Helping People with Post-Concussive Syndrome

Dr. Robert Cantu talks about the various therapies to help athletes with the prolonged symptoms that often come with post-concussive syndrome which can significantly alter quality of life.

[@MsMaryOnewWillJinki]

I suffered from two seizures in one day, on 7/30/2015. I've been an Epileptic for 35yrs & 8yrs. Ive got a deprevaited nasal fracture, Very Bad Migraine(s) headache, ear pain, & sum type of "foreign object n my forehead"! AND passing out. I pray I can get a Fabulous neurologists.

[@daves6384]

Exercise, diet, sleep. It will work wonders. Two years in, it hasn't been without struggle, but it's getting better. All the best to those out there that are suffering.

[@aplusmerchant2281]

How are you doing today? I’m 2 years in as well and I’ve made a lot of progress but I’m still having brain fog, cognitive issues and memory issues.

[@RyGuyTheAVGuy]

how are you doing, I had a concussion this week, mild, not at all enjoying the experience tho.

[@daves6384]

4 years now and I'm well out of the woods. Eating clean and healthy, staying away from booze, sugar, processed foods and maintaining a consistent exercise regime was the best thing I think I could have done - stay positive and stay focused, you'll get through this.

[@RyGuyTheAVGuy]

@@daves6384 How great to hear, I've been trying to get away from those things in general, so maybe this will motivate me even more. Good for you man, happy to hear it, thankyou.

[@daves6384]

@@honeredchimp4814 Yep! As I look back, I believe exercise was the best thing there was. Diet helped, more important to stay away from stuff (alcohol, caffeine), but it also helped to eat well. Sleep was also a huge factor - but it had more of a day-to-day impact, whereas diet and exercise helped advance my recovery.

[@QuantumOfSolace1]

No drugs!!

[@boynamedsue55able]

At about 8 years old I was hit in the back of the head by my friend's baseball bat playing in my backyard, from that point on it took little to knock me out. Played street hockey, junior football, and lacrosse in high school, then joined the US Navy and suffered some concussions, one snowboarding landing on my head (tried a backflip). Got into car accident in 2010 resulted in diagnosis following Post Concussion Syndrome symptoms that lasted to this day. Another car wreck in 2014 developed into dizziness. I still had PCS symptoms but were lessened working out everyday and eating a good diet. However, at 38, just 3 weeks ago developed dementia-like symptoms even sundowning (I had to turn all the lights on at night lost circadian rhythm), forgot my birthday and couldn't form sentences, so CBT will no longer help. This whole time my family, friends, and Doctors still tell me it's in my head. So good luck getting anyone to diagnose or treat you unless you are important and have money. My understanding is only DTI imaging has a chance of diagnosing CTE by the white matter reduction, but that's for sports stars. A PET scan can diagnose Alzheimer's from the amyloid beta plaques and has overlap with CTE symptoms, except CTE is only diagnoseable post-mortem. FMRIs are typically only for clinical settings or when I did one for Psychology in college. Typically functional MRIs can diagnose a form of encephalopathy based on recognized patterns, but this is not a guarantee, since you need a baseline prior to, and the only person who knows you is you. Again, all that might save you is you, and lots of money and luck. God speed to anyone socially isolated by PCS or undiagnosed CTE.

[@boynamedsue55able]

@@user-zi7tu4ep8n Wow this is fun. Idk if this is a bot account, but if you're not as I said I have dementia now. Also idk if that translates well into Russian? Dementia = Alzheimer's, Lewy Body, Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD). I have dementia = atrophy of the brain = shrinking of the brain because neurons are dying. That's not overreacting that's just life. C'est la vie! I like your enthusiasm and yes all that you said helped me prior to this point. But again, once you have dementia you no longer have a functioning brain or body due to neurons dying permanently.

