What the heck is a neuropsychologist?
 

Hi!

Went to the my local concusssion clinic today. After they told me that I should be fine and they could't help me anymore I was having an emotional break down. They reffered me to an neuro psychologist. I guess they think it's all psychological...My question, what does an neuro psychologist do? I mean, I am already seeing an psychologist.
I am done.. It's my sixth month. I will use the last 5 months of my exchange year to rest as good as possible. I just wanna be healthy again. I would be thankful for any resting tips. I wanna have a strict program on what to do and how to do. Medication, tips...anything is fine.

Thanks!

Symptoms: visual snow, fatigue, flashes of light + floaters, lightheadedness, light and sound sensivity, ice pick headaches, normal headaches, ear ringing, tingeling, anxiety

Lui,

I am not surprised the concussion clinic can not help you. They focus on return to play issues that arise immediately after the injury. You are long beyond their skill set.

A neuro-psychologist is a psychologist who has additional training focusing on the problems caused by brain dysfunctions. I am surprised your psychologist has not mentioned an NP. But then, he may be protecting his client from being poached away. An NeuroPsych Assessment, even if it is an abbreviated assessment may be helpful.

I forget if you have had any work done regarding your upper neck. Some of your symptoms listed in your signature are common to upper neck issues.

Lui, they can't help you anymore doesn't mean you can't be helped anymore!!! You are still going to get much better than you are right now. It is still early. Being stressed or anxious is only going to make everything worse.

My neuro psychologist has been my saviour through all of this and WAY more help then the concussion clinic I went to. It's not what she will do for you that is helpful though it is just that she will hopefully calm you down and help you realize that what you are experiencing is normal and that you will get better! She will help you with the stress and anxiety. Quite a few of your symptoms could be being caused by stress and anxiety and if you take care of that you'll feel a whole lot better!

I don't believe that at 6 months it's time to do complete rest either. Your new NP will help you push just enough to not suffer from becoming weak but also not flare everything up. Time to get rid of the psychologist. You definitely don't need both!

So I just wanted to tell you that this could be really good news and to relax! Obviously the other place wasn't helping you enough and the new person could be just what you need!

Good luck!

CC

Hi!

you so much for the information!
I have the guess that probably half of the symptoms are caused by my anxiety like visual snow and so on. I am doing vistibular theraphy right now.
My balance improved so much but not my other symptoms are not improving like they're supposed to do. I can't tell which symptoms are anxiety symptoms, or actually concussion symptoms. I have actually anxiety about my anxiety. Isn't that crazy?
I am confused, so confused. Well, we talked about me having PTSD from my old hosts and I hope the NP will work on that with me. She is a good psychologist and workls with player of the bears and the white sox...
Is vistibular theaphy helping with upper neck issues? They wanna work with me on the lightheadedness, headaches etc. I got medications for the ice pick headaches, which I hope will gonna help.

Thanks:)

A NP can evaluate where your deficits are and recommend specific therapies based on where you were having the most difficulty, usually through a neuropsychological assessment.

http://www.apa.org/ed/graduate/specialize/neuro.aspx


Best to you as you recover.