Traumatic Brain Injury and Post Concussion Syndrome For traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post concussion syndrome (PCS).


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Old 01-30-2020, 02:48 PM #1
dax9 dax9 is offline
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Confused Talking to doctor re. severe undiagnosed concussions (Rambling, Concentration)

*I started to ramble as I wrote this - I keep doing that since my last concussion and can't stop- if anything, I would love any advice on how to stop "rambling" so I can communicate important stuff before others tune out, and so I can get to the point before I forget what I was originally talking about... went off track while typing this but if anyone reads any part of it any advice, resources, anyone to talk to would be greatly appreciated*

Hello,

I was in a car accident about a month ago and was diagnosed with a "mild" concussion- I think that it was more severe than what the doctor said...I was very "confused" (lack of better way to describe it) and, since I had come in for whiplash in my neck, I did not think I was suffering from a concussion....After the crash I was "dazed", plus was having a panic attack. (
Anyway, I went to the doctor after what I thought was a couple days after the crash (was actually a week) because my neck/back hurt and was getting headaches that put me into tears....But my head did not hurt all the time- I would wake up, feel fine, as long as laid down it seemed okay, but the longer my neck had to hold it up the more it hurt, so I went into urgent care thinking my neck was the problem. Was kind of taken aback when told I had a concussion because I did not remember hitting my head- but also a lot of other blanks. Plus, I have a history of just kind of walking around with a really bad concussion and "snapping out of it" days or weeks later. I apparently also show "obvious signs" of childhood TBI, like a complete lack of smell (for as long as I can remember). However, these previous brain injuries were never diagnosed because;

I grew up in the 90's in a football/hockey family where "concussions were no big deal", plus I had a mother who did not like me very much and have a lot of memories of her being mad at me and then "blacking out" (this is the main reason I was never taken to the doctor, or went on my own, no one would believe it was my mom and everyone tried to accuse my dad so I stopped telling people).
I have memories, or lack thereof of particularly bad concussions walking concussions (I am sorry I do not have the correct vocab)

For example: I remember when I was 10ish I was riding my bike with my friend and crashed when a dog ran out in front of me. I remember crashing, my friend asking if I was okay, and telling her I was fine. But, the next thing I knew, I "woke up" in the middle or the grocery store which was about 10 miles away. I started "freaking out", crying, shaking because I did not know where I was or how I got there- my friend freaked out because apparently I was "fine", we had been talking, decided to go to the movies, road are bikes across town, and had stopped at the store to get snacks- I remember none of this. The next thing I remember was patches of riding home, getting there, getting yelled at, then blacked out for a day or two (my mom put me to bed and said I was napping).

Anyways, that is just one example- I have others but my point is that none of this is documented... I have to go see another doctor because the insurance people from the car accident think that I am/was "exaggerating", do not believe/or listen to me when I would try to tell them I was confused, losing track of time (like weeks went by and I thought it was a few days). Plus my boss and dad are concerned about how long the symptoms from a "mild concussion" have lasted, and the fact that I do not seem to realize I have any symptoms, except for telling people I am confused (when apparently I was falling asleep, forgetting to do things like eat, bad concentration- like to the point where basically if anything distracted me for a minute I would completely forget what I had been doing.
I remember a couple specific things, like words and letters not making sense when I tried to read them...

(We did not report the accident to the police because, the guy who hit me said it was 100% his fault, asked if I wanted to call or just exchange info- I agreed to just exchange because I was so "out of it" I did not realize how bad my car was [totalled] or that I was hurt- this has not been an issue so far but I am afraid it might....but so many people had driven by, asking if they should call the cops, I honestly thought at the time someone had).

I am just terrified about going back to the doctor and talking about previous concussions that are undocumented, and talking about how I actually did have symptoms that I told the first doctor that I did not have because I did not know the importance of why she was asking and it seemed like she was going through everything so fast I was just saying yes/no- like she asked me if I threw up and I said no because I didn't, but I didn't/couldn't explain quickly that I felt like I was going to throw up but had not eaten that day and just kind of gagged...

Plus, since it is an insurance thing, I am scared they will think I am "making things up"- But, all I want is to get past concussions documented so in the future doctors are aware that I might say I am "fine" when I really have no idea what is going on, as well as find out how long symptoms such as memory loss will last this time since I am older...

Sorry for writing so much. Other info: I am 28, female- I am "smart" (legal work) but have diagnosed and undiagnosed cognitive disorders (diagnosed with things like add and ptsd, undiagnosed things like dyslexia), have anosmia, I also had to move back home because I have problems with memory and maintaining a sense of time when I am alone, as well as holding down a long term job ( will do super well for 6-12 months, then get exhausted, moody- basically as soon as I am no longer stimulated by adrenaline or anxiety I just shut down physically and mentally)- This is particularly frustrating because family members think I am "lazy" when I am trying my hardest, but "simple" things, like getting up, showered, and dressed end up becoming so difficult they mentally exhaust me, while more "complicated" things seem so simple I don't get why other people don't "think the same as I do" (when I am able to work I do investigative research for lawyers, photo forensics, stuff like that).

Any advice, resources, anyone to talk to would be greatly appreciated.
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Old 01-31-2020, 03:58 AM #2
Mark in Idaho Mark in Idaho is offline
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Welcome to Neurotalk.

The first concept to understand is simple. When somebody has a concussion and/or whiplash, you treat the symptoms, not the impact. If your neck is sore or stiff, ice it.

Limit neck range of motion and practice good posture when you sleep or nap.

Read the stuff on TBILaw.com and subtlebraininjury.com

You would likely benefit from a Neuro Psychological Assessment. TBILaw.com talks about getting them.

Not reporting the accident was a BIG mistake. It was likely a violation of the law. Injury accidents MUST be reported, no matter what arrangements are made.

Did you get your car replaced?
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Old 01-31-2020, 03:33 PM #3
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Complicated, telling the truth is best.
BUT don't offer any extra information than what is asked about this accident and your injury from it..
(your past mental/physical history is not relevant)

If you went to your own dr about this new injury, your dr should be able to write a letter about current condition and findings..

But they probably should have sent you to PT for evaluation & possible treatment of your neck...
Soft tissue injuries , trigger points , spasmed muscles can cause symptoms that can be resolved with proper treatment.
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