[wvachon]

I have a 17 year old son who has PCS (he suffered a Stage 3 concussion in a wrestling tournament in Jan 2010) we went 3 months out of school, impact testing, etc. and finally got him back to school. In Sept 2010 he suffered another Stage 1 concussion in the same area (from a high school varsity soccer game). Ever since his life has totally changed. We went to the doctor did the impact testing, he cleared him to play again 3 weeks later. Now he is having nothing but trouble. He has severe headaches (24/7) for 9 months now pain level 7 thru 10 - sometimes worse. Nausea, Dizziness, Irritability, lack of concentration, memory loss, like he is not there feeling. He has been on so many different medications and nothing is working. He has seen a neuropsychologist, pediatrician, sports medicine doctor, neurologist, neurosurgeon, ophthamoligist and currently now a pain management doctor. Currently only on muscle relaxers and oxycodone - nothing is working. I am at my wits end and want to be able to find someone who can help him. He struggles with this daily and I just want my son back.

[Mark in Idaho]

Welcome to NeuroTalk. I am so sorry to hear about your son's struggles. I did not miss any school from my high school soccer concussion but it caused by grades to plummet.

First, disregard the ImPACT test as any kind of validation of his condition to return to play. It is sorely lacking in predicting whether the brain can tolerate another concussion. You might even consider talking to an attorney who has a special knowledge of concussion issues. There is a good web site at www.tbilaw.com

Your son should have never been cleared to return to contact sports after such a severe concussion the previous January. .

For the time being, disregard any pressure to get your son back into school. His long term recovery is far more important. Learning how to make it through each day is about all you both can handle.

Your son needs two things. He needs a thorough evaluation of his neck, especially his upper neck. This can be done by a great orthopedist, an orthopedic neurosurgeon, or an upper cervical chiropractor. Many of his symptoms could be due to unresolved neck issues.

Second, he needs to find a specialist who really understands concussion and Multiple Impact Syndrome. This is going to be a hard task to accomplish.

What meds is he on and what meds has he tried?

Do a search of this forum for nutrition or vitamins and read the posts relating to nutrition. He needs to seriously up his nutrition to help his brain flush out the toxins from the concussions.

Some blood work might also be worthwhile. Getting his B-12 level, folic acid, D, Thyroid (T3, T4, TSH) and hormones will give some indication if he needs extra to compensate for a damaged system.

Nutrition should be come a lifestyle for him. His weakened brain will likely be sensitive to stress and need extra nutrition to compensate.

Let us know how he is doing. Remember, recovering from a concussion is a marathon, not a sprint. Day to day changes are not worth getting anxious or excited. It will be long term trends of improvement that will count in the long run.

My best to you both.

[Margarite]

I probably sound like a broken record, but the key for me has been two things

1st: He has to find a reason to push through the pain and all the rest of it. For me it has become a daily challenge...I am going to get out of bed to keep my family and friends from worrying and because if I don't get out today then there will not be a reason to get out tomorrow.

2nd: Realize that this is going to be a long road. Doctors don't understand concussions and even if they prescribe a medicine that works taking it for months at a time can have other side effects or can become addictive. For me the key to really setting down a plan for my life with the pain and other stuff was realizing that it might be 5 years before I heal completely. I can't just sit in bed and moan for 5 years.

I was 19 when I got my first concussion falling off of a horse. I was knocked out for a couple seconds and had permanent amnesia of the surrounding 10 hours. I got a second serious concussion two weeks later and then hit my head several times ( not sure if these were concussions or not) and then got two bad concussions on the same day almost a year after the first. Now I am 22 and it has been a year and a half since the last concussion. I still have daily headaches that have lessened to a 5 out of 10, light and sound sensitivity, irritability, constant fatigue, and trouble concentrating. It got my first concussion in the second semester of my freshman year of college. I have been able with the help of my friends to continue through the rigorous 20 credit hours per semester program. My high school unweighted GPA was 3.8, my concussion brought it down to a 2.0 and now it is up to a 3.3.

It has been hard, but having reasons to get me up every morning and realizing that I either have to give up on life or push through the pain. I plan to finish my Bachelors in Liberal Arts this next May and enter into nursing school the following August. I have become a much stronger person and with the right motivation so can any PCSer.

I am sorry I have not given you much hope, but with facing the facts comes the ability to decide on how to proceed.
Good Luck!
Margarite