[Northwoods]

Hi,
My name is Brian and I am recovering from a tbi sustained last March during a physical assault. I have pcs symptoms like headaches, brain fog as irritability. I probably have PTSD also.

I am considering EPIC treatment at Cognitive FX in Utah. I am having a difficult time making the decision. I have gone from being conviced it's the best route to take, all the way to wondering if I should entertain other options. The cost for the current program is 13k and my my questions for this forum are as follows:

1: Do you have any experience with Cognitive FX and if so did it help?

2. Would you consider a program like Cognitive FX or are there other treatments you would consider first?

3. What treatments have helped you personally?

Thank you for reading this and take care!

[Mark in Idaho]

Some have reported back after being treated at Cog FX. The results are mixed.
Wow, The price has gone up...

Cog FX like Amen and Carrick are treatment protocols that have mixed results. They all cost $8,000 and more just to see it they help.

There is a protocol in Ontario that has some promise. MyoWorks focuses on the upper neck injuries common to concussion. It is much more affordable,

My position is simple. If you can risk the money to pay the cost without straining your budget and financial condition, they may be an acceptable risk.

Never borrow or use a credit card or other extreme financial commitments for these therapies.

My concern with Cog FX is their secrecy. They don't publish much information.

What have you done so far to try to recover?

[Northwoods]

Hello Mark,
Thank you for the reply. So far I have tried working with a Chiropractor and I have seen some modest results. I take your point about using credit in order to pay for a treatment program, and, the prospect of dramatically changing my finances for something that may or may not work is troubling to say the least. I have not done this yet and hearing some different opinions from people with more knowledge and experience is so important to me. My family and friends have made statements to the effect that if Cognitive FX was so effective then their protocol would be used and accepted more widely.
I can see their point. It comes down to whether or not you think that a program like theirs is a risk worth taking. My current thought is that I do not have to do anything right now. If the treatment is right for me it will be around later albeit at an even higher price! I think most people can relate to wanting to feel better now, but I am trying to separate logic and emotion when making my decision. I am going to keep reading about what is working for other people on this forum in the hopes that I can gain a wider view of what is out there in terms of available treatment. Thanks for your input, I do appreciate it.

[Mark in Idaho]

Tell us about your injury, diagnostics, therapies, and anything you have done to help yourself.

What is your chiro doing?

[Northwoods]

Hi Mark,
Thank you for your interest and the thoughtful advice you included in your previous post. I added my answers to your questions below:

Q1:Tell us about your injury, diagnostics, therapies, and anything you have done to help yourself.

A1: I have had multiple head injuries including two falls on ice where I fell so that the back of my head hit the pavement. Both falls produced concussions and symptoms including nausea, brain fog and headache. I have also suffered two separate violent assaults where I was struck in the face and head with blunt objects, and fists. I have not had any diagnostic treatment due to the fact that I do not currently have health insurance. My new job will include insurance benefits and I am open to seeing a neurologist and any other health professionals that may be able to help. My latest injury is ten months old and I have suffered from memory loss, bad headaches, brain fog, and probably some PTSD although I have not been formally diagnosed. I was initially very depressed and suicidal but I rarely have these thoughts now. All of my symptoms have improved about thirty percent since I started having them ten months ago. I decided not to go ahead with Cognitive FX and I took your advice not to finance the roughly 11k that the travel and treatment would have cost. I have no regrets because having done so would have put me in a bad financial position for at least six years! Also, I don't know how I would react if I paid that money and the treatment did not work.

Q2: What is your chiro doing?
A2: I am not sure what the adjustments are called technically but they involve the neck and back with twisting motions while I am on my back. These adjustments have helped reduce all of my symptoms by maybe ten to twenty percent in the days after having them but I need to make at least two visits per week to continue to see improvement or to prevent falling back to the level I was at before the adjustments.

As I stated earlier I am open to any and all treatments they may offer relief from my symptoms. I have been focusing on my mental health by engaging in hobbies that I enjoy like flyfishing, glutting and painting. These activities have been a great way to relax and get out of my head. Thanks again for your help and have a good weekend!

[Mark in Idaho]

Thanks for the info.

If I did not already mention, I will now. 80% of concussion symptoms are neck related according to a leading concussion research and treatment center. (UPMC)

I suggest you look for a chiro who uses much gentler techniques. Activator is a gentle protocol. You likely have a messed up upper neck. Some chiros are trained in NUCCA or Atlas Orthogonal techniques. Some physical therapists also have special training in upper cervical therapies.

The twist the head and crack the neck is too aggressive for the C-1 and C-2 injuries that are common.

I'll explain what often happens with your slip and fall.

As you land on your back and head, your head stops moving but your neck continues to move toward the ice. This slides C-2 and C-1 toward the ground as the occiput surface at the base of your skull has stopped moving.

In some cases, this is called a partial dislocation of the skull.



The surface between C-2 and C-1 and between C-1 and occiput are not faceted like the other vertebra. They are held in position by ligaments. Once those ligaments get stretched, those vertebra become unstable.

C-2 to C-3 and further down have facets that hold alignment and are the pop and the vertebra slip back into position, like two spoons nesting together.

Think of it this way, the lower vertebra are like a stack of spoons in the silverware drawer. Occiput, C-1, and C-2 are like the knives, they want to lay any which way.

So, with proper help to mobilize C-1 and C-2, you have to use posture discipline to allow the ligaments to strengthen to stabilize those vertebra. That takes months of discipline.

The twist the head and pop the neck may help with the lower vertebra but they often traumatize C-1 and C-2. Avoid that trauma.

My therapist would have me lying on my back and pull traction on my head then gently rock my head and use finger pressure to manipulate C-1 and C2 to get them moving smoothly. I would use ice after and was very disciplined with my sleep posture. No head tilted forward or to the side sleep posture.

Personal discipline is the most important part. Others cannot correct your poor sleeping posture. Only you can.

My best to you.

[Northwoods]

Hi Mark,
Thanks again for the informative reply. I will try some gentler chiropractic treatment and I will report back to this thread with the results. Take care and best of luck with your treatments.

Brian