Need therapy advice for TBI/PCS
 

Hi,

I'm interested in help determining which type/s of therapy for tbi/pcs can help me prepare to take my national massage therapy exams or assess if it's even an appropriate goal now.

Current issues of relevance:

~ Executive function deficits - organization, planning, etc
~ short-term memory deficits
~ Is there a therapist type that can evaluate what strengths and weakness I have aside from neuropsych eval to see if this goal is even appropriate?
(I have other symptoms, but not relevant to my learning ability.)

Background - At the time of my accident 10/27/07 I was a webmaster, massage school night student and single parent of 2 teenagers. I didn't go to hospital, experienced mtbi/pcs symptoms 1 week later (see profile), no therapy since my accident even though I've asked repeatedly - they just focus on my headaches. I got lost in the medical system with doctors that didn't understand brain injury and just give me pills. What I need are tools to figure out how to pass my exams or figure out another profession.

I was provided disability retirement from my webmaster job (8 yrs service doesn't pay enough to live on alone), I did finally accomplish my goal to complete school & become a certified massage therapist in 2009 after a medical leave of absence and an additional year to get back on track. I had a lot of help back then and school resources I no longer have access to.

In 2009 I didn't need to take my national exams to be a massage therapist in Colorado so I didn't take them (BIG mistake!), but now they're required to practice in all states. These exams require memorization of muscle insertion and origin sites on the bones, movement, fiber direction, physiology, Shiatsu pressure points, etc - detailed information which is a problem for me to retain now. I can give a great massage and know what muscles need work after assessment, but knowing the darn details again is exasperating.

After some setbacks in life like my mom dying, heat stroke and other life changing events I'm ready to work at passing these exams. Plus, I still have student loans and feels like a waste to now not be able to use my education.

Who do I see to help me figure out if this is an attainable goal and/or help me reach it? I've asked my neurologist and physiatrist - one looked dumbfounded by the question offering another neuropsych eval, the other gave me so many options I'm not sure where to start. I live down the street from Craig Hospital, but since I wasn't a patient they haven't been helpful with resources. Grrr

Thanks in advance for your help and reading through my novel :wink:

~Kristy

When was the neuropsych eval? One of the purposes of these should be to recommend specific therapies. Symptoms and deficits do change over time, so if it wasn't done recently I'm not surprised they suggested another one. I had 2 of them, they were three months apart and the results were dramatically different.

That said, my speech therapist was the one that worked most with me on my memory and executive function deficits.

My speech therapist helped me when I first got my concussion. It was a year ago and I saw her for about the first 3 months. I still have some issues. Not so much with memorization but with focus.

Anyways my speech therapist gave me plenty of exercises to better memorize stuff. Things like listing things that are in common and word association type things. I was skeptical at first but she was a huge help.

Vocational Consultant
 

My occupational therapist sent a Vocational Consultant over and she did up an analysis on what is required of an accountant.

She then went over my medical records and to put a back to work plan in place. It has been stalled due to my vision issues. I have to see how much computer/reading etc I am able to do to see what kind of work I can return to.

She also will suggest alternative employment is she feels you are unlikely able to perform the tasks of your profession and sort of holds your hand through the process. Not sure if you can find such a thing where you live.

Good Luck.

I know I need a new neuropsych eval, but insurance is an issue. I've had two and the most recent one suggested speech therapy, opthamologist (still need to see) and audiologist (diagnosed hyperacusis). I noticed your profile mentions post traumatic vision syndrome - can you tell me about your experience? It's a new term for me. Did you see an opthamologist for diagnosis?

Post Traumatic Syndrome
 

Hi,

The eye thing can be tricky if you do not hit the right specialist. I went

twice to an eye specialist to be told there is nothing wrong with my eyes.

I am in Canada and we only have 9 neuro optometrist here. I have to travel 5

hours to go to my appointments but it is well worth it to find someone who

understands the problem.



I can not read for more than 45 minutes without getting a headache and

burning eyes. I can tolerate t.v. a little longer but it is the same.

I started to undergo vision therapy which I do at home on my own as it is \

too far to travel for weekly appointments. It is basically push ups for the

eyes and I have a series of 6 to do.

I also have vision mid line shift syndrome which basically means that what I

perceive as the middle of my body has actually shifted to the left (in my case

a large shift). It effects you ability to walk without getting dizzy as the

world has been slanted for you. I have two pairs of prism glasses I wear

which shifts everything back into place. The prism glasses are a therapy and

I have to watch how long I wear them as I get headaches with prolong use.



If you google post traumatic vision syndrome you can see if the symptoms

make sense to you and then try to find a specialist to diagnose it. If you let

us know where you are some of the people could let you know if there is a

specialist close to you.

Good Luck.

For visual evaluation referrals, you can check out http://www.nora.cc or http://www.braininjuries.org

I would think the only thing that really could tell you what you need to know regarding your learning and retention would be a neuropsych evaluation. Based on the results of that, you could meet with a vocational counselor. Or perhaps the vocational rehab people would send you for a neuropsych consult?