Will an MRI be Dangerous for PCS?
 

Hi. I'm new here. Very thankful to have found this board, as this is the strangest thing that has happened to me. I have never felt so disoriented or "out of it" before and it is scary.

I fell in July 2012 walking my dog, and woke up on the sidewalk - no memory of the fall happening or what cause it. One minute I was walking home, the next I awoke on the sidewalk bloody and injured.

The neurologist I saw told me that even though I don't remember hitting my head, the force of the fall - which broke my foot - could have caused a concussion, which blocked my memory.

Fast forward to one week ago. As I was driving home from work, I slowed to a stop for a car turning left in front of me. A drunk driver rammed my car from behind. I never lost consciousness, and did not hit my head, but my face was numb, the top of my head was tingly, and in the ambulance on the way to the hospital, I had no idea what my age was when they asked.

The next day I saw a neurologist who told me I was suffering from PCS, prescribed amytriptilline (?sp), and ordered a CT scan of my brain and cervical spine.

The following day I was feeling even more disoriented, and it was hard to "think" so back I went to the ER, who confirmed PCS and told me to take it easy for a week.

So I have been sitting at home, out of work, not doing much - hard for me to do.

Wierdly, the day before I was hit by the drunk driver, I had an MRI of my cervical spine, as I have severe degenerative disk disease and cervical arthritis. and was told by my last good neurologist that a rear end crash could paralyze me because my spinal cord is being crimped by the disease.

Long story short, I have never had an MRI like this. They gave me headphones, but the noise was unbelievably loud still. In addition, the table "shook" worse than any MRI I have ever had, and the next day I had neck pain.

Although I have convinced my new (not so good) neurologist that I should have a repeat MRI to see if my spine was damaged in the accident, I am now afraid to have it done, wondering if that "shaking" of the table will cause me more and more serious problems. I have read to avoid - especially for the first few months, anything that could cause a "jolt" to the head.

Should I put off the MRI? Should I go to another place to have it done? the neurologist said they like to have them done by the same facility so they are comparing apples to apples. But I am afraid.

I am also afraid to take the amytriptalline. I don't like drugs and don't want to be dependent on them.

I plan to go back to work - at least part time - next week, as I am getting some heat, and moreso, I have no sick time left. I will be getting some reimbursement through the car insurance for lost wages, but my employer doesn't like time out of the office - even without pay - because bottom line "the work isn't getting done".

Can anyone help? My MRI is schedule for this Saturday.

Thanks.

Mri
 

Hi macdebbie,
Welcome to the group. I know what you mean about the table shaking. I just had an MRI of the brain last week and was surprised by that too. I think you would be ok to go ahead with another MRI. They tie you in pretty good and put things around your head and stuff so even though the table shakes I don't think it makes your brain hit around in your skull as they have all that stuff around you.
I would not let your employer pressure you in returning to work. Not until your neurologist and other doctors give you a release to go back. I know you are anxious and want to get back to your life but if you do not take the time now which is critical because you have been recently injured, you may find you did damage to yourself that is permanent. You may find you are not able to return to work. My advise is take the time now as it is your best chance for recovery for the future.

Good luck to you and I am sorry that you are suffering this very terrifying experience.

Brain

macdebbie,

Welcome to NeuroTalk. It sound like you have been through quite an ordeal.

First, an MRI will not cause enough movement to cause damage. Your cervical spine may be very sensitive to the fine vibrations and the tension from laying still for so long may have caused some trauma.

The neuro from July 2012 is ignorant of concussion issues. Don't return to him for concussion care.

Regarding your recent auto accident, you need to find an expert in subtle brain injury, not just an attorney who represents whiplash victims. The complications from combining a concussion and whiplash can cause serious long term problems.


Your history of neck problems makes it even more of a concern.

Don't let your employer push you. If you return to work anyway, keep a journal of all the little struggles you have so if or when you have to stop working, you have adequate records of your struggles.

It is not uncommon for concussion sufferers to have soft tissue damage to the Atlas (C-1) to occiput joint. It does not have a natural structure, just ligaments and cartilage.

www.tbilaw.com and www.subtlebraininjury.com have some good information and may have a good referral to an expert attorney.

Here is a web site for a doctor who has expert knowledge about vehicle collision injuries. He has been very helpful to me with Email advice. http://www.ohsu.edu/xd/education/sch....cfm?WT_rank=1

My best to you.

Wow, thanks everyone for the info. I was feeling like no one understands what I am going through - now I do.

One other question which I must decide today as my MRI is Saturday.

Tuesday I see a Neurosurgeon at a hospital in Boston that I have a lot of respect for. He was referred to me by my last well-respected neurologist who has since moved to Switzerland. I saw him in 2005 after my degenerative disc disease was discovered.

I am wondering if I should put off the MRI until I see him? The whole point of the MRI was to see the "after" of the accident since I have the "before" actually the day before the accident. However, in looking at my old MRIs that the good neurologist ordered, he ordered both with and without contrast.

If I have the MRI done as ordered - just without contrast - it may not be what the neurosurgeon wants. But then again, he may very well want me coming in with those "after" pictures.

I'm pretty sure a second MRI would not be paid covered, and I am not in a position to pay for it. I know this is all going through car insurance, but there is an 8K limit, I am told. And even with an attorney helping, judgement could be years away.

It's all such a mess....

One thing I have learned from this board, though, is just how serious this is. I'm not going to mess around with these local neurologists anymore. There are some great ones in Boston and it is worth the effort to get good care. I will get a referral to a good neurologist from the neurosurgeon.

Is it best to seek a neurologist or are there different sub-specialties that would be more appropriate?

Thank you everyone again. Finding this board has been a blessing.

Should I wait for MRI until I see Neurosurgeon?
 

I have an appt. to see a neurosurgeon Tuesday. Someone I have a lot of respect for, saw in 2005, referred by my last great neurologist, who has since moved to Switzerland. :-(

On one hand I think he might want me there with the 2 sets of MRIs - my "before" which was the day before the accident, and my "after" which is due to happen Saturday.

I am wondering though, if he'd rather order his own. The one I am due to have Saturday is without contrast, and I see the one I had in 2005 was both with and without contrast.

I doubt 2 MRIs are going to be covered. I know car insurance, not health insurance is covering, but there is an 8K limit to the claim, I think, then the health insurance company picks up. Even with an attorney helping, it will be months before any settlement, and I am not in a position to pay out of pocket.

Maybe I'll call the neurosurgeon and ask...

Based on what I've read here, I'm not going to mess around with local neurologists who know nothing. I'm asking the Boston neurosurgeon for a referral to a good neurologist in Boston. It's my brain after all - worth the trip.