[Halfnelson]

Hi all,

I've been suffering PCS for 3 or so years now without any improvement. I started taking Reboxetine approx. 3 months ago on a doctors recommendation.

The doctor suggested that since MRI and CT scans revealed nothing, my condition was purely anxiety-based and that Reboxetine would resolve matters.

Whilst the medication makes me feel slightly more alert and a bit more calm in general, it has certainly not helped my PCS symptoms. i.e. difficulty with cognition and speech, light and noise sensitivity, tingling in face and brain etc. These all remain the same.

I will be seeing the doctor again in a few weeks and wonder what his reaction will be. Whether he might finally accept that the problems are not completely anxiety-based or whether he will just suggest an increase in dosage or a different type of med. Probably the latter.

Things don't get better. At least for me.

Halfnelson

[anon1028]

boy I am getting to say the following line I like 3 times a day lately. Your doctor is an idiot. I would use curse words but I can't on this board. CAT scans and MRI's are not going to show the damage to individual neurons at that level. They are working on machines that will and we should see them within the next 10 yearsbut I have yet to meet a person whose concussion did show up on an MRI unless there was other damage done that would show my advice is always the same go to another doctor or a clinic that specializes in concussion and keep searching until you find one that believes and wants to help. People smarter than me will be coming along to give you more advice on different professionals to see and supplement regimens and a lot more. Good luck

[Mark in Idaho]

Find a different doctor. This one is ignorant of concussion issues. Is there a concussion clinic nearby ?

[anon1028]

Originally Posted by Mark in Idaho

Find a different doctor. This one is ignorant of concussion issues. Is there a concussion clinic nearby ?

You said what I said in the previous post in 200 less words lol. Ive got to stop writing short novels.

[Halfnelson]

Originally Posted by Mark in Idaho

Find a different doctor. This one is ignorant of concussion issues. Is there a concussion clinic nearby ?

It was actually a doctor from a nearby concussion clinic who recommended reboxetine. The doctor seemed to think that all my symptoms were related to anxiety as, of course, medical imaging revealed nothing noteworthy.

This is the last time I visited a concussion 'specialist' as the outcome was unhelpful.

My only other thought is to travel overseas and visit the Buffalo concussion clinic. However the work and financial risks are too great.

[anon1028]

Originally Posted by Halfnelson

It was actually a doctor from a nearby concussion clinic who recommended reboxetine. The doctor seemed to think that all my symptoms were related to anxiety as, of course, medical imaging revealed nothing noteworthy.

This is the last time I visited a concussion 'specialist' as the outcome was unhelpful.

My only other thought is to travel overseas and visit the Buffalo concussion clinic. However the work and financial risks are too great.

tell this moron that if you look up what an mri looks for in the brain, nothing remotely near concussion is listed. bleeds, tumors, etc. not concussions. when you say risks are far too great, do you mean losing your job?

[Halfnelson]

Originally Posted by markneil1212

tell this moron that if you look up what an mri looks for in the brain, nothing remotely near concussion is listed. bleeds, tumors, etc. not concussions. when you say risks are far too great, do you mean losing your job?

Yes I would certainly lose my job and risk not being able to find another in the future.

I have also heard mixed reviews about the Buffalo Concussion Clinic and would want to be confident it would help me before making the decision to go. I wonder if anyone on these boards has experienced success there? I suppose I should run a search.

I explained to the concussion specialist here that conventional imaging cannot detect concussions which they agreed with. However they were not able to provide any other form of treatment except medication and visiting a psychologist.

I saw the psychologist for several months and she was somewhat helpful in providing strategies to manage my symptoms. However she was not actually able to find ways to eliminate or reduce them.

[anon1028]

Originally Posted by Halfnelson

Yes I would certainly lose my job and risk not being able to find another in the future.

I have also heard mixed reviews about the Buffalo Concussion Clinic and would want to be confident it would help me before making the decision to go. I wonder if anyone on these boards has experienced success there? I suppose I should run a search.

I explained to the concussion specialist here that conventional imaging cannot detect concussions which they agreed with. However they were not able to provide any other form of treatment except medication and visiting a psychologist.

I saw the psychologist for several months and she was somewhat helpful in providing strategies to manage my symptoms. However she was not actually able to find ways to eliminate or reduce them.

Sorry about your situation. I don't know about the Buffalo clinic. I wish I did. I too have been searching forever for relief from different symptoms. my doctor doubled gabapentin which has helped pain. The depression is brutal. I ake Cymbalta. I feel helpless in answering your questions at this point and sincerely hope someone comes along who can.

[Mark in Idaho]

Halfnelson,

It sounds like your symptoms may be with you for the long term. Many of us have learned to manage our symptoms because they are not improving. At 3 years post injury, further improvement may be very slow coming. The tingling on your face, etc. sounds like a nerve or blood flow issue, usually in the upper neck. Those issues require very discipline posture and proper neck therapy to get slow improvements.

So, I sort of agree with the doctor. Not that everything is due to anxiety but that there is likely nothing else that they can do to help you. Learning to control anxiety will help with mental focus and hopefully improve your cognitive issues.

My best to you.