[Peter11]

Hi all,

I haven’t posted in a little while. I thought I was on the road to recovery before Christmas, but this wasn’t to be… I am back to most of my original symptoms. The main one I guess being a debilitation headache. I have seen doctors, chriro, and am now about to start treatment at a physio. I have had a ct scan of my brain and an MRI of my neck, which all came back normal according to the doctor. On the neck MRI there was evidence of my c7 facet joint arthropathy. I think what the doctor will want to do next is inject steroids; to see if this makes the headache go away. My question is, do I have PCS? Or is it a neck problem that can be fixed with a physio/ steroids, etc.????
I am at a loss really and wish to know how to treat whatever condition I have.
I am nearly 5 months post-concussion symptoms after a fall in July of 2012. Will I get better!???

[xanadu00]

Clear CT scans and MRIs do not mean that there is no damage to your brain. Many, if not most, people with PCS have clear CT scans and MRIs, because the damage is microscopic and these scans are not nearly sensitive enough to pick it up.

Many people with PCS also have a neck injury, so it's mistaken to think that the problem is either PCS or neck injury, but not both. It may well be both. However, some people have experienced dramatic improvement just from getting their neck problems corrected.

Having said that, nobody can predict for sure when and if you will recover. As hard as it is, those of us with PCS have to learn how to accept uncertainty and unpredictability.

Good luck

Originally Posted by Peter11

Hi all,

I haven’t posted in a little while. I thought I was on the road to recovery before Christmas, but this wasn’t to be… I am back to most of my original symptoms. The main one I guess being a debilitation headache. I have seen doctors, chriro, and am now about to start treatment at a physio. I have had a ct scan of my brain and an MRI of my neck, which all came back normal according to the doctor. On the neck MRI there was evidence of my c7 facet joint arthropathy. I think what the doctor will want to do next is inject steroids; to see if this makes the headache go away. My question is, do I have PCS? Or is it a neck problem that can be fixed with a physio/ steroids, etc.????
I am at a loss really and wish to know how to treat whatever condition I have.
I am nearly 5 months post-concussion symptoms after a fall in July of 2012. Will I get better!???

[Mark in Idaho]

Peter, If you have tenderness behind your ears, it is evidence of an upper neck injury that needs to heal. Physio may help over time. A clear MRI of the spine is meaningless. There are plenty of studies that show this. And neck pain will also not indicate an injury or lack of a neck injury. It is more of a symptoms based diagnosis. Some have benefited from steroids at atlas or Botox in those spasming muscles.

There is no direct answer. For some of us, it is a long grind to getting relief from head aches. I use ice to get relief. It usually helps but not always.

My best to you.