fyi,

The University of Utah had a 6 Tesla MRI almost 2 decades ago. It was used for research with the football team. It showed damage from even moderate or less concussions. The players became so concerned about getting any level of concussion that their play suffered. The athletic department discontinued the study to avoid further scaring the players. Unfortunately, the psychology department took over the MRI and did not have the funds and where-with-all to properly maintain it and the coil overheated and burned out

The challenge with high Tesla MRI's is the risk of showing damage to the non-concussed. That could make the positive MRI imaging of the concussed patient have little value.

There is a system with high accuracy rates. qEEG's have shown to be 97-98% accurate but have been discounted due to one irresponsible article in a medical journal over a decade ago. They are reasonably affordable and the equipment costs less than $3000.

I saw what you did there with the "Laugh Out Loud" lol. I'm trying to kick the habit of using lol but we all know how hard habits are to break.

When I asked my mri tech about teslas he didn't even know what they were

The articles I read didn't mention the staggering costs and dangers, but perhaps over time, they will get cheaper and a happy medium can be found. After all, GPS machines were 5000 dollars when they first came out, now they can be bought for 60 bucks.

And PET scans were mentioned by, I think MRSD, which, unfortunately I am too fat to fit into right now lol (there goes that nervous tic again)

We have people on the board flying to Mexico for cheap HBOT treatments, even though the science on them has not been encouraging, we have them flying to Florida for VERY unproven 10000 dollar Eternacept shots that claim to treat almost EVERY brain disease, no matter their etiology.

One man went through 150000 trying to save his wife from Alzheimer's to no avail, and we have people taking every supplement under the sun when the FDA has specifically warned that not one of these supplements can heal or even TREAT a brain injury.

But I respect everyone who tries these things. We are human and we need HOPE. Even if its 20 years down the road or may seem impossible now, like carrying something the size of a pillbox and calling someone in Japan with it would have seemed crazy 30 yeas ago.

It's called hope, and most of us humans need it. Yourpoint about the expense and major drawbacks are well taken though.

I disagree with the FDAs supplement statement also because turmeric has been shown to affect the buildup of plaque in the brain in a positive way.

I guess I found the tesla article interesting because so many people, including me, on the board complain of their doctor saying it's all in your head. Plus the scientific part of me wants to know what part or parts of my brain are causing these debilitating symptoms.

And to be frank, I found the article while browsing about the brain on the internet because I was so bored from being stuck in due to the symptoms of this lousy thing And sometimes the pulsating tinnitus just isn't company enough.

I appreciate the tip on QEEGs, but as my symptoms are more sensory than cognitive, I don't know if it would help. I will do some reading.

qEEGs are good at defining sensory problems. My doc saw the waveforms from my qEEG and turned to me (without seeing my medical history or complaints) and stated, You hear everything. How do you tolerate that ?

High Tesla MRI's will never come down in cost. Micro-electronics are prime for cost reductions, especially when the market is hundreds of millions of people.

btw, The only early GPS systems that were $5000 were designed with the high reliability requirements of aircraft. Those aircraft GPS systems still cost thousands of dollars.

A big part of the cost of MRI's is the massive amounts of copper super conductors and liquid helium.

So, again, the high Tesla MRI's will never come down in price. Maybe to $100,000,000 but probably not less.

Comparing HBOT to 12 T MRI's is an apples and stones comparison. Not even close.

Some can afford to risk a few thousand on HBOT. The Etanercept risk/benefit ratio is much higher. There will always be people willing to take a desperate person's money.

Regarding nervous tics. I have to proof what I type. I routinely use the delete and backspace keys. My brain misfires frequently.

I really wish my brain could form the sentences I want right now... but here is the general...

- HOPE... I will travel to the end of the earth to find something that will help... I have flown 990 miles to see a new neurologist that I HOPE will offer something different... right now, HOPE is all I have because, NOTHING and I mean NOTHING else has offered any help! So if there is a thought in this world I could find out how to get my head in a 12 tesla MRI I will research it out of HOPE that I can finally have answers and that something will help. And yes, that could be me chasing a pipe dream or a magic pill or treatment.. but it redirects my thoughts and does give me HOPE.. and hope is not a bad thing for any of us..

- Hockey, you are right.. I do not expect a "cure" but just something that will help and maybe knowing that something is on the horizon and doctors saying, we will do what we can in the meantime would be a great thing

-M-I-M- yes, neurophsych has made me realize that I am not going crazy but that there are really some screws loose that are making me not be able to process correctly! and for that, I am thankful... and I can move forward trying to put all the pieces back together...

SarahS,

Have you checked out Dr Walker in Dallas ? http://www.neurotherapydallas.com/

He represents a much better risk benefit ratio than chasing high res MRI's.

I think there is a fine line between acceptance and resignation.

I accept that I have a brain injury that, at present, and for the foreseeable future, impairs my function. Knowing that, I have adapted to the situation by developing workarounds, modifying my activities and making peace (or, at least, a truce) with myself. However, while I'm attentive to the danger of snake oil salesmen, I will NEVER stop exploring therapies that might improve my condition.

While Telsa MRIs are not currently viable, there are cognitive therapies that CAN help TBI patients - but they are unlikely to get them if they don't advocate for themselves. Both the private health system in the States, and the public one, here in Canada, are about rationing services to save money. Squeaky wheels get grease.

If you don't fight for yourself, most doctors will just give you a handful of SSRIs, a (gentle) pat on the head and send you home. As a group, TBI patients are woefully under treated.

Of course, TBI's tendency to rob patients of initiative, self-awareness and energy works against our being proactive. For that reason, I feel we might need to be mindful that an "acceptance" of our injuries, that sees us fall into a rut of unchanging treatments, or no treatment, might be more a SYMPTOM of the injury than a healthy, long term option for furthering our recovery.

I guess I'm less "don't worry, be happy" and more "the Lord helps those who help themselves." Psalm 37:39-40