Hockey,

Is that your government paid doctor who made the Smith and Wesson comment?

I read somewhere that meds that have lethal risks are highly recommended for the elderly and others with chronic health care needs. The author of the quote was suggesting that our society would be better off with less people with chronic health problems. He considered terminal illness a boon to society.

I would probably miss and be deaf with a headache.

Hi Mark,

I'm confident that my neurologist would be a sadistic, arrogant jerk no matter who paid his bill. I lived in the States for a number of years and met some great doctors and some that were a disgrace to their profession. In the end, any system is only as good as the people in it.

My problem is that I live in a remote area and don't have the same choice of specialists I'd have if I lived in or near a big urban centre like Toronto or Montreal.

That said, I read that only 1 in 20 Canadian brain injury patients get the rehabilitation services they need. Sadly, I don't think it's that much better anywhere else. Treating us is expensive, difficult and slow. In short, we're too much of a pain for any payment plan and most doctors.

Why is it difficult and slow? is it because everyone is different and got injured a diffenet way?

Hey Soccer,

The brain is complex and science really knows little about it. This is compounded by the fact that, in MHO, the arrogance of many neurologists makes them slow to embrace new research and treatments.

I have heard that cranial sacral therapy can be effective for chronic headaches following a tbi. Most of the medical community doesn't believe in it, and frankly I struggle with it as well; however, anecdotal reports suggest that it is very effective. Might be worth at least looking into.

Sheds,

I would just stick to brisk walking. Brisk walking is a great way to stay in shape, and it is actually really good for your brain too - something to do with increasing blood flow to your brain which activates stem cell proliferation. And, don't worry about trying to run to burn the extra calories. I read a study when I was in college that found brisk walkers burn as many calories per hour as joggers do. If your not sure what a brisk pace is, just walk like you are in a hurry to get somewhere.

Why are they so arrogant is it because they think they are already so smart and know more about the brain then most people do?

I've had neurologist tell me that they got into that "specialty", so they wouldn't need to get their hands dirty.
That's fine.
Some Neuro's are Great, almost genius.
Other's are just lazy slobs, that are in for nothing more than the $. Sorry to say, it's like any other profession. From Plumbing to Preaching.

pete