatment at the same time. (I have always had bad posture on computer and not good with an injury. slight forward head and rounded shoulders.) Then I did not give myself at least 2 weeks to rest to heal etc.. I saw an Ortho Surgeon because my pain had worse and inuries had gotten worse. He did nothing and stated nothing could be done. My injuries have gotten progressively worse and things in neck/back spine etc got worse and changed. I did not follow through with a reg doctor. You may have nerve problems. Consider Brachial Plexus...