[skittledaddy]

Hello. Well, my son has post concussion syndrome, and he is going into 8th grade. He slipped back on water and hit the back of his head on tiled floor, 2 years ago. He now has trouble concentrating and thinking, along with comprehending things and his vision tends to focus in and out along with not being able to process things that people say. He's always complaining that he has extreme brain fog, and that his mind feels like an empty void. We've talked to several doctors, and one of them has said that post concussion syndrome usually lasts for up to 3 months, 2 of them has said it's likely that he's just faking and over-exaggerating everything. But he isn't lying. I know him, and when he lies. His grades have dropped from A's to C's and D's, and even F's because he's constantly having trouble in school and is very afraid to ask for help because one of his teachers in 6th grade yelled at him and hit his desk several times because he couldn't understand what he was trying to say. During 6th grade, (i sadly didn't take him seriously. but now i see that something is very wrong.) he would constantly complain and stay up trying to do his homework, and when I bugged him to go to sleep he would start crying and screaming that he couldn't do it. Occasionally he would even walk to the other side of his school and hide in the little kid's bathroom and cry, ignoring when the office called him to come to the office on the intercom. This year, during 7th grade for him, he's attempted suicide 7 times so far. He seems to be doing better but he's still having those moments where he starts crying because he says no one'll help him and he's suffering. I was actually thinking about possibly seeing a new doctor, and then pushing them to refer us to do a QEEG for his head. Now let me mention, those doctors literally have done NOTHING. and they say he looks fine. They don't try anything. Whatsoever. Honestly they don't do jack **** and I'm tired of asking them for answers because they clearly don't know **** about what's going on with him,, so I have done research myself and I don't care if I have to create an essay stating why I believe that he needs this or that, I will do it if I believe and feel that it may help. Because I clearly have no choice and he needs help. Desperately. So guys, please help me with this. What do you believe I should do?

[Mark in Idaho]

skittledaddy,

Welcome to NeuroTalk. I'm sorry to hear about what your son is going through. I've been in his shoes, just not as severe. Your experience with doctors and teachers is not uncommon.

You give generalizations of his condition. It will help if you can get more specific.


[He now has trouble concentrating and thinking, along with comprehending things]

He needs to be evaluated. A NeuroPsychological Assessment (NPA)would be a good start. The school should have a educational psychologist who can get this started. He needs an Individualized Education Plan. Here is an overview of IEPs. What Is an IEP? | Individualized Education Program.


[and his vision tends to focus in and out ]

He needs to be assessed by a behavioral optometrist. Again, the school may be able to get this started. Or, check out NORA.cc


[along with not being able to process things that people say]

An NPA should help understand this. He may have an auditory processing disorder.

[He's always complaining that he has extreme brain fog, and that his mind feels like an empty void.]

This is not uncommon and can be tied to how his brain is processing information. The NPA should help understand this.

[We've talked to several doctors, and one of them has said that post concussion syndrome usually lasts for up to 3 months, 2 of them has said it's likely that he's just faking and over-exaggerating everything. But he isn't lying. I know him, and when he lies. His grades have dropped from A's to C's and D's, and even F's because he's constantly having trouble in school and is very afraid to ask for help because one of his teachers in 6th grade yelled at him and hit his desk several times because he couldn't understand what he was trying to say.]

This is a serious issue. He needs to be removed from any classes where the teacher behaves like this.

[ During 6th grade, (i sadly didn't take him seriously. but now i see that something is very wrong.) he would constantly complain and stay up trying to do his homework, and when I bugged him to go to sleep he would start crying and screaming that he couldn't do it. Occasionally he would even walk to the other side of his school and hide in the little kid's bathroom and cry, ignoring when the office called him to come to the office on the intercom.]

Good that you are finally starting to understand. Now the hard work starts.

[ This year, during 7th grade for him, he's attempted suicide 7 times so far.]

