Hi Kate,

I have read about the exercise treatment of postconcussion syndrome that is offered at Buffalo.

This is the UB write-up:

http://www.ubortho.buffalo.edu/concu...concussion.pdf

There is also an academic paper that mentions it:

http://www.springerlink.com/content/...v/fulltext.pdf

Good luck.

CS

Dear Linda,

My daughter is also suffering from PCS from 2 cheerleading falls and a minor car accident. We are 14 months out from her diagnosis of PCS after her 2nd concussion, the most severe. She had every symptom you can have with PCS. She has had MRI's, CT scans, EEG's, neuropsych testing and she sees her neurologist regularly. He prescribed an antidepressent, Zoloft, for her. She has been on it for nearly a year and I really see no improvement. She is a freshman in college and is struggling terribly (she was a straight A honor student before). Headaches, dizziness, memory issues, fatigue and generally feeling crappy continue to be her main symptoms. She does have disability services at school, but she still had to drop down to 8 hours this semester.

We have started seeing a new holistic MD. She is having her take high doses of Omega 3's and B-12 (sublingual). She is having bloodwork done this week to test for hormone imbalances, adrenal function, as well as just ruling out anything else. She has been taking the O 3's and B 12's for a few weeks now but she seems to think they aren't helping. Hopefully they just need a little more time! I really want her off of the Zoloft-the side effects are not good. I feel as you do-I just want my daughter back! She is not the same person she was before concussions. I feel like how will she ever be able to keep a job, manage a household, cope with raising children???

I am also checking into the Amen Clinic. It's not close to us, but we are willing to do anything to get her better. Does anyone have any thoughts on this?

We know a football player with several concussions. He is taking Neurontin for headaches...he feels it really helps him. I am considering calling the neurologist about this, but hate to have her on MORE meds.

I seems this will never end....

First, Neurontin is a cake walk compared to Zoloft. You holistic MD is on the right path but likely a bit timid. She also needs to be on folic acid, B-6 and a good mix of all of the other vitamins and minerals, etc. What doses of O-3's and B-12 is she taking? Do her O-3's have a high percentage of DHA and EPA? They should have at least 60% to 70%. Carlson Fish Oil is a good value for this, especially if you can find it on sale at The Vitamin Shoppe for about $22 a bottle.

I have posted before about my supplement regimen. It is not a quick fix. First, she needs to recover from her nutritional deficiencies. Then her brain can start to get benefit in a healing/recovery way.

The first time I started an ortho-molecular supplement regimen, I did not see much change for about a month. By two months, I was a changed person. After a few years, I fell off the wagon and started the PCS roller coaster again.

I got back on my regimen years later but at a lesser level. After my very minor brain trauma in 2001, I developed much more serious PCS symptoms. Then, I got real serious and increased my B's.

Nutritional or ortho-molecular therapy is not a one time fix. It is a total lifestyle change. It includes, No alcohol, minimal caffeine (especially when on Zoloft or other SSRI meds), No aspartame, no MSG, No sucralose, less concentrated sugar, good protein intake and good sleep hygiene. A Mediterranean diet is recommended by many experts.

I had a major decompensation my second semester of college and dropped lots of courses. I found that if I challenged a few courses and accepted just a 'pass' grade, I was able to keep my credit hours up. I even took and challenged an Elementary Algebra course for 5 units so I could maintain full time status. I had already challenged high school algebra as a 9th grade student four years earlier and scored a 710 on the Math SAT, but I needed the credits to stay on my father's health insurance.

Has her doctor suggested amitriplyline instead of the Zoloft? It is commonly used for PCS headaches. It is usually a small dose, 10 mgs or so. If she changes meds, she wants to wean off the Zoloft very slowly, usually in two week steps of 25% or less reduction.

The Zoloft would likely only reduce her anxiety and depression symptoms, not any of her other PCS symptoms.

An important point for Mom and family to recognize is this, she is not the daughter you used to have. If she ever returns to that condition, be extremely thankful. For now, accept her as she is and try to help her cope with the struggles she is having.

What kinds of problems did the neuro-psych assessment find? There are ways to work around or accommodate some of the memory and cognitive problems. The most important in my experience are her WAIS and Wechsler memory scores. Her visual and auditory processing and memory functions can be a challenge to learn to accommodate, especially for a student with a history of high achievement. Been there. Done that.

Her elevated scores on the MMPI-II can be misinterpreted. If she had some higher scores on scales 1, 2, 3, 7, and 8, this usually is interpreted to mean depression. In a PCS subject, it can mean concussion symptoms without depression. There is a special scoring system that is not used by many neuro-psychologists that illuminates this issue.

How far apart were her concussions? Is she still trying to cheer lead? Does she have any activities that cause even mild jarring to her head? Wearing a helmet will likely not be an adequate protection in her current state. She needs to stop all jarring activities.

There are plenty of us on this forum who can relapse from just a quick head turn. If she does not let her brain settle down and recover, she may be like us for the rest of her life.

I was fortunate, my neurologist in 1970 warned me seriously about future risks to my head. Even with the many precautions I took, I still had 10 concussions in the subsequent 40 years, most of them extremely mild but symptomatic none the less.

As a youth, my mother did not have time to worry about my struggles. She had five other children to raise. I was on my own to try to figure out how to deal with my struggles. I had a roller coaster battle with severe depression. Roller coaster grades. Roller coaster personality.

Despite my problems, I have raised three wonderful kids. Provided for my family with my wife able to stay home. And most of all, maintained a strong marriage. My wife is a saint. It was more her doing than mine.

My best to you and your daughter.

Hugs to all,

Hi, Kate! I feel like I know you as I've been "lurking" here for quite sometime looking for answers for my daughter.

I can't imagine the strain of this condition while caring for a young family. You have been in my prayers.

Here's hoping one day very soon you will wake up and say, "oh, the doctor was right! I feel fantastic!"

I have been reading through the threads, and feel that others have said what my impressions had been of the treatment at Buffalo, but since you're so close it's probably not a bad idea to check it out. It just didn't sound as if it was a good fit for a non-athlete, or for someone who was in a six month plus situation.

That being said, I was interested in reading what others had written about exercising during PCS. I sustained an injury a little over 2 years ago, had a miserable year of PCS symptoms and got into a good treatment plan about a year ago. I've had on and off symptoms since (although my days are mostly good). I take 20 mg of Nortriptyline at night (up from an original dose of 5mg).

I have been trying to get back into shape recently, and every time I cross the threshhold of breaking a sweat with aerobic activity, my symptoms return (nausea, light-headedness and dull ache at the point of injury). I haven't experienced this while working on the Wii balance board as of yet, but today I pushed it and had to rest for a couple of hours later in the day with a return of symptoms. Is this what others experience?

With regard to what others say about diet and nutrition, I will say that I have gone local/organic and have totally eliminated caffeine and alcohol from my diet. Staying hydrated and getting a good night's sleep really help, as does Omega 3 and at a good serving of high antioxidents helps (this might be totally unrelated, but thought I'd throw it in).