Post-Concussion Syndrome in California

[wowthathurt]

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Sithie Wrote:I am not very knowledganle regarding what you have, but I would say taking Ginko Bobola, and working jigsaw puzzles might help set the brain patterns back on track. I work puzzles at http://www.pogo.com the game is Jigsaw detective.

Like I said, I dunno, but there are some thoughts

Good luck to you, and welcome to the family.
Sithie

[color=#0000FF]Thanks Sithie. I actually am taking ginko biloba--it sure can't hurt my situation. I believe you are onto something with the puzzle suggestion--anything that can truly exercise my cognitive abilities. Before my accident I was a sudoku nerd addict--I even timed my own games to compete with myself. Kinda crazy I know! Now I can't even do the simplest sudoku without tons of mistakes and frustration. I will try pogo and many thanks for your suggestions!!

[wowthathurt]

Lilly Wrote:Hi wow,
Vestabular problems are hard to get rid of. Do you also have dizziness problems? I dislodged the fluid/salt crystals in my inner ear a few years back from a bad fall and on the same day a lifting accident ,and had to take PT "epiley manuever" to get straightened out. I was soooo dizzy, it was horrible. I still have some problems with it. I was going to provide you with a link....but apparently lost it...so do a search on this:
ontoconia/ear fluid salt crystal dislodgement...or vestabular problems. I also had a terrible time with my memory and cognitive abilities when this was taking place. Good luck, Lilly

Hi Lilly--Vestibular problems are a real pain. First I had uncontrollable dizziness that was determined to be related to dislodged crystals in my innter ears. ENT Doc told me one or at most 2 Eppley Maneuvers would do the trick. NOT! Thank goodness I pushed the issue to my neurologist who in turn supported my receiving more Eppleys. I've been getting the Eppley twice a week for several months now and finally have improved somewhat. Don't stop the Eppley until you respond (providing your dizziness is at least partially related to your ears) and remember to have your PT perform the different style Eppleys for the different canals (3) in each ear. Leave no stone unturned no matter what.

[wowthathurt]

vaworkcomp Wrote:I am being treated for Post-Concussion Syndrome and PTSD right now. I know what the headaches/migranes are i have them all the time all day all night memory issues i also have really bad. It took me two years to get W/C to admit i had a head injury. I am seeing a Phys and a counsler they gave a few test to take just simple little questions to see if i had problems in memory and if i had PTSD. Well turns out i did along with a little brain damage. As i am just starting to see the counsler and talk with her we have not done much but talk about my accident and she gives me little pointers on how to remember things and get some of my anger issues under control. The trick is finding someone who deals with PCS and PTSD both. Took me a month to find one here in Va.

Sorry i could not help more as i just starting this.

Yes you have helped! Never discount what you have to offer! Just tell your story. I'm sorry WC took so long to acknowledge your injury--that is despicable of them! They sent me to Stanford to assess my ear crystal problem. The doctor there told me that the crystals had resolved as much as they are ever going to. I then asked the doctor why I still had problems???? He said there apparently are injuries other than those to my ears and now I have been diagnosed with Traumatic Brain Injury. Since then I am also realizing that I have experienced the symptoms of PTSD as well. PTSD just needs to be acknowledged and then addressed. My nurse case manager has suggested to my neurologist that I take the tests for cognitive function/memory loss and at the time my neurologist "didn't want to open that can of worms". I'm not quite sure what that comment was suggesting, but I haven't been given any tests yet. Sounds like your counselor is a great idea. How did you go about getting your doctor to order that counselor and how did you go about finding them?

[wowthathurt]

queenbee Wrote:How doe one gt diagnosed with this
Since my fall I have had severe headaches, dizziness, verbal problems,
They are getting worse. I am afraid to drive or go anywhere alone.
I have told my orthopedic doctor and he said he cant do anything
I thought it had something to do with my neck injury or the medicine.
What can I do for this, just go to my family doctor?

Queenbee if I may speak frankly, your orthopedist has done a grievous disservice to you by just telling you he can't help your other problems---I believe his Hippocratic Oath to "do no harm" requires him to not just tell you he can't help , but to appropriately refer you to a specialist who he thinks may have the best chance at helping you! Anything less than that just seems plain negligent! I hope I can help you by telling you what has helped me--maybe it can help you. I too fell--off a ladder and hit my head twice on concrete--first the concrete wall, then after blacking out and falling again my head hit the concrete floor. My humorous boss says there's structural damage to the building that my head hit--when possible its better for me to laugh than to cry even if crying does have its benefits. After the hospital, WC sent me to their neurologist who upon examination of me said she thought my dizziness could be related to my inner ear. At that point the neurologist sent me to an inner ear specialist--an ENT. The ENT examined me and performed a diagnostic test --VENG. VENG is a test to PROVE that you are dizzy and then WC cannot deny you. At that point the ENT writes a prescription for a Physical Therapist to perform a certain number of Eppley Maneuvers on you in order to decrease any dizziness you have that is related to your inner ear. Old data suggests that 1 or 2 times for Eppley Maneuvers is adequate, but in my case it took in excess of 20 times to get maximal improvement of the dizziness related to my ears. You mention headaches (migranes??) and verbal problems. These symptoms scream Traumatic Brain Injury/Post Concussion Syndrome as I understand it. You are obviously on-line, so search TBI and PCS to see what symptoms match yours. I am not a neurologist, but headache/migrane, verbal problems, cognitive difficulties, memory difficulties for me have been diagnosed as TBI/PCS. Please don't discount your symptoms as being related to your neck injury or the medicine. YOU ARE WORTH PURSUING FURTHER MEDICAL EXAMINATION IN ORDER TO RULE OUT ANY OTHER SERIOUS PROBLEMS! Let me know how it goes and if there is anything else I could do for you.