I know the anguish in his mind. It is real. He needs help. Anti-depressants can be dangerous at his age so be very careful about what drug interventions are undertaken. Be very watchful if he is put on meds.

[He seems to be doing better but he's still having those moments where he starts crying because he says no one'll help him and he's suffering. I was actually thinking about possibly seeing a new doctor, and then pushing them to refer us to do a QEEG for his head.]

A diagnostic qEEG can be very good in the right hands and using a good mTBI comparative database. It will not improve treatment but it can confirm injury intensity. A few qEEG based therapists can use it in therapeutic efforts.

[ Now let me mention, those doctors literally have done NOTHING. and they say he looks fine. They don't try anything. Whatsoever. Honestly they don't do jack **** and I'm tired of asking them for answers because they clearly don't know **** about what's going on with him,, so I have done research myself and I don't care if I have to create an essay stating why I believe that he needs this or that, I will do it if I believe and feel that it may help. Because I clearly have no choice and he needs help. ]

Many of us have had the same experience with doctors. Very few truly understand concussions like your son's.

[Desperately. So guys, please help me with this. What do you believe I should do? ]

There are a few things you can do that are simple and safe. Read the Vitamins sticky at the top. The first post and the update linked to (page 46 I think). The B vitamins are most important.

Lower stimulation levels at home. Keep him away from intense sugars, MSG, artificial sweeteners, caffeine, and a few other things that I don't remember.

It may be worthwhile to have his upper neck evaluated. Many concussion symptoms are related to upper neck injuries. These injuries can be very subtle with minimal direct symptoms. But, inflammation in the upper neck can reduce vertebral blood flow. It can also affect the cranial nerves.

A source for doctors and other professionals who usually can help would be a Neuro Rehab facility. These are the places where people go after recovering from comas and other severe neurological injuries.

You could help us help you by giving us your location. We may be able to direct you to specialists.

In your responses, it helps to limit paragraph length to 5 or 6 lines with a double space after. Many of us struggle to read or follow line to line when the paragraph is longer.

You found a good place. We understand.

My best to you and your son.

I just want to chime in and give a reference for a treatment method for concussion related issues and specifically things like brain fog, depression, etc. that I have been undertaking for quite a while now. It has not worked 100% as of yet, but I am still in the process of figuring things out through tests, etc with my doctor.

Here a few resources if you would be interested in reading about it. If you are desperate it might be worth a shot. I cannot vouch for it 100%, but I have read all the studies and have been in contact with people who it has worked for so I really think it is legit.

AMA Certified Category 1 CME Relative Nutritional Deficiency Conference | Home Page

Management of the most far reaching and newly defined set of relative nutritional deficiencies | Alvin Stein, MD - password is 555

Parkinson's and Mucuna - http://goo.gl/JwgbO

Here is the doctor who I work withs website if you are interested. He does tele-medicine. Contact Us | Natural Path Health Center

And again I cannot vouch for the fact that it will work since I am still undergoing with it, but if you are willing to try anything I really think it would be worth a shot. It has around 20 peer-reviewed studies supporting it.

Best wishes.

[skittledaddy]

We live in the area of Seattle. Thank you for willing to help

[Jomar]

With actual school begin such a stress factor, look into online schools.
He can proceed at his own pace, with no other students or teachers in his face.
K-12 Online Public School from Home | Connections Academy
Accredited Online Schools: 216's Top Online Programs
The Best Accredited Online Schools of 216


But with the suicide attempts he need some serious help first thing.. school can wait.

Limit - tv/phone /computer screen may be too visually & mentally stimulating..

Ideas - calm, quiet activities.. painting, crafts ,gardening, model cars/planes etc.. easy listening music, sitting outside in the sunshine & quiet nature.

[Mark in Idaho]

Have you checked with Swedish, Harborview or Children's ? They all have concussion programs.

There is VirginiaMason and a number of other neurorehab clinic and hopsitals.

Here is a local to Seattle web based organization with a lot of good info. NW Rehab Services - W. WA

My best to you.