[@boynamedsue55able]

@@user-zi7tu4ep8n Yes and it is a result of my head injuries. Head injuries make you so many times more likely to develop some form of dementia. I recommend learning about Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) especially if you played sports like I did my whole life plus military service. However the caveat is CTE is only diagnosable post mortem. DTI (Diffuse Tensor Imaging) might be able to diagnose it based on white matter reduction (myelin sheath) and possibly a biomarker found in CSF = Cerebral Spinal Fluid like the neurofibrillary tangles of Alzheimer's disease = form of dementia, along with a different tau protein and amyloid beta plaques = clumps of protein in the brain that identify the type of dementia. Lastly, dementia can be diagnosed apart from a more formal diagnosis of Alzheimer's, Lewy Body, CTE, FTD, Vascular Dementia, Mixed Dementia. Also neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's accompany Lewy Body Dementia. Also dementia can arise from encephalopathy as a 'stable' form of dementia.

[@user-zi7tu4ep8n]

@@boynamedsue55able I'm sorry! I'm from Russia, and my translator is very bad at communicating with you right now. If you have tried all the methods that were prescribed to you, or the methods that you independently found based on the PubMed research database and they stopped helping. Then I am very extremely sorry about your current illness, If it was indeed diagnosed by a doctor. I hope that God will help you and that this disease can be cured. God bless you

[@patricial1231]

I have PCS, I was prescribed Amantadine and Excedrin Migraine for my PCS symptoms and it's working.

[@aminah761]

patricial1231 what’s amantadine

[@RyGuyTheAVGuy]

wow, I'm glad Doctors are getting away from this type of thinking, JUST GIVE EM DRUGS. Fuck that, I'm going to care for myself, rest well, exercise my brain, ain't no drug is going to fix this.

[@DoglinsShadow]

So: if you can't treat them, rather than find a cure, pop 'em full of pills and call it good. God I hate life ever since December 12th, 2016. I HATE IT

[@Winner1-c2u]

These below outcomes now attributed to the procedure electroshock in my medical records. This is information from another provider I brought with me to this neuro/opthomologist noted below. I was told ECT was safe. I live with these damages as so many others do to one degree or another. This is TBI. This is full body trauma from an electrical mechanism, with damages that can evolve years out to include CTE. I was recently seen by a provider (neuro/opthomologist) who said I had “convergence insufficiency” and would not even address or put in his own notes this mechanism for fear of reprisals by peers most likely. I was discounted, minimized, bullied, and treated very poorly by this neuro/ophthomologist who in no way wanted to let the cat out of the bag, no matter how it impacted me as the patient. When I asked him to address the damages and causation that would assist me with rehabilitative measures he minimized and discounted these obvious outcomes so he would not have to make a stand in his notes to this very apparent harm taking place. We deserve help and kindness in our compromised state. Not to be subjugated to further abuse after what we have already been through with “trusted” providers. We are PTSD survivors as a result and this is not any way to treat a patient. At end of this appointment that got very heated, I was left with no help from him and asked to leave. This is no way to treat an individual. I was never disrespectful, but also knew the issues involved and did not let him "off the hook." Did not check me for nystagmus nor visual fields which he would have most likely found abnormal, to avoid addressing most likely. Electroshock patients are going to start to see various providers for assistance and I ask that we be met with compassion despite the reputations and monies involved. Problem is everyone seems to have monetary or employment/position gains to be made if they keep the lid on this no matter how many are hurt. Please remember you are healers for the good of your patient. We are greatly suffering while you all pretend otherwise. California courts have proved brain injuries you are already well aware of based on your training. No advanced tests were done outside of a very basic optho exam my primary did, and no imaging or rehabilitative services. Don't test, don't have to worry about addressing damages and causes in notes. Phonophobia. Visual and auditory stimulation problems. Seriel 7’s markedly impaired Mild L ptosis R hypertropia worse in L lateral gaze L exophoria L upper and R lower facial paresis L roll had tilt Olfactory recognition impaired bilateral VA ration horizontal square wave jerks R:2:1 L: down-beat nystagmus 2:1 Saccade testing reveals latencies increased all planes except U/L Marked cervical substitutions with pursuits in all planes with intrusive saccades worsening in L prusuites Pursuits downward reveal intorsional glissades Gait testing reveals mild decrease inR arm swing: with dual tasking, gait becomes slightly wide-based and arm swing slightly decreases. Finger-nose past pointing R>L Somatic pinwheel perception diminished L L5 Vestibular head impulse testing: Moderately decreased in LARP plane Saccadometry: Prosaccade 20 degree : intrusive saccades to the R Anti saccade 10 degree: 79 percent directional error rate Nystagmus: High frequency right beat and down beat nystagmus Central gaze: Head movement, L pstosis and nystagmnus Horizontal gaze L 24 degree Notable pitch plane head movement Horizontal gaze R 24 degree: Increased fatigue, decreased stability Upward gaze 14 degree: Notable pitch plane head movement Downward gaze 14 degree: Notable pitch polane head movement. Horizontal optokinetics 25 dps: L optokinetics provoked dysconjugate gaze. Reflex failed with R otokinetics Horizontal optokinetics with volitional targeting: Worsens Vertical pursuits 10 degrees: Intrusive saccades with downward pursuits Random vertical saccades: Upward intrusive saccades, cannot maintain downward gaze Vertical optokinetics 25 dps: Reflex failed. Vertical optokinetics with volitional targeting: Worsens Repeated random horizontal saccades; Latencies increased significantly bilaterally Stop this battery of patients. You have a duty to warn, protect, and not cause harm. Are you participating in this either actively or passively? Someone please stand up for patients! No FDA testing for safety or even effectiveness. Makes billions annually in US alone. Please see ectjustice now owned by law firms participating in national product liability suit around devices. There is a survey with hundreds with similar outcomes. This issue is not to be swept under the carpet any longer. You have been criminally playing with peoples lives. You are not above ALL laws. Justice is coming.

