[RidingRollerCoaster]

Hello There

I've been browsing this forum from time to time since my mTBI in March of 2014. I never joined because I try to limit computer use, but here I am!

I was hit hard on top of my head by a heavy, metal farm tool. Was unconscious for a bit, but MRIs and Cat Scans were all clear. I've had PCS ever since - going on 1 year now. I'm a 33 year old female. Trying to stay positive!

I wanted to write this just as a reflection on the last year, and to share with others what has helped me. I know this is a long post, so sorry if it is too much. Please share your thoughts / suggestions with me if you would like to. I do have a couple specific questions I will ask in another post.

My best to all of you and thank you so much for your strength. Keep on chugging!


My Initial Symptoms:
- extreme anxiety/paranoia/panic - sometimes I felt like the nerves in my entire body were worms crawling around (crazy!)

- uncontrollable crying - everyday

- extreme dizziness and exhaustion

- intense brain fog

- vision problems - it was as if my glasses prescription was wrong, making everything look weird

- balance problems

- vision static/snow - like static on an old tv

- ear pressure/pain, ear equalizing sensation

- very loud tinnitus that never goes away

- headaches starting from neck

- neck pain

- excelerated heart rate for no reason

- intense feeling of blood pumping in head

- feeling like can't get enough air into lungs

- food did not taste right - lack of appetite, weight loss

- intense sensations in back/bottom of head - like my brain was swirling around (hard to explain)

- eyes rolling around in head when closed

- light, noise, motion sensitivity

- intolerance to heat, cold, bumps, bouncing, nodding head

- anisicoria

- insomnia

- extreme nightmares

- depression

- uncontrollable negative and compulsive thoughts, suicide ideation

- couldn't concentrate, do math, listen to long conversations, read, look at computer, talk on phone very long, etc...


What I've done and Milestones:
- After 1st month: Saw a psychologist for the anxiety; they started my on Celexa after the 1st month - I think this helped with the anxiety, but did not touch the crying or depression. I hope to get off of this med. this spring, as I usually do not like to take pills.

- 2nd month: Manual therapy from a PT (basically kind of like massage therapy); this helped a great deal to relieve some of the anxiety; I literally felt it lift from my body. I also found guided meditations from the UCLA meditation website (I was never into meditation before, but I think this partly saved my life).

Also saw a neuro opthalmalogist for the anisicoria and vision problems, but he found nothing structurally wrong and did not recommend prisms.

- 3rd month: I could actually leave the dark room more, was doing some more PT exercises.

- 4th month: For better or worse, decided to go back to work half-time. Looking back, this was a mistake, but what did I know? I think it did help to further relieve some of my anxiety and depression issues, as it helped to return to some sense of normalcy.

- 6th month: Started vestibular therapy for dizziness; Started manual lymph drainage therapy - these both helped a lot - they relieved some of my dizziness, balance issues, vision issues, and exhaustion (I recommend manual lymph drainage - it supposedly helps relieve inflammation in the body)

- 7th month: Tried cranial sacral therapy but felt no real benefit from it besides relaxation; Did some dry needling with PT for my neck pain & this helped a lot and stopped a lot of my headaches (it released the trigger points)

- 8th & 9th months: While I had felt a lot of improvement up to this point, the dizziness, exhaustion and depression were still hanging on. I began to wonder if work was holding me back (I have a pretty demanding job). I would come home from work and just be a big ball of stress, anxiety and concussion symptoms and then would not be able to relax.

- 10th month: Took a two week break from work - after this I felt a lot of the depression lift from my body along with some more of the dizziness and exhaustion. I then went back to work and started to regress from this improvement. It became obvious to me that I needed to stop working again.

Also started low-frequency neurofeedback therapy. I have yet to determine if this is helping me.

- 11th month: I am fortunate in a way to have been injured on the job, so I was able to claim a "failed trial return to work" with workman's comp. and am now on full medical leave again. I am so much more relaxed and able to focus on healing now - I can now think positively about this injury and can look forward rather than backward.


