DTRPCS,

You have PCS figured out pretty well. Most will agree that the Doctors usuallly have the least knowledge about this.

FYI, I was looking at a brain SPECT I had done about 5 years ago and it said mild to moderate hypoperfusion and on the report it said the cause was inconclusive. I don't think the doctors thought much about it, which seems a little weird now that I look back at it. Could this be a cause of my symptoms and how can blood flow be increased to the brain?

It would depend on what part of your brain has the hypo-perfusion. You might consider taking aspirin as therapy. Therapeutic aspirin will help increase blood flow. Most take 81 mg of normal aspirin. I take enteric coated aspirin that does not dissolve in the stomach. This is a safe from of aspirin therapy. I don't know if 81 mg is available in enteric form. Find the lowest dose of enteric aspirin. take one each day.

Also, niacin is helpful with circulation.

Yes, hypoperfusion is most likely the root of your problems. The brain, for some reason, doesn't like to send blood to damaged tissue. And yes, you can do things to increase this. Neurofeedback would be one. Dr. Amen has actually demonstrated in a study that neurofeedback increases hyperperfusion when done. The pROSHI is thought to induce hyperperfusion. There are also some supplements you can take for this. Just google it and you should find them.

**

There are studies that show HBOT increases perfusion to damaged areas. The studies do not mention if this hypo-perfusion causes any symptoms nor whether the increased perfusion lessens any symptoms.

But, then again, I like to suggest that people get started with habits and therapies as a first resort that are affordable, main stream and well proven and do not require a doctor's expensive therapies or fees. Most people are deficient in nutrition due to the habits of eating overly processed foods. There is plenty of research that supports a Mediterranean diet for both bodily health and neurological health.

The value of aspirin therapy is widely known. Same goes for niacin. Are we trying to fix things that are not broken, just malnourished?

But then, we are a society that would prefer a quick fix by someone else than by being disciplined in our own personal nutrition and habits.

I am still waiting for the scientifically based research on the efficacy of the different neurotherapies to be published. Maybe they are still limited to the subscription based journals. Usually, the Abstract will be available online with an opportunity to purchase a complete report. Can someone point me out to the reports I can't seem to find.

Past 6 months post injury, nutrition and vitamin supplements are not going to do much to heal a person's brain and alleviate symptoms. They have even done studies on that with very little positive results. At that point, more aggressive intervention is needed such as neurofeedback and other therapies. They have also done studies on using cognitive behavioral therapy to treat PCS and these studies have also resulted in very little improvement. Yeah, the therapies are expensive, there is no doubt about that. However, as I have posted many times on here , there are resources out there available to pay for these therapies. For example, in Colorado, there is a state funded endowment fund that will award $2,000 per year for two years to pay for any type of therapy. It's pretty cool actually because every 10% of every traffic ticket, drug ticket, and DUI ticket goes towards this. Also, there is a non profit brain injury fund that will pay in full for 40 sessions of HBOT therapy. Many therapists will also substantially reduce their fees for brain injured clients. So, you just have to be resourceful and find the money. If you can't do it, then have a family member do it for you. It's really just a matter of how bad do you want to get better? The resources are there, you just have to go find them.

Traumatic Brain Injury Trust funds are available in many states. We are trying to get legislative approval to start one here in Idaho. I am hoping to work with the Brain Injury Advisory Council when this reaches the Idaho Legislature. The key to these funds is the funding mechanism. As mhr4 said, they are usually funded by surcharges on traffic tickets, such a DUI, reckless driving, sometimes speeding, as determined by the legislative authority.

Since they are by application and not entitlement and limited to available funds, the PCS community will likely be last in line to receive any funds. The needs of those with TBI's that result in loss of motor function are the primary targets of these funds. The struggle PCS subjects have trying to get doctors to even recognize our struggles as real and caused by PCS will also make the application process problematic.

The benefits are control by the Trust Fund Charter and limited by available funds.

Here are some of the criteria of existing funds.

The Colorado fund is limited to those who have "Medical documentation of a traumatic brain injury that produces a partial or total disability as a result of impaired cognitive ability and/or physical function."

Kentucky's fund criteria for Medical Eligibility *is: People with a partial or total disability caused by injury to the brain are eligible to receive support from TBI's Benefit Management Program. Injuries to the brain may be a result of physical trauma, damage resulting from a lack of oxygen, allergic conditions, toxic substances and other medical incidents, including damage caused by drug overdoses or alcohol poisoning. Eligible individuals have impaired cognitive abilities or impaired brain function.

Georgia has a fund that is limited to those who have a letter from a physician, medical practitioner, hospital clinic or other medical or medically related facility, or insurance company verifying the nature (type) and cause of your injury. The letter must include both the nature (type) of injury and the cause of the injury. The cause of the injury must be one of the following. Conditions resulting from stokes and/or diseases do not qualify.

1. Accidental Fall
2. Accidently struck by or against an object/person
3. Assault
4. Self-inflicted Injury
5. Sports/Recreation injury
6. Transportation/Motor Vehicle accident

Who have Have Exhausted All Other Sources of Funds

The Commission intends for the Trust Fund to be a payer of last resort. Please review the following possible sources of funds and make sure you have applied for and exhausted all of those for which you qualify before submitting your application to the BSITF.
Medicaid
Medicare
SSI
SSDI
Private Insurance
Short Term Disability
Long Term Disability
Vocational Rehabilitation
Veteran's Administration
Victims Compenstation Fund

Person Support Services
Community Care Services (CCSP)
Independent Care Waiver Program (ICWP)
Mental Retardation Waiver Program (MRWP)
SOURCE

You can do an online search for Brain Injury Trust Fund Idaho or your state to see if there is one in your state. Good luck.

I have been successfully using vitamin and nutrition therapy for 28 years, after it was first recommended by a M.D. My symptoms will increase drastically if I do not keep up my regimen. And it is not me that notices this increase in symptoms. It is my wife.

In the past, I would run out of some of my 20 some piece daily regimen and within a few days, my wife would ask me if I am taking my vitamins. When I said I had run out of some, she would run out to restock my inventory. This included a 20 mile run to Costco for the brand I like (has the dosages I prefer)

Eventually, she bought small zip lock bags for me to prepare a month's worth at a time so she could set them out for me to take. She will even load the bags if she sees that I am getting low.

So, don't take my word for it. Take my wife's word. She has to put up with the irritability, lack of attention, forgetfulness, disruption in sleep, and overall lethargy.

But then, this is only my and my wife's opinion. Your mileage may vary.

What is an FCE?

I finally figured out what a PMR is (Physical Medicine and Rehab Doctor)

Some of these acronyms and other abbreviations send me for a loop.

PT, Physical Therapist, teaches about Pain Tolerance
OT, Occupational Therapist, I haven't figured out what their occupation does, usually plays games and assigns projects or puzzles.
PCP, Primary Care Physician, aka, Primary Color Physician, Only uses three crayon colors
Ph.D. knows more than most about a specific subject. very Philosophical
CSW, Clinical Social Worker, schedules parties at the clinic LOL
ICSW, Ice Cream Social Worker, serves the ice cream at the parties at the clinic
MSW, Master Social Worker, arranges better parties.

Have I missed any?