[Amelie]

Hi Everyone,

I'm new to this forum and have also been diagnosed with PCS nearly two years ago, after my concussion. I have headaches, dizziness, balance and ataxia issues, with attention and memory problems. I certainly do not feel depressed, except at times, especially when talking with doctors, in frustration with a natural depressive reaction to having these symptoms for almost two years, which haven't dramatically improved and are nothing I had experienced before my head injury. I'm pretty fulfilled and happy, otherwise, have a graduate education and some people in my life. Nevertheless, this has had a significant impact on my life, so I definitely hope it will improve.


I had a recent Neuropsych evaluation, that I cooperated in for 6 hours. However, this particular doctor tried to have me answer how he wanted me to, and not how I did and how I truly feel. He rushed through the interview with pressed time, sighing a lot, while I explained the injury and my symptoms, frustration with the insurance company (this is a workers compensation case) etc., though in concern not in a whiny tone. I felt it important to elaborate and get the facts straight. He just wanted yes and no answers and seemed to be satisfied making his own inferences. For instance he asked if I had lost my appetite at all. I replied, No, since I have not. "My weight fluctuates, it always has", I also stated. He interrupted, "So, that would be a YES, not a know". Excuse me sir, what was the question, he repeated it, I then answered No, again. My weight fluctuated do to life's changes, visitors, travel, dental work etc. etc., that does not 'imply" that I lost my appetite. But this is one example of approx. 5 questions, where he essentially answered for me. Is this normal?

Then, when we were ready to 'rush' through the tests, they were indeed rushed. With my issue in attention and short-term memory, I really had to focus, relax and take more time with most of the test, even if I had the ability, it took a little time, as it does with my mental task at home, now, or elsewhere. The problem was, he didn't give me time, just looked at me funny and sighed, which seemed a bit rude, from time to time. Again, this was 6 hours with a one hour lunch break, if I did poor on the tests, it was largely influenced by his hurriedness and my tired brain, which is still recuperating.

I don't know the results , yet. But I'm kind of afraid that he'll make them be what they aren't and just label me with 'depression'. I know what depression feels like and it's a whole other feeling. In short, I just didn't appreciate his unprofessional mannerisms and 'rush' of an evaluation, which is so important (or so I was told). Aren't we supposed to be allowed short breaks in such exams and a bit of time to see if we can actually perform the tasks?

Anyway, a bit discouraged, to sat the least. I'm really not sure how this will benefit me and my doctor on moving forward with treatment and recovery... or perhaps it was simply to help the insurance company... ?

Anyway with similar experiences? Is this experience more-or-less normal?

[Jomar]

Was this dr an independent assessment, or hired by you or hired by the WC ins?

If provided or required by WC, that is who pays the dr , and many wc drs will slant the results in a biased way against the claimant.
Please don't take it personally that is just the stupid game.
Keep a copy of what happened on your computer or write it out to show atty how this exam went..
Often a journal or just notes with dates in a folder can be helpful..

I hope you have e a good atty on your side , and good well know drs on your side too.

Get a copy of the report, so you can look it over and note any biased or wrong information,so it can be addressed with atty & dr, this is very important.
Your atty should verify this report, although mine did not, but he was not very good as I learned after the fact.. My claim was Chronic repetitive injuries, but the scenario is much the same..for WC..
We do have a WC forum for more info & details on dealing with that system..
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum30.html

basic tips-
don't talk about claim or injury with any co workers, supervisors or office staff at work, unless it is something officially required.
follow drs orders/restrictions
if a high dollar injury don't post any specific identifying details (names/locations/dates/ how injury happened etc)

[Amelie]

Thank you, for all of that! Yes, the IC hired him. The only one they would let me see. Now I regret not asking to videotape the session, as I had read that you can with their permission. I did write everything down, though.

I don't currently have an attorney, but have talked to someone early in the month who will take my case immediately after my QME apt., next month. He didn't want to mess up my QME process, since I had already selected. the physician.

I'm assuming the newly hired attorney can still assist me, even a month after the report comes out? I do have a good PTP and he seems to understand all this, too... the IC writes mean notes to him, etc.

Wow.. it would be nice if ALL doctors were really there to help there patients. I'll check out the WC forum, too.

Thank you.

[Mark in Idaho]

Amelie,

Welcome to NeuroTalk. What you experienced is not uncommon. Many NeuroPsychs behave this way. Some tend to make up their minds during the interview. They then do the rest of the tests so they can bill for them. The WC system of using NeuroPsychs is problematic. Planty of us have been through the same frustration.

You don't know it he is going to label you as depressed so try to wait for his report. I hope you have a good attorney. Few are really good at concussions. A good attorney should be able to address a biased NPA report.

As Jo*mar said, type up your experience for your records.

If he did a valid battery of tests, the tests should speak for you. His attitude can influence his interpretation of some the tests but only to a minor extent.

While you are waiting for your report, what can we do to help you with your symptoms ? What symptoms are you struggling with ? What treatments have been offered ? What successes have you had ?

[Hockey]

Jo*mar is spot on: wc and insurance company doctors are just quacks for hire. Seriously, for their two pieces of silver, they'd dig up your great, great grandma and certify her fit for the Olympics. They are the lowest of the low.

As far as depression goes, as I always say: Brain injury patients are depressed because they have PCS. They don't have PCS because they're depressed.

