Hi everyone-Please forgive me if I ramble. I was in a car accident 5 weeks ago that should have ended my life. Instead, I hopped out of the car and ran away from it (I heard someone say that it might explode) I spent 3 hours in the ER where they determined that I could go home. My only injury at that time was deep bruising on my lower legs

About a week later I began to forget things. For instance, I went to the dentist the day before the accident and needed to go back the week after the accident to finish the work; I could not remember where the dentist was-I had to call my husband. There were other incidences as well. I couldn't get words out or remember how to write/type the words. Also at that time, I started having headaches and nausea. The neurologists near me didn't want to take me or couldn't see me until march. The headache got so bad that I went to the ER. They told me that I had post concussive syndrome? They set me up with a neurologist in the area.

After examining me, he ordered an MRI and an EEG. My question; if I start feeling better and my symptoms diminish, or go away should I still have the EEG and MRI done or can I call to cancel them?
Thank you for your help

Welcome to NeuroTalk! I'm sorry to hear about your accident. You came to the right place. There are plenty of good hearted people here to help you with your troubles.

The symptoms your describing sound very much like post-concussion syndrome. If you haven't had any of those tests done, I would get them done just to be on the safe side. You said the accident was pretty severe, so it would be well worth getting the MRI done to check for any bleeding or bruising on your brain. The EEG test would be to check for seizures and abnormal brain waves. I would get that done too just in case.

PCS symptoms tend to come and go. So just because you have a day or two without symptoms, doesn't mean your out of the woods. They can come right back and nip you in the butt.

If you have insurance, it should be no question to whether you get the tests done or not. It shouldn't cost you more than a co-pay.

I wish you the best of luck. Keep posting here, let us know how your doing.

Yes, welcome to NeuroTalk,

Although I agree that you are exhibiting Post Concussion Syndrome, I disagree with nwsmith about the need for an MRI and EEG,

First, if the ER doc had a concern about a bleed causing your head ache, he would have order a CT scan right then.

An MRI is not of much value unless you are exhibiting severe symptoms. They would be a sudden onset of a severe head ache, loss of motor control, serious balance problems, vision disturbances and any kind of imbalance between the right and left side of your body.

Brain bleeds show up best by the third day and the best image for them is a CT scan. The resolution of an MRI is not fine enough to show the microscopic damage of a concussion. If you are not experiencing any type of seizure activity, I don't see why an EEG would be of value.

If the money and inconvenience is not an issue, there is no reason to defy the doctor's request. If you were to get an MRI, it should include a full set of images of your neck, especially your upper neck. Upper neck injuries from vehicle collisions often go undiagnosed until much later if ever.

Some doctors are very concerned about covering their liability issues. This can lead to unnecessary tests. Plus, there are a good many neurologists who don't diagnose anything that they can not image on an X-ray, CT, MRI or EEG tracing.

The week delay in symptoms starting is not uncommon. In fact, it is more common than not for mild to moderate concussions. After the impact, the brain will try to continue functioning with the damaged or weakened brain cells. After a week or so, the brain gives up on those damaged cells and lets them die. In some concussion patients, this late arrival of PCS symptoms can take up to 6 weeks.

As nwsmith said, you PCS symptoms will likely come and go. It can become like a roller-coaster ride. The things you can do to help are simple. Limit any stress in your life. This means quiet rest with minimal auditory and visual stimulation. Plan to have quiet rest periods each day.

Eat healthy. This means no caffeine or alcohol or MSG. Later, a single serving of alcohol or caffeine may be OK. B vitamins are good for brain recovery. B-6 and B-12 are the most important plus a broad spectrum of the normal vitamins and minerals. D3, Omega 3's and folic acid are also good for the healing brain. be sure to get a good dose of all of the anti-oxidants.

To help you understand your condition, watch the YouTube video series by John Byler called "You Look Great" at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9Xso...ature=youtu.be There are 6 segments that take about an hour total. Also, download the TBI Survival Guide at www.tbiguide.com It is full of great information.

