[Mark in Idaho]

I found this on John Byler's Twitter page. He did the "You Look Great" YouTube video.

[CenterIce]

Funny graphic. I've experienced this myself over the past 10 months.

I watched his videos. Thanks for mentioning these. I learned recently he's on the board of the Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts.

[Doozer]

It will be another generation at least before they have an idea of the complex workings of the brain operate.

[DannyT]

Doozer, that's hopeful thinking. Pharmacology and neurology are so inadequate at this point when it comes to anything not black and white. I think it may be a while...

There's always counting on the acceleration of knowledge in the past 50 years but still.

And let me add it sickens me when you realize pharmaceutical companies sell drugs which doctors prescribe to innocent people with mechanisms of action that are not understood. Can you think of any other product where this would be acceptable in the least?

[CenterIce]

Originally Posted by DannyT

There's always counting on the acceleration of knowledge in the past 50 years but still.

I wonder what Ray Kurzweil's thoughts are on this. Below is just a bit of info on him in case he's new to some readers here.

Actually, here's a link to an article we're he say we'll have nanobots in our brains in 15 to 25yrs

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/...b0af3706dbe1e2

Ray Kurzweil biography

Ray Kurzweil has been described as “the restless genius” by The Wall Street Journal, and “the ultimate thinking machine” by Forbes. Inc. magazine ranked him #8 among entrepreneurs in the United States, calling him the “rightful heir to Thomas Edison,” and PBS selected Ray as one of 16 “revolutionaries who made America,” along with other inventors of the past two centuries. He is considered one of the world’s leading inventors, thinkers, and futurists, with a 30-year track record of accurate predictions.

[Mark in Idaho]

The pharmacology companies are out to make a buck and discover drugs that appear to serve a need. They do expensive clinical studies to establish effectiveness and side-effects. If you read the papers with side-effects information, you will find that they are usually straightforward about the side-effects. A few may have side-effects they did not observe during clinical trials. This is why the FDA has the Adverse Event reporting system. Vioxx was removed from use due to deaths.

http://prescriptiondrugs.procon.org/...ourceID=005528

If you think the mechanism of action issue is important, billions follow eastern medicine and have little to no understanding of the true risks and benefits of the many substances used. They also have little to no understanding of the mechanism of action. But, they use the 'it's from nature' concept to justify use. Hemlock is from nature.

Many drugs started with an attempt to synthesize a naturally occurring compound. SSRI's were an attempt to make something that works like St John's Wort . They do not know the mechanism of action of St John's Wort but know the benefit so they try to make something that has similar chemical properties.

Doozer, They have discovered many of the reasons/malfunctions that contribute to prolonged brain injury but they struggle to find a drug that will
resolve that malfunction. They have found some drug therapies that slow or reduce or even prevent the cascade of PCS and other brain injury problems but these treatments must be started in the first few hours. When 85% recover without any intervention, it is hard to justify treating everyone in hopes of reducing the 15%, especially when the treatment costs a few thousand dollars or more.

Many concussions that cause lasting symptoms are never seen in the ER/A&E until days after the original event, well past the treatment window. Only 2 of my 14 concussions were diagnose by a doctor. In one, I was taken to the ER in an unconscious state. In the other, I took myself to the ER because I needed to document the injuries from an assault.

I met a young man who was injured by a forklift falling on him in 2006 and causing the amputation of his leg. They did not recognize the symptoms of a brain injury until just recently.

One concussion specialist has encouraged ER doctors to list IDC code 850.9 (Concussion, unspecified) in the medical record any time there is a possibility of a head impact even when there are no indications of a concussion so that doctors can understand a cause if symptoms manifest later.

They have found some drugs that reduce symptoms but they do not cause healing. As soon as the drug is stopped, the symptoms return.

It is a complex issue with a complex set of needs.

[Bud]

Danny,

That is exactly what worries me about brain meds, they don't understand why, how or if about most of them.

I know this isn't for everyone but that is the reason I chose to trust my bodies own healing process figuring it's designed ability to heal in my case might be better than man's guess.

Medicines are a real miracle. I just think many docs are trigger happy about pills with not much knowledge about what they are prescribing.

Please, no one let this influence your decision, as we all know distilling info down to what will work best for us is a complex and personal issue. I have no ill feelings towards folks that require pharmaceutical help and am sure some day I will for something.

Bud

[CenterIce]

My doctor has me on Zonisamide and Nortriptyline but I've decided to come off both of them recently. I'm also changing neurologists.

I met someone else with PCS and she said her doctor doesn't like meds and prefers that she listen to her own body when it comes to healing.

I haven't noticed any positive effects with Zonisamide (200mg). I've just started Nortriptyline but don't plan on increasing the dose as prescribed.

Sumatriptan has really helped out quite a number of times but my doctor said you can only take it about 10 times per month (rebound headaches or something of that nature occurs if overused).

[Mark in Idaho]

Why did your doc put you on Zonisamide ? Do you have seizures ?

Low dose Nortriptyline can be helpful.

Did your doctor say what symptoms he hoped each med would treat ?

[CenterIce]

First he had me on Nadalol to lower my BP to help with the headaches but my resting HR dropped to 43 bpm.

He switched to Z which I actually thought was the same type of med. I found out at the pharmacy one day it was a seizure med. I don't have seizures thank goodness.

I'll look into Nortriptyline a bit more. Thanks for the heads up on this.

When I'm in pain it seems I'll take anything they prescribe. I really need to pay more attention to what I am taking

I never remember my doctor going into too much detail on how the meds work, other than how Nadalol can lower bp.

At the moment I'm looking for a new doctor/neurologist. There are a few reasons for this but basically I don't think I have received good care for my concussion under his treatment.