Persisting Problems:
- fatigue: I need a break every couple hours no matter what I am doing; don't feel good unless sleep 10 hours a night

- dizziness / lightheadedness / & brain sensitivity: The dizziness is not spinning, but it is more like a general off-balance and lightheadedness feeling that is always present and seems to get worse when I do more physical activity. The brain sensitivity is a sensation that I cannot really tolerate much bouncing like if I were to try and go jogging (something I used to love to do)

- vestibular balance and vision problems: the vestibular therapy helped a lot with this, but some of it is still present

- vision static / snow: it is less intense, but still around

- tinnitus: this never changes

- back/bottom of head and neck are sore and sometimes painful

- occasional dull headache from neck up right side

- anisicoria

- occasional heart rate and blood pumping in head irregularities

- slight sensitivity to light, noise, heat and cold

- sometimes the insomnia comes back

- having some slight trouble with memory, concentration, learning new things; still have some trouble with ruminating and racing thoughts


Positives

- I can now be outside and enjoy nature (I am a nature lover)

- I can take my dog for long walks without being overwhelmed

- I can now go out to dinner in a crowded restaurant as long as it is not too loud

- I can experience joy again / am not crying all the time and am not riddled with anxiety

- I can watch tv and use the computer

- I can do some physical activity without getting too dizzy

- I can think of my injury and recovery positively rather than only negative and doom and gloom

- I can ride in a car for quite a while

- I have finally fully accepted what I am going through and that full recovery and happiness does not necessarily mean getting back to the exact person you were before the accident. Life = change, and this was just one of those changes (even though it may have happened to suddenly and traumatically.

- I have finally accepted that I may not be able to work a super-demanding job anymore, that I need to really take the time to relax and reduce stress.

- I can say that I know I will continue to improve from this injury, even if it is at a crawling pace.

[RidingRollerCoaster]

Hello All

I am new and posted my story in a previous thread. I have a few specific questions about certain treatments. Thanks for your help!

1. I am confused about neck issues. From what I have read it seems some of the symptoms people experience could be from a neck injury rather than from a brain injury. Is this correct?

I saw one neurologist that did x-rays of my neck before recommending traction PT for my neck pain. If I did have a neck injury, would he have seen it on this regular neck x-ray? Or do I need a NUCCA to look at my neck to determine this? Even if I don't have a neck injury, could a NUCCA help with some of my symptoms and neck pain?

Based on my list of symptoms, would I benefit from seeing a NUCCA?

2. I received a free consultation from Apex Brain Center in Asheville, NC.

They have claimed that they can help me with all of my symptoms by doing more specific and targeted vestibular therapy, as well as other things listed below:

- Neurological rehabilitation- these are targeted; physical modalities, vestibular exercises, complex movement therapies and oculomotor therapies. These are all individually prescribed based on your examination and diagnostic testing.

- Interactive metronome- this targets timing, sequencing, planing, coordination, cognitive tasking and spatial orientation.

- Neurofeedback- this targets the dysfunctional brainwave activity globally and/or in a specific region of your brain. Training is based off individual qEEG testing results.

- Nutritional and Dietary- we investigate and recommend the foods and supplements that will aid in recovery, reduce inflammation, increase energy and support the increased metabolic demand associated with therapy. Based off your history, examination and if needed farther testing or lab work.


Has anyone had experience with these brain centers or this one specifically?

[Jomar]

Hello,
I merged your 2 threads so the symptoms and questions will be all in one for you.

[Mark in Idaho]

RidingRollerCoaster,

Welcome to NeuroTalk. Wow. What a lot of information. You should consider yourself fortunate that you can put together such a long and complete history and list. It suggests your cognitive symptoms are minimal.

What kind of neuro-feedback therapy is being suggested ? There are many different kinds. Low-frequency is a broad term that can be used in a myriad of protocols.

[Galaxy1012]

Originally Posted by RidingRollerCoaster

Hello All

I am new and posted my story in a previous thread. I have a few specific questions about certain treatments. Thanks for your help!

1. I am confused about neck issues. From what I have read it seems some of the symptoms people experience could be from a neck injury rather than from a brain injury. Is this correct?

