Hello all this is my second post and I just wanted to get some feed back from everyone and also get some advice. On the 16th of March I was rear ended on the way to work and suffered a concussion. At first it did not immediately cause me great problems but as the days went on my symptoms got worse and worse. My regular doctor diagnosed me with a concussion and ordered a CT and a MRI both which came back clean . My condition continued to not improve and all she did was recommend that rest and she would refer me to a neurologist. Well it took forever and she never got me a referral. Finally I switched doctors and my new doctor got me a referal after two weeks. Tomorrow morning I see the neurologist can anyone tell me if there is anything the neurologist can do to speed my recovery up so i can go back to work ? The reason I ask is that I have used up all my leave time and my wife is terminally ill. I need to have income so my wife has things she needs. It is stressful for me thinking I may not have the ability to provide for her. I know right now in the state I am in I cannot goto work as I can't even drive as my dizzy spells and migraines will not permit it. Any help and advice is really appreciated .

There is nothing the neuro can do to speed up your recovery. You are in charge of your recovery. Your discipline to get quiet rest and avoid stressors is the best you can do.

The CT and MRI are of no value and can even have a negative value (radiation) and supporting a legal argument that you are malingering (faking).

You need a good mTBI/concussion attorney to protect your need to support and care for your wife.

The one thing that may help would be finding a doctor or Physical Therapist who has good diagnostic and treatment skills for whiplash. Whiplash often makes a concussion much worse. The upper neck injuries from whiplash can be very difficult to diagnose with images but the symptoms are usually a good indicator. Look for soreness, tingling, numbness and tenderness behind the ears and at the back of the head and possible radiculopathy to your extremities. A physiatrist (Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine) may be a good find.

My best to you.

If this was a car accident someone's auto insurance should be covering your medical and can, in some states at least, provide loss of wages recovery.

Well I saw the neurologist today. She thinks the concussion is causing my migraines and she ordered an MRI of my neck apparently my other MRI was for my brain I guess , and she ordered an EEG. She put me on some meds for my dizzy spells and to kill the migraines when I have them in addition to the topomax that my primary care doctor put me on to combat the migraines. Roadrunner to answer your question yes someone else's insurance will be paying for this as another party was at fault since I was rear ended. I just want to get back to work . I ask the neurologist how soon it may be and she said we would talk about it in a couple of weeks after the MRI of my neck and the EEG.

I've never had an EEG: how much does it help or show for concussion patients?

I don't know . I am doing it because the neurologist said I need to .

An EEG is an inexpensive diagnostic for ruling out some situations. It rarely indicates anything after a concussion. A well done qEEG has more value to PCS issues.

Unfortunately, few qEEG providers have the expertise to understand concussion issues.

Mark, can you tell if this Dr. sounds like a good bet for me? I'm thinking I want a qEEG as soon as possible. The WC drs have both said I have nothing wrong, no "objective evidence" for my symptoms. It sounds like a qEEG would be that objective evidence, if I can get one.

http://www.rhistl.com/

oh, then again he's a marriage and family therapist who also trained in biofeedback....maybe not a good bet huh?

The clinic you linked does not say much about Dr William Collins' background or credentials. It also does not address the equipment or databases he may use.

The most important question to ask a qEEG doc is what database they use. Does it have a mTBI/concussion aspect? What accuracy does it have for diagnosing mTBI/concussion?

There are a couple databases that accurately diagnose mTBI. Lexicor is one of them. I don't know the others offhand.

Dr Collins does not address these issues.

A Diffusion Tensor Imaging MRI can also indicate concussion damage.

I had the good fortune to find an Occupational Therapist well trained in Myofascial Release and Craniosacral Therapy. After the first treatment I had some relief of symptoms and began to feel as though I was waking up after 2 months of being incapacitated. I have mentioned some other helpful resources in other posts. I am a Physical Therapist with 40 years experience and 2 prior head traumas as well as seizure disorder and RSD/CRPS, another neurological disorder. Both flared after I had a concussion on March 21. If I had a whiplash injury I would find a PT or OT with this training. It is a specialty which is not taught in the regular curriculum.