NeuroTalk Support Groups - University of Buffalo concussion clinic

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- - University of Buffalo concussion clinic (https://www.neurotalk.org/traumatic-brain-injury-and-post-concussion-syndrome/151050-university-buffalo-concussion-clinic.html)

Mokey,

Please keep in mind that the Buffalo protocol is designed to get clients back to athletic activity. It has not shown any evidence of lessening or shortening the cognitive symptoms. Their qualifying standards of no head aches and no problems with balance is 75% toward recovery.

If you get good neck diagnostics and treatment, it can be very worth it. Hope you fit their criteria.

My best to you.

Thanks for that comment, Mark. yes, they focus on the physical conditioning....and they do asvocate a whole body approach to healthy brains, which I agree with. They were very clear that I neede vestibular and vision therapy to continue as well as what they suggested. I don't know if i would have gone from a far distance but I was 150 kms away and my spouse wanted me to go, so I did!

I haven't had time to process the trip yet. It all takes time!

I also tried cranial sacral therapy, which some MDs had recommended...not sure about that yet. Will give it another try....as the bills add up!

Best to you.

The cranial sacral therapy has its problems. If you are treated by a skull plate reader, it is hocus pocus. If the treatment is spinal manipulation and it is not too forceful, it can be worthwhile. CST ranges from the extreme to the reasonable. Same goes for chiropractic. I believe in chiropractic but I do not believe in all chiropractic techniques and philosophies.

Buffalo's whole body approach appears to start very late in the post concussion process. Their standard 6 week waiting period allows a lot of time for natural healing to start the healing process.

Mark,

Agree with hocus pocus...although so many recommended cranial sacral tjat I had to suspend my usual scientific mind for the hope of discovering somethng useful. I was hoping for a neck massage but did not get one! it was a bit too light of a touch. Physiotherapy for the neck starts this week and that should be better for the whiplask injury (which was neglected for 15 months because of the focus on the brain!).

We all try what we can. Sharing info is So important,

Just Returned from UB Clinic

Saw Dr Leddy 2 days ago. So here's my experience...

The team of doctors and people you see and the tests you do is all comprehensive. It feels like they actually care about helping their patients.

My concussion happened 2 months ago. (softball thrown to the back of the head, no loss of consciousness but felt like **** ever since)

It was determined that I dont have any evidence of physiological PCS anymore. I have no neck pain, my balance is fairly good and I was able to hit 195 bpm on the treadmill.

However I still have bad headaches, head tightness 24/7 , and some anxiety, fogginess. So I'm not sure how they can say that I dont have pcs symtoms. Maybe I dont fully understand the meaning of physiological pcs.

I am cleared to start their exercise program. Heart rate to 150 bpm for 20 mins everyday for a week then follow up with Dr Leddy via email and increase my heart rate weekly. He seems optimistic that following through with the exercise will have me better in 4-6 weeks.

I'll post updates here. Reply or message me for any questions regarding the clinic.

It's been over one week since I saw Dr Leddy and started the exercise rehab program. I honestly feel like I'm starting to get better. This could be because of the exercise or because I feel like I am proactively fighting this post concussion now. Either way I recommend the exercise regimen.

I still have headaches everyday but I'm hoping those too will pass.

I'll keep this thread updated with my progress.

Quote:

Originally Posted by pcsroc (Post 1027802)

Glad its going well. Please keep us updated. Thanks

Ah HA! Just ran across this old post by you, Mark. And I read more about the cognitive effects of sleep deprivation. I sleep on my side, and if I have a neck injury, which is already putting pressure on arteries, then it would only be exacerbated by sleeping in this position. So I'm not getting good sleep (makes sense, because I have large dark circles under my eyes, despite "sleeping" for 10 hours every night), which is causing this "fog".

This is starting to make more sense for me...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark in Idaho (Post 775858)

Dr Leddy was good at identifying the upper neck injuries. This is missed in so many cases. I am not surprised he discounted any PCS.

Your current symptoms may not be PCS related but I doubt it. More likely, they are due to PCS but are magnified by your neck injury and inflammation around the important arteries that oxygenate 30% of your brain. This will make good sleep elusive thus magnifying your PCS symptoms.

I bet you do not breath properly when sleeping. This is very common when there is an upper neck injury. Other lower body and extremity symptoms can be caused by this lack of good blood flow to the brain stem and surrounding areas.

You will be likely helped by finding a way to position your head and neck to be supported after you fall asleep. the lack of muscle function while asleep allows the neck and head to fall off into contorted positions. For a healthy neck, this would not be a big problem. For an injured neck, the inflammation that sets in magnifies the neck injury by constricting the arteries.

Try reclining with a focus on straight neck and head position. If when you relax, your head changes position, find a way to support it so it does not move. If possible, try to lay or recline in this position with an ice pack in place. Use the synthetic ice packs that have a mushy form in a sealed plastic pouch. They will retain their shape after they have lost the cooling effect.

If you can fall asleep like this and get some good rest, you have a answer to part of your problem. Getting as much sleep like this will change your life.

I am an expert in sleep positioning. I must have good head and neck support or I never get any good restorative sleep. I have been struggling with this for 12 years. I either have a good to great night's sleep or a miserable one. Nothing in between.

If I wake up struggling to sleep good, I do better to get up and go do something until I can go back to bed and fall asleep in the correct position. My wife knows that if she sees me struggling, she is to wake me up and tell me to go sleep in my recliner. At least she will get the rest of the night to sleep.

Hope this helps.

My best to you.