Daughter Suffering
 

It's been an emotionally exhausting and trying two months. Our 13 year old daughter suffered a concussion during basketball practice on March 11, 2015. Her feet got entangled with a teammates and our daughter crashed head first to the gym floor chipping off a front tooth. No loss of memory or consciousness. Since she has been suffering from 24 hr., headache, pressure and sleep difficulties since. Have not made any progress with reduction in symptoms with concussion specialist. This is second Concussion Specialist (first wanted her to quit all electronics/tv/screen time, but go back to school with accommodations ASAP). He seems to be very much a med minimalist. Has her on probiotics, COQ10, Magnesium, Vitamin D and melatonin. Her MRI was clear. Begged doc to get her something to help with sleep (max amount of melatonin did nothing). Finally he prescribed amitriptyline. Several days into taking this she became very anxious, hands & legs jittery. It turns out this ramped up her heart rate significantly, so doc weaned her off that & is giving her nothing for sleeplessness or headache pain. She's essentially been on Tylenol round the clock for 2 months to take edge of head pain.

ChrisBeth,

Welcome to NeuroTalk. I'm sorry to hear about your daughter's injury. It is heartbreaking for a parent to watch a child go through this.

The supplements the first concussion specialist suggested fall short. I don't understand the probiotics but she should also be taking B-12 plus a B-50 Complex to balance the rest of the B's. Folate is part of the B's and it and B-12 are needed for myelin repair and blood brain barrier needs.

There has been some recent study about anti-inflammatory diets and concussion. You might look into that.

I agree that a immediate return to school was not advised. It is contrary to the no screen time/electronics idea. Her brain needs quiet rest. A moderated cognitive load with frequent breaks if she is doing any school work is a trusted recommendation.

Amitriptyline should have been at a low dose, 10 mgs or less before bed. But, if it effected her so, go to be off it.

I take gabapentin to help with sleep. It is well tolerated by most people. 300 to 600 mgs is a mild dose. I've taken up to 1200 mgs an hour and a half before bed. It just helps my mind and body let go of tension.

It is also worthwhile to get her upper neck evaluated. 80% of concussions include an upper neck injury with many symptoms that overlap with concussions. Neck treatment should be very gentle. No aggressive chiro work or pushing range of motion by a PT. Gentle traction and mobilization can be good. Icing is also helpful. Her neck may not feel stiff or sore but still be causing symptoms. If she has any tenderness on the bony parts behind her ears, that suggest muscle spasms from the neck.

Read the Vitamins sticky at the top for a long list of information and online resources.

Please keep us up on how she is doing. There are a lot of caring people here who have been through this.

My best to you both.

A challenge at her age is her hormones. Some research suggests this is why girls tend to suffer more from concussions at her age.

Welcome to the Forum! Has the doctor considered imipramine for sleep? I started on that and then moved to amitryptiline afterwards. Before that I never did find anything to help with sleep.