Hello all,

Back again as I'm struggling and confused.

Just a quick recap for those that haven't read my infrequent posts: I was assaulted in December 2013 by a service user at work, I was grabbed by the hair and sustained a whiplash injury, intense headaches that wouldn't go away with painkillers and nausea but wasn't officially diagnosed with a concussion.

I was off work for a month but had no cognitive problems.

In January 2014 someone rear ended my car in standstill traffic and I sustained whiplash again. I immediately started experiencing cognitive symptoms which have not improved and have badly affected my life.
I haven't worked since December last year.

Fyi I live in the UK.


I have finally seen someone other than my GP regarding my cognitive problems.
On Wednesday I saw a neurologist for the insurance claim.

He said there was a discrepancy between my accident and how major my symptoms are and basically said I couldn't have got a concussion as I didn't hit my head or lose consciousness.
He asked me why I think I'm having these cognitive problems and i said I didn't know and had been hoping hew could answer that!

He said he thinks it's likely these problems are psychological (I am so tired of being told this), although I have no history of depression, anxiety or cognitive problems, I had no cognitive problems after the December accident but immediate and continuous problems after the second accident and I didn't develop depression or anxiety problems until July this year, so I don't understand how these issues could be psychological.

He pretty much dismissed the idea of me having PCS.

I must say though, the guy did seem pretty good, he was clear that he doesn't have a full picture as he hasn't read all the medical notes or reports, he said he'll need those and the results of a full Neuropsych test etc before he can write a report or come to any conclusions.

I'd really appreciate hearing other people's experience of seeing a neurologist and what people know about whiplash and concussions. Online reading indicates it is possible, but is it unlikely?

Anyone in the UK who could comment on the process they experienced through the NHS, I'd really like to hear from you.
I've got my NHS appointment with a neurologist in two weeks, I'm just wondering how long till I might get tested/treated now I'm in the system and what happens next?

Thanks,
Abbi

Abbi,

This doctor is dead wrong. Loss of consciousness has nothing to do with severity of injury. Nor does impacting the head. Plus, severity of impact forces are not directly related to prolonged symptoms. There are plenty of forces at play in a whiplash injury to cause a concussion. Here are some links:
http://www.northshore.org/neurologic...njury-program/
http://www.brainline.org/content/201...oncussion.html
http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/concus...ator-1.1090165

Here's one from your side of the pond.
http://fowlerkennedy.com/wp-content/...Guidelines.pdf
Notice is says "Concussions can be caused by a blow to the head, face, neck or body."

Whiplash is the common cause of concussions where there was no head impact.

Your Neuro Psych Assessment report should be able to show your dysfunction.

I am concerned about this specific doctor writing your report. He is a classic 'biased against concussions causing long term symptoms' doctor.

My best to you.

Having a concussion on top of a concussion that has not healed is a potent recipe for disaster. I would be very surprised if you weren't concussed by both incidences.

What Mark said, times 100. Get away from this doctor and get a neuro-psych done.

Did you mention the NHS apt to that Dr?

If he is for the insurance then he has an agenda: he is paid to medically prove your injuries are less so there is less payout. In the uk you do not need to rely on this.

I think he was hinting at you to make sure you get the right tests with your NHS neurologist. Those independant results can be included in your insurance claim. (As well as, hopefully, a plan to get you better!)

I'm still awaiting my first apt, with an NHS neurologist. I'm wondering the same things as you.

Though it is certainly possibly to get a concussion without direct impact of an object. In the instance of an object that is the mechanism of force, if say in a car it is the cars momentum that is the force that bruises your brain.

He was saying that it wasn't the most likely explanation for my injuries but that sometimes people have an injury more severe than the physical evidence would indicate and that I might be one of those, who knows.

I don't think I was concussed in the second accident, but it's hard to remember how I was feeling.

Hockey, this appointment is for the insurance so I won't be seeing him for any other reason, possibly seeing him once again.

Ash, yes I did, he knows the doctor I'm seeing, said she's excellent and exactly the right person for me to see and I should focus on the NHS route re advice, treatment etc and not focus on the insurance path.
Also, he's paid by my side of the insurance, not the other side, does that make a difference?
I should mention this guy is an NHS doctor who does one medical legal thing a month.

He said I'll get Neuro psych tests through the NHS path.

My solicitor said that even though I'll get these, they're not allowed to rely on them and I'll still need Neuropsych tests done through the insurance.

Mark thanks for those links, I'll take a look now.

Found an interesting study and article, I've linked to them below in case anyone's interested:

About post concussion syndrome, a lot of info I never knew
https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&so...jiJkAWYOaWm4hQ

Chronic pain and Pcs, generally got some interesting points
http://www.hindawi.com/journals/rerp/2012/528265/

Article about pcs including DSM criteria http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/292326-overview

I've been down the litigation road, so I feel your pain.

No, this doctor IS NOT more trustworthy because he works for your insurer. ALL insurers have a broader interest in depressing claims. They aren't supposed to work together, but they do.

I guarantee that the written report this doctor submits will contain none of the qualifiers about some people having injuries beyond what the mechanism of injury might suggest. It will just say that you're a malingering, psycho case.

For EVERTYTHING that comes from either insurance company, you need a counter opinion from an independent source. Otherwise, the insurance rubbish (which is what it is) will stand as the official assessment.

It can be good to get out ahead of them. My lawyer had my neuro-psych done BEFORE they had a chance to order theirs. I had one of the most respected specialists in the country. Her report was so devastating, and her expertise so unassailable, that they decided to settle.

What I'm saying is that I hope you have a lawyer who tries to set the agenda, rather than just reacting to what they other sides does. To win an MVA case, you need a lawyer who's a pit bull, not a poodle.

Good Luck

I've been down the litigation road too - what Hockey says is true. When it comes to insurers tread carefully and trust no one.

The neuropsych report will be a valuable tool both for your recovery and for validating your injuries.

Having worked with one for the last couple years I have to say I've developed a great fondness for pit bulls...

Getting rear ended and sustaining a whiplash means your brain bounced back and forth numerous times. This can cause diffuse axonal injury and/or a coup-contrecoup injury where the brain bounces into both sides of the skull. Your neck whipped back and forth and so did

your head and thus your brain. My second concussion was the same as yours. Sitting at a light and got rear ended. I too did not realized I was concussed though I had a terrible whiplash; I thought I was upset and frazzled. Luckily a doctor told me I had a concussion

which explained why I had trouble finding my way to work! Unfortunately, like you, I sustained another within six weeks. Here a good link describing whiplash and concussions.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wCgmaG3Zgw. Hopefully I am able to post a link here!