Don't expect great things from the neurologist. It is rare to find a neurologist who has a good understanding of Post Concussion Syndrome.

If you are involved in litigation, check out www.tbilaw.com and its sister site www.subtlebraininjury.com.

And, don't have nightmares about the accident. Very few accidents explode in flames. I have extensive vehicle accident training when I was an EMT long ago. I have spent hours in cars helping get passengers out safely. In most accidents, you are safer to stay in the car until help arrives than fight to get out. Even today, I spend hours combing through auto salvage and auction yards and rarely see any vehicles that have burned as a result of a collision.

Feel free to ask any questions. There is lots of experience on this forum.

My best to you.

Thank you for your help. I had an eye exam and there was no damage to my eyes.
I do have nightmares, it's hard not to.

The driver's side compartment was completely intact. there was a Doctor and a nurse on the scene.

I want to say that the doctor order the MRI to check my brain and my upper neck.

thank you for all of your help.

At five weeks post injury, the MRI is statistically, based on research, a waste of time. If you have upper neck symptoms, the MRI can be valuable. It would likely be more appropriate to be ordered by a Physiatrist (specialist in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation).

Hi Mark,

I had my first CT scan two weeks after the accident even though I went to the ER right after the accident. I went on vacation because the Dr. at the ER said it would be ok and I got much worse, when I returned home I went straight to the ER again because I was getting so much worse and then they gave me my first CT scan. Then I had the MRI about six weeks after the accident.

But I'm very curious about these statistics you are referring to. Do you happen to have any links to them?

I'm wondering if there was a bleed in my brain that didn't show up because it was too late to see it and then that would explain the iicp I experienced for six months until the second neurologist figured out that was what was making me so much worse based on my symptoms.

I may have said this before--sorry...It's hard not to have nightmares. When the car finally came to rest, there was smoke coming out of at least the roof, I think, of the car, if not other places. There was also someone's child seeing this whole thing. I remember yelling, "why is this child here, don't let her see this."

They did an xray of my neck, that was also one of my issues. Also, even writing this is somewhat difficult-I can't find the words and/or I spell them wrong. Better safe than sorry, maybe I will have the MRI and EEG just for my piece of mind.

Thanks, this info is very helpful.

can you please explain what IICP is? It was discovered by the MRI? Thanks.

Sorry to confuse you with my questions themaidqwuit. I was directing them to Mark since he knows a LOT about this stuff and what he said to you made me sonder more about the information he posted. (I've done a lot of reading myself, but I'm always grateful to be pointed in new directions for more information.)

The iicp I had was not found on the MRI I had six weeks after the accident. It's not always seen on MRI's.

IICP is increased intracranial pressure and it's considered by the experts in journals I've read to be a very rare symptom with concussions. It's pressure that won't go away and actually increases cyclically inside someone's skull and it usually only happens to people who have moderate or severe brain injuries and causes a lot of complications. Please don't concern yourself with it at this point in your recovery; like I said it's very rare.

There have been some studies that associate it with second impact syndrome - so be very careful that you don't hit, or shake your head too hard so you don't further damage your brain. Also they think that second impact syndrome can cause a quick death. But, a lot of experts wonder why iicp doesn't happen more with boxers since they are prone to getting multiple concussions in close proximity to one another.

I'm just trying to figure it all out myself, really. And that's why I asked Mark for links - if he has them.

Anyway, I had a lot of nightmares too, for months after the car accident I was in. They went away.

I'm 18 months out from the accident I was in that gave me the brain injury and I'm doing a lot better. The Dr.'s told me I would be all better within a few hours to a few days when I first went in and I kept getting worse and then they told me I'd be better within a few weeks and I still wasn't and I'm still not all better now. But I'm doing better than I was.

Over time you will most likely get a lot better too. Take care of yourself. Take it easy and rest as much as possible.

thanks. sorry about my confustion to the questions. I am glad you are doing much better.