I saw one neurologist that did x-rays of my neck before recommending traction PT for my neck pain. If I did have a neck injury, would he have seen it on this regular neck x-ray? Or do I need a NUCCA to look at my neck to determine this? Even if I don't have a neck injury, could a NUCCA help with some of my symptoms and neck pain?

Based on my list of symptoms, would I benefit from seeing a NUCCA?

2. I received a free consultation from Apex Brain Center in Asheville, NC.

They have claimed that they can help me with all of my symptoms by doing more specific and targeted vestibular therapy, as well as other things listed below:

- Neurological rehabilitation- these are targeted; physical modalities, vestibular exercises, complex movement therapies and oculomotor therapies. These are all individually prescribed based on your examination and diagnostic testing.

- Interactive metronome- this targets timing, sequencing, planing, coordination, cognitive tasking and spatial orientation.

- Neurofeedback- this targets the dysfunctional brainwave activity globally and/or in a specific region of your brain. Training is based off individual qEEG testing results.

- Nutritional and Dietary- we investigate and recommend the foods and supplements that will aid in recovery, reduce inflammation, increase energy and support the increased metabolic demand associated with therapy. Based off your history, examination and if needed farther testing or lab work.


Has anyone had experience with these brain centers or this one specifically?

I slammed my head out of anger on a concrete wall last year in march and have completed one year like you. I have similar symptoms as you mentioned like very loud never ending and fluctuating tinnitus , brain sensitivity to bums and jolts( still can't run or jump but can ride in cars for a while now) anger , deep depression, crying and frustration all the time, sensitive to lights and noise, dizziness( better now) , confused and brain fog, can't understand what's happening with me, slow processing and difficulty recollecting and remembering things etc. It has been a long road and I must say only time has helped. I haven't had any treatment for this yet nor have I received any therapies . the only symptom I struggle with now is tinnitus and sensitive brain to jolts and bumps on road.

I went to a PT a few days ago and she did ultrasound therapy on my neck muscles . my tinnitus fluctuated super crazy while she moved that equipment on my neck. Have you done this yet? She said it's my neck probably and not the brain. She will teach me some neck exercises, some stretching , TENs, some more ultrasound to relax those muscles . how has been your experience with the PT can you please describe in detail and whether it helped you? Even I have read at a lot of places that the brain sensitivity and tinnitus can be caused by neck issues

[RidingRollerCoaster]

Hi Mark, thanks for the reply. Yes I do feel fortunate that it seems my cognitive problems aren't that bad, even though using my brain does make me a lot more tired than it used to

I will find out more about the neurofeedback. I am not sure what specific kind it is.

Can you also please comment on my other questions pertaining to the neck, seeing a NUCCA, and also the brain center?

Just to clarify, I haven't been treated by the brain center yet, and I would be treated by chiropractic / functional neurologists there. Is there anyone that has been effectively treated by this type of chiropractor?

Thank you.

[RidingRollerCoaster]

Hi Galaxy
Thanks for your reply. The only thing I really did with a PT was vestibular therapy (a lot of balance and eye exercises) and some dry needling (sticking needles in the muscles) to release the muscle tension in my neck.

Lately I have been feeling like there is something wrong with my neck. Is there any specific therapies you recommend for the neck?

Thank you

[Mark in Idaho]

RRCoaster,

Unfortunately, functional neurologists and chiro neurologists are all over the map with their treatments, protocols and ideas. Some are more science oriented. Others can get quite 'out there.' Some see benefits. others do not. The claim that they can treat all of your symptoms is a red flag for me. And, insurance companies do not usually pay for their services. So, guard your wallet.

NUCCA and AtlasOrthogonal may help but again, insurance companies limit what treatments and diagnostics they will pay for.

I've read the Apex Brain Center web site. I am not impressed with some of their claims. They appear to dance around FDA limits. They look very sales oriented rather than patient centered. There are many in the chiro field who believe they can treat anything that effects the human body. A bit too over the top for me. So, as I said, guard your wallet if you see them.

Maybe a cautious contact with a NUCCA chiro will be helpful. Just get the financial arrangements understood ahead of time.

My best to you.