Depression is a SYMPTOM of brain injury, like any of the others. Think about it: nobody would say someone just had PCS like symptoms because they had apraxia or convergence issues. It's ridiculous to make such a claim for depression... conveniently ridiculous.

[Amelie]

As I would have guessed. This Neuropsychologist diagnosed me with depressive disorder and 'pain disorder',?? even though the only pain I get is a moderate headache a few time s a week , sometimes severe but it certainly was never my most complaining symptom, rarely reported, actually.

So what can this mean for my case? I had a diagnosed concussion with altered loss of consciousness from a steel pole impact between my right eyebrow and temple, which knocked my head back and knocked me down, post concussive syndrome was diagnosed by two doctors afterward. But this guy doesn't think it's severe enough to cause the lower scores on my tests results; and therefore it's not relevant even though he did note that I was unable to concentrate and pay full attention. It's just 'depression' and imagined pain , now? Of course, I know it's not, and I'm not even depressed;but why do they do this and not listen to the patient and try to help them?

Just two weeks ago I saw a neurologist who noticed multiple deficits, although she did lie about one which was on the report that she in fact had never performed (why?) The other Neuro thinks there's a neuropsychiatric neuron process due to the injury, if not a more organic cause... everyone has different ideas; but at least I now have some objective tests results. My MRI's I finally have this month.

I wonder if the insurance company had the doctor the report in their favor? I just feel so disrespected and in a way neglected medically, from this. How is a person with any kind of brain defect organic and / or emotion supposed to cope with all these lies.... so much negative stress.

But this Neuropsych brings me down... he notes things that I didn't even say... laughable really, what he writes! This is a workers compensation case, I only wish I knew if I would be well by now, if it was not.

Anyway, thank you both for your earlier replies. I only get on here so often.

[Mark in Idaho]

I had a similar experience. A neuro wrote a report that I could not have suffered an injury because the forces were not strong enough. Then, the WC NeuroPsych took his comments and developed his opinion saying I was depressed. He stated that tests showed absolutely no indication of depression but that I must have lied with my answers.

First, there is plenty of research that shows that impact forces have little to do with severity of symptoms.

Do you have any of the scores from the various tests ? You can PM them to me or email them and I can give you some ideas.

[Wiix]

Originally Posted by Amelie

Hi Everyone,

I'm new to this forum and have also been diagnosed with PCS nearly two years ago, after my concussion. I have headaches, dizziness, balance and ataxia issues, with attention and memory problems. I certainly do not feel depressed, except at times, especially when talking with doctors, in frustration with a natural depressive reaction to having these symptoms for almost two years, which haven't dramatically improved and are nothing I had experienced before my head injury. I'm pretty fulfilled and happy, otherwise, have a graduate education and some people in my life. Nevertheless, this has had a significant impact on my life, so I definitely hope it will improve.


I had a recent Neuropsych evaluation, that I cooperated in for 6 hours. However, this particular doctor tried to have me answer how he wanted me to, and not how I did and how I truly feel. He rushed through the interview with pressed time, sighing a lot, while I explained the injury and my symptoms, frustration with the insurance company (this is a workers compensation case) etc., though in concern not in a whiny tone. I felt it important to elaborate and get the facts straight. He just wanted yes and no answers and seemed to be satisfied making his own inferences. For instance he asked if I had lost my appetite at all. I replied, No, since I have not. "My weight fluctuates, it always has", I also stated. He interrupted, "So, that would be a YES, not a know". Excuse me sir, what was the question, he repeated it, I then answered No, again. My weight fluctuated do to life's changes, visitors, travel, dental work etc. etc., that does not 'imply" that I lost my appetite. But this is one example of approx. 5 questions, where he essentially answered for me. Is this normal?

Then, when we were ready to 'rush' through the tests, they were indeed rushed. With my issue in attention and short-term memory, I really had to focus, relax and take more time with most of the test, even if I had the ability, it took a little time, as it does with my mental task at home, now, or elsewhere. The problem was, he didn't give me time, just looked at me funny and sighed, which seemed a bit rude, from time to time. Again, this was 6 hours with a one hour lunch break, if I did poor on the tests, it was largely influenced by his hurriedness and my tired brain, which is still recuperating.

I don't know the results , yet. But I'm kind of afraid that he'll make them be what they aren't and just label me with 'depression'. I know what depression feels like and it's a whole other feeling. In short, I just didn't appreciate his unprofessional mannerisms and 'rush' of an evaluation, which is so important (or so I was told). Aren't we supposed to be allowed short breaks in such exams and a bit of time to see if we can actually perform the tasks?

Anyway, a bit discouraged, to sat the least. I'm really not sure how this will benefit me and my doctor on moving forward with treatment and recovery... or perhaps it was simply to help the insurance company... ?

Anyway with similar experiences? Is this experience more-or-less normal?

All the doctors I've been to have done the same thing you described. Now I'll say something REALLY dumb, they are under pressure too, you have to be obliging towards them, they're here to HELP you. You are a lab rat, I've learned that about them. Always bowing down to either the drug companies or to their medical group. Once in a while they get something right, it's the law of averages.

I have told them repeatedly I AM depressed. Because of the daily pain I'm in. Do they address that....NO! I'll probably die from what I have, whatever it is.