Just at a loss
 

I'm a 34 year old paramedic who got assaulted by a patient and a now just over five weeks since my concussion.

Initially I went to the ER and was told "Just a concussion! You'll be fine in a few days!"
Three days later I was back at a different ER because I developed severe speech issues. Another CT and an MRI later and I was told I was fine.

PCP sent me to neurologist. She basically told me it was all due to my pre-existing PTSD and then said she felt PTSD was "all in my head" and suggested I see a psychiatrist.

I'm on a daily regimen of medications to control my pain and nausea- neuro gave me Elavil saying I'd be better in a week. I stopped taking it after 5 days due to worsening symptoms.
I battle nausea, dizziness, headaches, speech issues, numbness in my right hand and arm, loss of grip and here in the last couple weeks my right leg just gives out on me.

Can't work. Can't drive. I am terrified I'm never going to be able to work as a paramedic again.

Currently stuck in the loop of workers comp nonsense so my stress levels are off the charts. My husband is trying to support us on just his income while we wait on my checks.

My husband is also a medic and frustrated by my lack of improvement. He tries to understand but at times he's like "Why are you tired? You just woke up!" And my kids don't understand why mom wears earplugs all the time.

I just am totally at a loss.

Pixie Medic,

Welcome to NeuroTalk. I'm sorry to hear you were assaulted and even more that you have to put up with Work Comp. PCS and WC are a terrible combination. Everything you are experiencing is common to PCS. The assault only makes everything worse by adding PTSD.

A very common but overlooked issue is injury to the neck. It is usually very subtle and not easy to diagnose. It requires gentle treatment. An assault can cause injury to more than just the upper neck like many concussions. Your right side issues would indicate such an injury.

PTSD is also a real possibility like the doc said. This, 'It's in your head' is bogus. PTSD is part psychological and part physiological.

Elavil (amitriptyline) is most beneficial in small doses of 10 mgs or so before bed. There are not usually serious side-effects at this dose.

Xyprexa helped me with PTSD. I was only taking it for 30 days while Celexa took effect.

The nausea can be due to your concussion or it can be due to the PTSD and anxiety. The gut has an enormous amount of nerve endings that get stimulated by PTSD and anxiety.

Please understand that PCS anxiety issues are not due to a weakness on your part. They are due to your brain losing the ability to tolerate stimulations and any level of stress. They are not 'in your head.' They are in your brain. No matter what quack WC docs say, try to stay strong.

What meds are you on ?

I encourage you to read the Vitamins sticky at the top. B-12, D-3, Omega 3 fish oil, magnesium and some others should be the basis for starting with brain based nutrition.

You also need to get good quality sleep. Your brain needs sleep at normal sleep times. Naps during the day will not make up for poor night time sleep. Try to maintain the same wake-up times 7 days a week. It is the best way to manage the sleep chemistry in your brain so you get the best sleep.

Don't go to bed until you are sleepy. You should fall asleep within 30 minutes at the most. If you get frustrated, get up and do something to refocus away from sleep anxiety then go back to bed as soon as you feel sleepy.

Good sleep and proper brain nutrition will be the best way to help your brain detoxify from all the stress and injury.

I've already overloaded you. Please feel free to ask anything.

My best to you.

People who use the phrase "just a concussion" should be punished by "just a concussion". Just kidding. I'm not that evil. :D

You'll likely get a lot better, but it may take months, possibly many months.

Pixie Medic,
Try not to let Workers Comp get the best of you! There are still a few reputable health professionals accepting the BS that WC provides--I know only too well as my concussion was on the job and every health professional I see does not take WC cases frequently, but are to help me out. I was a therapist (OT) and my background & colleagues have been helpful in finding appropriate therapies for my issues.
As Mark said, your right sided issues should be a red flag to any neurologist to check out your neck! A good PT with manual therapy/cranio-sacral therapy & another versed in vestibular therapy to assess your dizziness/nausea issues would be helpful to you. If you find the dizziness/ nausea are worse with specific activities (driving- head turning and acceleration/deceleration, bending forward to use a dishwasher, washing machine or putting on shoes, rolling over or quickly going from sitting to lying down in bed--this would indicate vestibular issues. As a mom, doing things to take care of your family while dealing with PCS is highly fatiguing (to say the least!). PCS is fatiguing!!
As for PTSD, I feel your pain! I was hit by students and had nightmares for quit a while. I still have problems walking in crowded areas, but just this week, actually missed working with my students. PTSD is psychological and physical as Mark said. If you can find a psychologist that specializes in brain injury that would be helpful. Speaking with someone who understands where your anxiety is coming from and that your brain has had a major insult and needs time to heal can be very useful.
Hang in there! You are only 5 weeks post and with rest & appropriate therapy, hopefully this too shall pass! Stay strong and don't let WC say you cannot get authorization for appropriate care. Make them help you find reputable health care professionals that you feel comfortable with!
And, remember, you have all of us on NeuroTalk to fall back on and help you find the tools you need.


