Concussion Recovery Clinic?
 

Would a concussion clinic be helpful to help resolve my dizziness and overstimulation issues? It has been 2 months since my setback and these symptoms haven't improved much. At least I have my severe anxiety under control.

I am in the Baltimore area and found these two clinics: (sorry, can't post links yet)

Google "lifebridgehealth - Sinai Rehabilitation Center - MildBrainInjury"

The program was founded by this Kevin Crutchfield, who works with the Baltimore Ravens and Orioles.

The second is this program founded by Dr. Majid Fotuhi:

Google "Memosyn Neurology Institute"

He runs this program:

Google "neurogrow - concussion recovery program"

Thanks! I am on the fence about contacting either of these clinics and would like some opinions before diving in.

-Jake

All three have similar protocols. Dr. Majid Fotuhi appears to be connected to the Sinai program, too.

They sound worth a try but have an open mind. Every concussion is different. Looks to be expensive. But, an MD usually gets good coverage by insurance companies.

Dr. Majid Fotuhi appears to be big at self-promotion. Just an observation.

I appreciate the response and the time you spent looking into these clinics. I agree with you about Dr. Majid Fotuhi. His program includes neurofeedback, which I am nervous about after reading various posts about its effectiveness and possible harm it can cause. I'm also not sure about the cognitive skills training since my dizziness and head pressure are worse when working at a computer and thinking too much. This is why I have switched to a part time work schedule.

On another note, I had my first atlas orthogonal adjustment yesterday, so we will see if that helps with my brain fog at all. My atlas was rotated up to the left and forward about 2 degrees. They insist it will help and that I am now going through a healing process. I am skeptical but wanted to give it a shot.

I was also thinking of contacting a behavioral opthamologist to see if I have convergent issues causing my dizziness.

So many specialists to consider and my neurologist is pretty much clueless and only wants to give me meclizine and refer me to a psychiatrist for meds.

I am just not sure if I should continue to try treatments or just continue to play the waiting game for my dizziness to resolve on its own. It's been two months since my setback and it is frustrating...

Dr. Majid Fotuhi's neurofeedback program appears to be true neurofeedback. It used EEG to guide the neurofeedback. This often means the patient makes efforts to control how the brain responds. The problematic 'neurofeedback' is really neurotherapy that uses light, sound, or electromagnetic stimuli to try to correct the brain's behavior while the patient sits and does nothing but wear a device on their head. It is called non-volitional neurotherapy vs Dr. Fotuhi's program which sounds like volitional neurofeedback.

Have you had any vestibular therapy ?

Thanks for the insight. Maybe Dr. Fotuhi's program is worth trying.

Back in June I was evaluated by a physical therapist who works with concussions and was given gaze exercises to do with my eyes. I've been doing them a few times a day ever since. It's hard to say whether they helped or not, but it doesn't seem to be the case with this latest setback. I also had an ENG test done just last week by a neuro-opthalmologist. They did say the left side of my vestibular system had a 12% deficit compared to my right, but didn't think that was enough to cause the problems I am having. I have a follow-up with him in two weeks. I will say that if I stand still and twist my upper body at the waist while keeping my head forward, I get a dizzy sensation in my head with each twist. I do not get the same feeling while just moving my head back and forth. Not sure if that is an indication of anything.

I was thinking a behavioral optometrist may be worth a shot since my dizziness is aggravated with too much computer work/reading/concentrating.

Has anyone had you do the Epley Maneuver ?

I don't think so. I was tested for dizziness by a physical therapist several months ago and none of the various head movements made me dizzy. This time, however, I feel my dizziness is worse since I don't recall feeling dizzy from swiveling in a chair before. Maybe I should get re-tested. I am not sure BPPV makes sense though since I get dizzy from TV, computers, and brain intensive work.

I read that there is a difference between dizziness and balance issues. Ask about or look up the Balance Error Scoring System. That test and the technology that it is based on should be interesting to your doctor or therapist.

It comes from one of the best concussion research organizations in the nation lead by Kevin Guskiewicz. He is the Kenan Distinguished Professor and Co-Director of the Matthew Gfeller Sport-Related Traumatic Brain Injury Research Center and Director of the Center for the Study of Retired Athletes in the Department of Exercise and Sport Science at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He holds joint appointments in the Department of Orthopaedics, UNC Injury Prevention Research Center, and Doctoral Program in Human Movement Science.

FYI
Are you dizzy or is it something else?

Some people say they're feeling dizzy when they're really experiencing something else. There are some good descriptions on this page below.

Dizziness - pdf

Explains very briefly the difference between dizziness, vertigo, disequilibrium and spatial disorientation.

https://vestibular.org/about_balance

How do I know if I have a balance problem?- pdf

Interesting... thanks for posting this info! It is still difficult for me to say which term best describes my feeling, but I guess it would be "dizziness". I definitely feel light headed and when I close my eyes, sometimes feel a sensation like I am swaying a little back and forth. I never really feel like the room or I am spinning. I guess the dizziness does cause minor disequilibrium/balance issues, but I've always done fine on the balance testing my doctors have had me perform. I am seeing my physical therapist again on Thursday to determine whether the Epley Maneuver is needed. I will ask about the Balance Error Scoring System as well. Since the dizziness seems to be worse now than during previous setbacks, maybe they will find something this time.

On another note, I've been reading about anxiety symptoms and am wondering if it is possible all of my dizziness is being caused by anxiety??? Seems crazy to me, but who knows. I do know that the day this setback began two months ago I was hit with sudden dizziness and the anxiety didn't surface until a few days later. I thought I had it under control now, but maybe not.