[Bud]

Skittle,

I have often felt I was fortunate having my injury at an older age with some life experience to lean on...I was 55. I really feel for the younger ones going through head recovery.

Anyways, don't give up. It took almost 2 years to find a neuro optometrist that helped me immensely....2 years of docs saying to me what they have to you.

Mark sent me some info based on a conversation we had that led me to try the optometrist.
It made all the difference for me, got me back into life.

Tell your son to hang in, I thought my life was ruined too but it is good again and in some ways better.

Bud

[Pedalspinner]

Imho, mark laid it out well.As someone 28months out from mine. If after the neuropschologists testing, more is recommended, I highly advise trying to find a psychologist that either specifically deals with TBI or the majority of patients are TBI post concussive. Me dealing with a psychologist NOT with that specialty...did not help at all...it actually made it harder to: ,learn the new me. I did not proofread this. Eyes tired enough already. Gl

[NeverGiveUp4MySon]

I am very sorry to hear what you and your family are going through. My son is the same age and had a very similar experience.

He has been symptom free since January and while he wasn't able to complete 6th grade in 2015. He just finished 7th grade with honors all 3 trimesters. This summer he has been to water parks, amusement parks and just ran his first 5k on the 4th. Dr. Lynn Carlson, a functional neurologist in Acton, MA was our answer. I know that you live on the opposite coast and if you would like, I could reach out to her to find out if there is one in your area that she would recommend. Like medical doctors, not all functional neurologists have the same knowledge or experience and I would really recommend researching thoroughly before visiting with one.

I know not everyone has success with this type of treatment, but when you are this stuck, there is nothing to lose by trying.

I am sure my son would be willing to talk to yours if you think it would help. I hate to hear how badly he is suffering and maybe talking to someone who can relate to what he is going through would help, especially where they are the same age.

Please tell him that there is hope. My son is proof. And so are the others in the blogs I linked below. I hope these stories bring you comfort and bring you hope, because they most certainly helped and guided me in the right direction:

Cara's story (first 2 links) and her mom's support meant so much to me. She spent her own personal time consoling me and just listening. Cara's daughter and my son shared the same doctors at both hospitals they were treated at and had pretty similar experiences with both of them. While we did not end up going to the same functional neurologist Cara went to (Dr. Pedro in RI), we were headed there if Dr. Carlson could not help us.

These people put out their stories to help people who are stuck like they were. I am so very thankful that they did and hope that we can pay that forward.

NH Parenting Magazine:
Tackling trauma head on - Parenting NH - April 215 - New Hampshire

Cara Griffith's TedX:
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...nosQVotMKwkmHg

The following link is the one that led me to Dr. Carlson. This family took their son to Carrick in Georgia, had significant results in only 1 week and followed up with Dr. Carlson. I spoke with Max's mom also (again found out our children shared a few of the same doctors) and asked her if I should just take him to Georgia, or start with Dr. Carlson. She without a doubt told me to start with Dr. Carlson and if she couldn't help, she would recommend next steps.

Category: Carrick Brain Center - Today's Concussions

The following blog I came across while researching Dr. Carlson. I never reached out to this woman, but I did run into her at Dr. Carlson's once during my son's treatment and thanked her for her blog!
12. An Eye Opening Experience – Hard Knocks: My Post Concussion Journey

I hope these help. I am sorry for such a long post. I just can't stand seeing a child and family suffer with this and when I can't sleep I find myself wandering over here to check in. Wishing you son a healthy recovery.

[Mark in Idaho]

There have been many on here on NT who have tried the Carrick protocols over the past years, some at the Carrick Institute. Others at Carrick trained chiro neuros / functional neuros

Very few have found a benefit, even after spending $6000 to $10,000. Carrick can do wonders for some but be aware than it does not help all.

If you can afford the risk, it may be worth a try but I don't think it justifies using credit cards or grocery money to pay for it.