Sheds, I am surprised you have not filed a claim against the ER. Wage replacement might have been agreed to, especially if there is an understood need to just slow down for a bit.

Corki,

After a concussion, most of the damage happens after the visit to the ER. I am glad to hear you are seeing the doc on 1/20. A CT might be in order. Persistent symptoms like you mention would justify more investigation by my book.

I have read where some have tried to suggest that concussions be followed up rather than released. I would like to see the ER or Doc have a protocol of at least a phone call follow-up each day for a few days. This would go a long way toward catching the brain bleeds and other issues that are delayed. A trained person could ask a few questions and get a good idea of function and such.

There needs to be as much focus on concussions as there is for strokes.

Mark,

Thank you for your reply. I agree that people with concussions need more after-care. I did have a ct at the er; it stated that nothing was wrong. I believe that they should have taken an x-ray to see if their was a hairline fracture of the skull. I am actually taken off from school (I am a teacher) because I am having increased pressure in my head near the bump. Any time I touch the bump or near it, I become nauseated, dizzy, and pain radiates toward the back of my head. I have been resting all day and I still feel horrible. Tomorrow I will attempt to get an appointment for tomorrow, instead of waiting another week. I am surprised that doctors are not taking my symptoms seriously.

Corki

Mark,

I have filed a claim against the ER. They are not disputing what happened in the ER, but are trying to say that my year-long symptoms of PCS may be a result of underlying medical problems or my seizure disorder. I can tell you that I didn't not feel any of this before the accident - as far as an underlying medical condition, plus I haven't had any other medical conditions. As for the seizures, once I switched medications, I was less tired, but still have headaches after a year and can't be in loud spots and have ringing in my ears constantly. My attorney wanted to know who I thought was the "quarterback" in my treatment, meaning who would know my symptoms the most. I told her that the neuro that I saw initially worked for the hospital, so she wasn't going to say that I had a concussion. My family doc said I was depressed and that was why I had a headache and loss of interest in most things. She increased my Prozac. I then went to see a psychiatrist who told me that I was not depressed and took me off the antidepressants. I went to a sports medicine doc because he deals a lot with concussion patients. He told me that the symptoms I had were due to a concussion. I then saw another neuro for a second opinion. The attorney doesn't want to use the info from the concussion doc because he is not a neurologist. In short, I am the "quarterback" because I am the one who made all the appointments with different people to just get some answers and the help that I needed. I have learned that you have to advocate for yourself because no one else does.

Post Concussion Syndrome for 11 months......
 

I am 20 years old, and will turn 21 in April. I have had multiple concussions as I participated in Football and Wrestling in high school, and then went on to play a year of college football. I've been playing rugby, until last spring during a game I was kneed to the head, received 20 stitches, and another concussion......I then returned to play 3 weeks later, with no real problems. The next week at a rugby tourny the first game I felt concussion symptoms again and then took my self out of the game. That was May of '09 and I have had this hell since. Symptoms are/were nausea, migraines, hazy, no motivation, depression, dizzy, zoned out. I was on Amitriptyline for 6 months, which I've recently weened my self off. I have not been able to lift weights or train since, which was the biggest part of my life. At first I pushed through it like athletes are taught, as it was engrained in me to do so personally. Drinking is up and down as some times Ill feel fine and laugh and be loud as I usually am, and then other times I'll feel stuck or in a haze, basically feel like garbage. I've always been the loud, funny, and people person my whole life, and now it all seems gone.....Depression is what becomes of this, which no one ever wants to admit, but when your whole life has been taken away for damn near a year, it what becomes of it.......if anyone has any advice I'd appreciate it greatly or strories of someone who has become them selves again after a long struggle with Post Concussion Syndrome.....I'd appreciate it more than anyone could imagine.......Thank you very much

hey muddy, ive had pcs for two years, and i know what youve been going thru and its a living hell. i was always the loud funny person, up until this **** happened. but at about 25 months into it my symtoms just started to fade, im doing much better now and im totatlly myself again. i still have problems with dizziness and that weird pcs haze on rare occasion, but compared to what it was before, im doing fine.