[wowthathurt]

queenbee Wrote:1171,
thank you,
do you know how I get workers comp to include this with my other injuries,
I have asked my attorney and I am getting no answers from my messages.
What ever is going on it is affecting my whole life, I can't concentrate, speak or say what is in my mind it just like won't come out , blurry vision, dizziness.
Headaches ( like last night, could not sleep) . Hands are starting to shake.
I do not have any insurance a nd very little money.
I fell so hard I know I jarred my head and hurt my neck. Dr is working on my neck, arm and shoulder but not my head.
I simply can't afford to go to a doctor unless they pay for it.
I am not trying to get them to cover something that is not associated with the accident. I never had this before.

[color=#0000FF]Hi again Queenbee, because you are short on funds I hesitated to mention something, but I feel obligated to tell you about a book that is worth its weight in gold. It has taught me alot about navigating the system and attorneys and if you can afford it, it will hugely be worth every penny you spend. It is called "Injured on the Job? Get the Medical Care Benefits You're Entitled To". Published by Nolo Press and available by http://www.nolo.com. I am not in any way affiliated with them except that I have purchased many books on different subjects and upon reading their books I know that they are worth much more than I paid. Among other info, they tell you how to get what you need or want and how to call "less than scrupulous" WC agents, lawyers, doctors, employers, etc. on their B.S. Just go to nolo.com and think about it.

[queenbee]

wowthathurt,
Thanks a lot, I have a dr appt on the 29th with both orthepedic doctors and I am going to push that something is done, if they dont I am going to my family dr and contacting my case manager myself, I cant wait for my attorney any longer.
I dont remember hitting my head or having any lumps but i know I jarred my whole body. I willl let you know what happens.

I am using your advice and trying to locate this book.

[wowthathurt]

queenbee Wrote:wowthathurt,
Thanks a lot, I have a dr appt on the 29th with both orthepedic doctors and I am going to push that something is done, if they dont I am going to my family dr and contacting my case manager myself, I cant wait for my attorney any longer.
I dont remember hitting my head or having any lumps but i know I jarred my whole body. I willl let you know what happens.

I am using your advice and trying to locate this book.

Oh queenbee I hope you haven't spent any time trying to find the book yet. I gave an INcorrect name for the book--remember I have cognitive issues---or maybe I'm just plain silly. The correct name of the book is "Take Charge of Your Workers' Compensation Claim - An A to Z Guide for Injured Employees". I have a California edition and I don't know what other states they have this book for. If there is an edition for your state, I would suggest amazon.com to look for used books. Currently they have used ones for as little as $3.56, $7.55 with shipping. I never mind used books for that kind of a price cut. Hope I haven't caused you or anyone else any wasted time as a result of my mess-up. Sorry. Say Queenbee, please let me know how the appointment goes. I'm sending you all my best!

[Lilly]

Hi wow,

That's interesting and laughable, about 2 Epiley maneuvers supposedly "doing the trick"....I did 3 x week for 3 months, and still have occasional problems with positional head changes. They told me that once you do this, it easily comes back...I washed the ceiling fan blades once after recouping, and I learned the hard way...NEVER to do that again! Looking up for an extended amount of time apparently moved the fluid again! Hubby did home epiley manunevers on me to get me straightened out. As far as your memory & cognitive problems...I would push for the testing, as that's the only way you'll ever be able to have proof that all is not well. You obviously jarred your brain and possibly injured more than just your neck and inner ear. You could be a walking time bomb, and that would scare me. i was left with residual "tippseyness"...not as steady as I used to be....the vestibular problem is wicked to say the least! You need further testing in my opinion.
Take care & good luck, Lilly

[1171]

If the neurologist agrees that the problems are from the injury then you'd have their written opinion filed with the court with a request that the injury be amended to include all the conditions and symtoms described by the neurologist.

an atty familiar with your board's day-to-day litigation procedures would be able to give you more exact details.

[wowthathurt]

Lilly Wrote:Hi wow,

That's interesting and laughable, about 2 Epiley maneuvers supposedly "doing the trick"....I did 3 x week for 3 months, and still have occasional problems with positional head changes. They told me that once you do this, it easily comes back...I washed the ceiling fan blades once after recouping, and I learned the hard way...NEVER to do that again! Looking up for an extended amount of time apparently moved the fluid again! Hubby did home epiley manunevers on me to get me straightened out. As far as your memory & cognitive problems...I would push for the testing, as that's the only way you'll ever be able to have proof that all is not well. You obviously jarred your brain and possibly injured more than just your neck and inner ear. You could be a walking time bomb, and that would scare me. i was left with residual "tippseyness"...not as steady as I used to be....the vestibular problem is wicked to say the least! You need further testing in my opinion.
Take care & good luck, Lilly

Hi Lilly, thanks for talking with me. Regarding the "1 to 2 maneuvers at most", the caveman ENT who said that gets workers' comp referrals all the time. My nurse case manager went with me to see him after several eppleys and he literally shrugged his shoulders and had a snarky "you can't be real" look on his face. It frosts my cookies that that quack's professional opinion is in my official records. You know the ins. co. is going to love him! I too have been left with residual tippseyness due to the TBI, but no doctor has told me that the crystals/stones could be displaced again and start the vertigo again!?!? Is this possibility (of the stones displacing again) documented somewhere? Also, could you explain to me what you mean by being "a walking time bomb"?--I need to educate myself about the possibilities of what can happen to me down the road. Can my cognition or memory problems worsen? What about the vestibular? I really would appreciate your knowledge and experience.