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Hi Pixie Medic,

I don't have any advice, but I just wanted to say that I relate to your situation and you are not alone. It's been almost 2 months since my concussion and this is frustrating...dealing with the doctors who either don't know how to help or aren't willing to help (I'm still trying to obtain the "right one" for me). I don't have to worry about WC, but short term disability has been a pain. And my significant other is still trying to understand why I'm so tired all of the time. Often times, I still don't feel like this is happening to me. I keep thinking I'm going to wake up from this nightmare and walk back into my office tomorrow like nothing ever happened.

It is a challenging condition to be sure. And it's so slow to heal, it can cause anxiety because people feel that they will always be this way. Life changes though, if the condition only improves a bit, the person will adapt. If the condition improves a lot, you will recover. Either way, things will likely improve.

Hello you poor thing! Welcome.

There is a tone of good advice here, so I'll try to avoid giving you much on getting better and focus more on Workers Comp.

I too dealt with them and found that every doctor that They sent me to would simply say that I was fine, and should return to work. The biggest thing for trying to keep a healthy state of mind is for you to Not be discouraged by what doctors say when they are clearly paid by WCB. Obtain professionals Independent of WCB, see your own doctors, etc. no matter what happens with WCB you will get through this. They add more stress than they are worth, but if it is needed there isn't much choice. I would Highly recommend you sign off to have someone represent you so that you don't have to deal directly with them. My sister obtained a form that I signed, and from that point they dealt with Her instead of me.

If you Happen to live in Edmonton, Ab, let me know and I can refer you to a wonderful neuropsychologist who I can promise would take you seriously.

One more thing...rest your mind as much as possible. Stress makes our symptoms worse.

Oh and you and your husband should watch the you look fine series of videos. Mark in Idaho, I believe, recommended it to me and it helped me a lot!




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Pixie,

Tell your husband for me that there is no such thing as "just a concussion"

My accident was 22 months ago and I would have NEVER guessed such a thing would plunge me into an uncertain hell, not only can it be uncertain it is unpredictable as well.

I have a flying business and haven't flown since my accident but I look fine!

I did not post this to scare or worry you, each concussion is different. I posted this for your husband to read that you can't fake or dream up this kind of stuff, it is one rough road for some of us.

Without my wife believing in me that I really have had problems I could not have made it. She was the one telling me I wasn't making things up...I got hit in the head.

You'll be fine, just be patient.

Bud

Thank you all for the replies. It's so nice to not feel so alone! (I say that but I live with husband, 19 year old brother in law, six kids ages 12-2 and three dogs lol)

I showed my husband the replies- it was eye opening for him. He truly has tried to be supportive, he just didn't understand. (He's a former Marine and you know how tough they are!)

As for medications: I'm taking Effexor 75 mg (was taking before my assault for depression and PTSD), Fiorcet at night, phenergan 25 mg every six hours and Norco as needed for breakthrough pain.

I also spoke to my lawyer today (I decided it wasn't worth the awfulness of dealing with WC and got myself an expert) and told her your advice. She's now actively advocating for me to get more than just a secondary neurology consult.

For the first time in five weeks I have real hope. Thank you all.

Pixie,

Were you a Whiskey ? My daughter served a tour in Kirkuk as a Whiskey and came home with wicked PTSD. My heart goes out to you. Just paramedic duty is a challenge. PTSD makes PCS much worse.

Your attorney will benefit from checking out TBIlaw.com and subtlebraininjury.com Attorney Gordon Johnson has put together some excellent information.