PCSLearner,

I remember those days of running into door jambs and the corners of walls, many shoulder bruises.

Then my neuro prescribed too much phenobarbital and it got worse. I would try to turn as I walked and my body would keep going the same direction even though I had turned my body. I would end up stumbling along until I could get my orientation back.

My mind wanted to change direction but my body did not want to follow.

Now, this is a rare occurrence.

... No officer, I am not drunk. I did not have any alcohol.....

I almost failed a roadside sobriety test once. I could not keep track of my steps (supposed to take ten), track the sidewalk crack, and turn around without looking like a klutz.

The cop was just taking a statistical shot on Christmas day evening. Who would not have some alcohol in their system at 9:00 at night. Not me, I have PCS and the doctor said to not consume alcohol.

To make matters worse, I have a bit of horizontal gaze nystagmus in my left eye.

Good thing there is no DWPCS. Driving With Post Concussion Syndrome.

Mostly it was my chiropractor, getting me back into alignment {the C1/C2 also} and he treated the spasms/ sore muscles/ imbalances and trigger points that were the cause for me.

I also did Sharon Butlers TOS program stretches and took some ideas from PT sessions that seemed to help.

My concussion was 30+ yrs ago so it only played a part with the misalignments - the work injury was the main cause of all those weird symptoms - they faded away as the worst of the injury began to heal.

Is it possible for a child to "pass" all the coordination/reflex tests and still have severe balance/vertigo issues? (Vestibular Disorder)

Anyone dealt with this? I am still trying to understand.

My work injury that caused my problems made me feel very dizzy & spaced out.
I could still drive fine -didn't seem to bother me if I was in a car - but if standing or walking - a wooziness & felt like I was swaying around - really had to focus on where I was and my movements.
I did pass most all of the strength, reflex, grip tests.

Of course this was for a RSI/TOS injury and not PCS, but wanted to say I think it could be possible to pass some of those tests and still have issues.

Yes, I think it is possible for someone to "pass" those tests and still have a vestibular issue because sometimes those symptoms seem to come and go with specific movements, etc. That's why you want a tilt table test...I think.

Sadly, PCS is real. Definitely. 100%.
Parents will see a dramatic difference in their children; children who may have been previously completely healthy and who have never feined illness in order to get out of school or anything.
Could people all over the globe be inventing a set of symptoms, perhaps for insurance reasons? People who don't have any contact with each other? Why would children join in?
Clearly they wouldn't and any statement that PCS is not real is complete rubbish.

Could some neurologists be incompetent in recognizing PCS?
Yes, they could.
Believe your child.
I think that that is the best thing that a parent can do for a child with this terrible condition, just believe what they say and act accordingly.
It must be an incredibly tough disease for children, especially for children. Parents don't want to be making it worse by disbelieving what their children are saying.
I know that children can sometimes make stuff up. Not in this case.

CS

Yes, this is real.

I don't know if I would classify my vestibular issues as severe, I can still get around slowly and carefully, but I do tend to run into corners and edges, have a hard time walking straight when I'm tired, need to lean on things or hold on a lot. I passed the basic neuro tests, but I definitely have plenty of PCS issues. Like Jomar I can handle driving because I'm sitting and holding onto something, walking and standing are different and harder.

The first neurologist I saw said I never had a concussion because I wasn't knocked unconscious, and was making it up because of abuse in my past (after talking to me for a couple of minutes). Ridiculous! I had no symptoms before my accident nor do I have a lot of abuse in my background. I found a different doctor who took me seriously and has helped me a lot. You need to find a different doctor for your son. Call and talk to their assistants find out if they have experience with PCS, what they do. It was helpful to me to check the online doctor rating sites as well.

As others have said, rest and time will facilitate healing. Good luck!

Wow, Doctors still believe this old wives' tale <The first neurologist I saw said I never had a concussion because I wasn't knocked unconscious,> This has been disproven decades ago. Some doctors never learn.

How long does it take to teach a neurologist about concussions?

Nobody knows because the neurologist has to be willing to learn first.

This board is such a tremendous support and source of valuable information!! Thank you all!

My son was suffering from unexplained (according to the neurologist), severe vertigo and had blurred vision. He could not read due to the letters on a page being disorganized and "jumping" around the page. He had a constant headache and cognitive issues. Despite having slammed his head onto turf in a soccer incident, the neurologist wrote off his injury claiming that it was "all in his head"!

I researched upper cervical chiropractors after it was suggested by a couple of people on this board. I found a NUCCA chiropractor who immediately demonstrated real concern and compassion for my son. (Incredibly appreciated after what we experienced at the neurologist's office.) Approximately, an hour after the first realignment (xrays and physical tests indicated a relatively significant misalignment of the skull/first vertebrae) my son's blurred vision cleared. He was treated every day for five days and we saw remarkable improvement that very first week. The chiropractor even came in to the office on his day off to treat my son. (We definately did not see that kind of concern from the medical community.) It is now two weeks after we started with the chiropractor and my son is symptom-free with the exception of a few cognitive issues!!

The chiropractor explained how a misalignment of the cervical vertebrae can put pressure on the brainstem resulting in all kinds of neurological issues.

Despite the mechanism of injury, never once did anyone in the medical community suggest that there could have been any neck trauma that should be evaluated. In fact, one MD discouraged me from even consulting a chiropractor.

I truly believe that it was the chiropractor's intervention, along with time, that is bringing my son back to complete health.
Thank you all!!!

t97tab,

Great to hear of your son's improvement. Now, the task will be to prevent another concussion. You need to seriously consider removing him from all contact sports. His next concussion will be much worse from even less impact force.

My best to you.