[@TaraDavidson_OzarksArtist]

I want to be seen by you and your team! Is there anything that can be done for me? I'm in Mid-Missouri *middle of nowhere* and my Dr in Jefferson City is totally neglecting my TBI-PCD pain and other issues. I'm not living, I'm surviving my symptoms. It's grated on my resolve for over a year now, and I've been to quack after quack. =,(

[@flybynightgirl]

Who do I find to help me with all of the above? My primary is not helping much

[@robertbrown7952]

DoglinsShadow I Agree, at 62yrs old, 5th concussion, we don't need drugs, we need cell repair and to aid the Reconnection of the brains neurotransmitters, chemical will not get it done, yes CBD, did anyone see the movie, concussion, and yes I see why someone would kill themselves, the condition just wheres you down

[@yardape99]

Have you tried neuro feedback?

[@susant8809]

Where’s the info about chronic Post Concussion Syndrome for decades later ! MRIs called fNCI functional Neuro Cognitive Imaging- this isn’t readily available unless you live in SoCal

[@vanessasmook4229]

Are some cases of damage permanent. My injury hasn't got much better in 5 years. My wife says My memory has got much worse.

[@aminah761]

My symptoms r not going away I tried a lot different therapy’s

[@jaykumaraa8043]

Should these goes

[@3krun]

I was asked to see an brain specialist but I don't believe that they can do anymore than my doc has so far. He gives me a test to see if I'm drunk. Close your eyes and touch your nose. I'm not drunk. I suffer dizziness when I change my altitude...from laying to sitting to standing, moving too quickly from any position. I want to get over my concussion and brain injury but the health care people don't have a clue about my suffering. I'm of the belief right now that time is my only cure. My accident happened on sept 27th. I'll see I guess. I don't expect a response. They know less than I do.

[@TaraDavidson_OzarksArtist]

You should be grabbing quickly at ANY and ALL the help you can get. Don't allow the neurologist to end your "visit" without letting them know each and every single thing, and how deeply it has effected your life and quality of... I'm NOT kidding. I was sent to a retiring-in-2-weeks neurologist who literally told me he'd give me "Paxil, because (he'd) built (his) career on it" and he didn't even examine me!!! You're LUCKY, please do not squander ANY sort of avenue of possible help. You've no idea what they could or could not accomplish. I assure you, your regular physician does NOT know more about the brain or your injuries than an actual Brain Dr.!

[@gasaul5759]

How are you now?

[@valdo4842]

Saúl A. How are you doing?

[@Chad-bx5ukTherearenocountries]

Nobody cares except those inflicted.