I know that PCS exists - I've had it for 20 months, thankfully I met someone who had this condition 10 years ago who directed me to a neuropsychologist.
I am presently seeing a psychologist who tells me that this is still not a 'recognised' condition in the reference used to describe conditions (forgot the name/term for this reference - memories not good today!!) - this means that although I have been correctly diagnosed by 4 medicos (and mis-diagnosed by a dozen more!!) - this leaves insurance co's (and medics) etc. to translate the diagnosis to their advantage....... So far, it seems that I suffer from PTSD, mental illness, potential stroke &/or nervous disorder etc. etc. etc. !!! LOL - All because I chose to hit my head against the back of a car that ran a stop sign !!
Humour aside (one of the few things I have going for me!!)
Isn't it time that PCS received more attention, and not treated as a subjunct to PTSD ???.

Yep. You got that one right.

Your psychologist is correct in that PCS is not a recognized diagnosis under the DSM-IV, which is the diagnostic manual for PSYCHIATRIC conditions. An alternative diagnosis that he/she can use is 294.9 under the ICD-9 classification system which most insurance companies prefer. 294.9 refers to unspecified brain dysfunction.

To BrainDoc - Thanks for the info - but this just confirms what I've mentioned, the generic code 294.9 has been used - and that has been translated by others into the various (and inappropriate) conclusions which suit their particular positions - among which was PTSD, with no viable proof that it exists.

To McGee - I know you are a fighter - (nice to know there is someone as cantakerous as me out there!!) And it sounds like you are getting the same runaround as me, so don't give up - and question what you are told - PTSD was also diagnosed, as a useful pigeonhole - treatment didn't help and they would not accept that the only trauma I couldn't handle was 10 months of mis-diagnosis and another 10 of mis-treatment!!! Thankfully the psychologist I was coerced into visiting is a specialist in PTSD and is very certain that this does not exist - but local politics with the med society will not allow this to be made public - -
Are we having fun yet ????

I'm not quite sure what you meant there, but thanks for the encouragement anyway.

I do in fact have PTSD though. It's not on record anywhere, but the existence of the condition in me could not be more plainly obvious.

I am very interested in the other diagnosis of pcs.

I too have pcs. And I also have abnormalities of the brain that my neurologist diagnosised just in April after many years of problems.

But it technically has nothing to do with my pcs. I've always had
this.

Its something that finally hopefully I'm getting help for.

Donna

I have not gone to the neuropsyc(aww can't remember how to spell it) due to not wanting to be labeled for the rest of my life as a mental case...just because I have PCS! My neuro says it won't help the condition anyway...only let me know about how long it might be going on? Gaye

Most of my PCS symptoms have nothing to do with PTSD, but like McGee, I can see a very clear relation.

Prior to bonking my head, I was always someone with a heightened startle reflex due to PTSD. My PTSD comes from years of sexual and physical abuse (there- now it's out there). So, the element of surprise is what usually 'set me off'. Even things like seeing something out of the corner of my eye that I wasn't expecting would bring on a 'startle'. (kind of scream, jump, arms fly up in the air- is the best way to describe it)

Now after bonking my head, it's so much worse. Instead of being simply jumpy and startled, I go into myoclonic jerking. I look like I'm having seizures. And the things that cause it are more than just the element of surprise. Now it's flashing lights, loud noises and being touched. Not very much fun for my husband sometimes.

PTSD has certainly made this a lot worse, in my opinion. My neurologist also understands that, which is why she has me on klonopin- something I never took before this.

I've already had the years of counseling and am truly past all of that 'stuff'. Unfortunately, my body isn't.

I wish you were in Colorado, there's a guy out here that does really amazing light therapy for PTSD (the therapy is of his own design, so it's not like EMDR that's done all over the country). Before I did his therapy, I was pretty much in a constant state of high anxiety and was experiencing 5-15 acute panic attacks a day, and of course not sleeping well at all. Afterwards, my anxiety was markedly lower, and the therapies I'd been doing for years suddenly started working really well.

Obviously I'm still not in a very good place, but my life is astronomically easier than it was before I did the stuff.

If you want to check out his hideous website it's at www.fightorflighttherapy.com, but I reiterate, the website is U-G-L-Y! If it really strikes a chord with you, he does see people from out of town pretty regularly. Just thought I'd throw this into the therapy options pot for you folks.

My husband will be there next week- maybe I can have him get the therapy on my behalf?

I'm kidding, of course- I'm not THAT far gone! tee hee.

I'll look into it because this is awfully annoying. (I use that word a lot lately)