Things that help you get through it - Distractions, no joke- any kind, friends, girlfreinds, hobbies, working out, stay busy as you can, you can totally lift yourself out of the hazy depression pcs throws at you by staying busy.

How to get better- Generally doctors will say "wait" itll go away in time. this may be true, but theres actions you can take. this is how much i recommend them in order.
1. -EEG training/LENS, very new technology your doctor might not know
2. -Chiropractor of the neck, cervical chiropractor
3. -Optomologist, which is an eye/brain type doctor
4. -Acupuncture, not as far fetched as you may think
5. -Neurologist medications, i personally dont like this one

i have heard many stories of people recovering comletely from each of these treatments. the thing about pcs is that its not fully understood so doctors often dont know what to tell you. But ive researched and talked to people and i KNOW many people who have gotten better as a result of these. and for others like me, its just a matter of time.

Stay strong. You have PCS, PCS does not have you. feel free to email me if you have any questions.
**

TroyJoseph, My man I appreciate it so much.......No one ever wants to admit they are struggling or losing their grip, but at some point you have to ya know.......I need to hear stories and insight on people who have had this or have this S***, because it helps...it really does.

You can workout now then you say bro? At how many months in could you?......Man, I gotta lift n workout haha.....Im losin it. I did light light weightlifting for a while on the amitriptyline and felt ok....(then I tried upping the weight and felt like a hot bag of garbage again)or which I didnt know what was right anymore since I felt so bad before......I recently read the U of Buffalo Sports and Medicine Concussion Clinic studies and website, which is regulated exercise, which would be cardio on a stationary bike, and it regulates the cerebral blood flow back so it says, since you brains oxygen and bloodflow is wacked from the blows to the head.

I spoke with one of the dr's and I'm debating on going to Buffalo over the summer for 3 months of their treatment. I read that many athletes have gone there and have returned to their sports(which I know Im done with rugby or contact sports) or feeling them selves again.......

Another question if you don't mind haha......what do think about drinking? I can drink sometimes and feel good after getting through 3 or 4 beers......or sometimes I feel like hell, slowed down, hazy like you have experienced....and I never had been a pot user, but have heard good things.....I appreciate the post back bro.......Hope all is well and take care

sheds,

Sorry, I missed this post. Your attorney needs to understand that neurologists are not necessarily the best and concussion. In fact, most are lousy at diagnosing concussions. If they cannot diagnose it with an image, EEG or standard neurological test, most will say that you must be OK.

Check out www.tbilaw.com

LENS training is not known by most doctors because it is not approved by the FDA for diagnosing or treating any disease or injury. It has been around since 2006. It has an "exemption" status with the FDA. It can only be promoted as a relaxation device.

There are other true neuro-feedback systems (volitional neuro-feedback requires the patient to act to make the brain behave a desired way). LENS is a non-volitional neuro-therapy system. The patient does nothing but sit while the LENS device does its thing.

This subject has been discussed extensively in prior threads.

Muddyriver- I've seen your posts on other threads and have responded, but I'm not sure you've seen my responses yet? I just joined recently and cannot remember which threads I've posted on! I thought I'd write on this one just in case you check this thread and not the other. I to am considering going to Buffalo over the summer to be treated. I've seen other doctors who have recommended and introduced this study to me and personally, I think its my best shot. I've tried to get in touch with John Leddy, the director there, but have had no luck. I was told he is out of town till tomorrow. Have you been able to get in touch with them? Do you know anything about the procedure done there/more information? I'm not from around the buffalo area- are you?

best,
erica

Yo Erica!
Hey I havent seen any of your posts Im sorry! I havent been on here in a while......As for the Buffalo clinic I talked to the lady at the desk and she gave me Leddy's email.......It won't let me post his email on here because I onyl have 5 posts?? But here it's his last name((Leddy)at Buffalo.edu).......I called today and the lady told me to call back Monday when He and this other lady will be back to set up an appointment.

I am not from the Buffalo area so I'd be in the same shoes as you, but it's seems as the one of the few things left that would help.......I know they do gradual cardio exercise and make your own individual workout, which they control your heart rate etc with monitors and breathing machines........

I'm hoping I get in for this summer! Let me know if you get ahold of them!