Concussions

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Archived Q&A and reviews ▼

Parent Q&A

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  • Post concussive recommendations for young adult

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    May 11, 2022

    Hi, We are looking for recommendations, please, for a CBT therapist who can work with a bright, personable, articulate, 27-year-old young adult male, who is suffering with dizziness,  headaches,  and other concussion issues, after being rear-ended in an automobile accident.  Preferably in Berkeley Oakland area.

    Would also like to hear from other parents who have dealt with this issue and have had successful, positive outcomes.
    Thank you , Sean 

    May 11, 2022

    Hi Sean,

    I'm so sorry that you and your son are going through this. I've had 13 concussions in 10 years, four of them leading to post-concussion syndrome lasting about 3 months each time, but I'm also in a higher risk category (woman 40+) for lingering symptoms. I feel mostly recovered now (just can't do back-to-back online meetings, but then probably no one should do that anyway).

    I didn't try CBT. However, I found a free support group, facilitated by a great neuropsychologist, that helped me tremendously with developing coping strategies. It met on Pill Hill, then I heard it was on Zoom during the pandemic. I still keep in touch with a friend I made there.

    From the website: 
    "The Brain Injury Life Skills Group provides a supportive environment and education for individuals with brain injuries to work through feelings of isolation, confusion and despair. The group provides strategies for dealing with memory loss, decreased attention and concentration, anger and depression, communication and social skills, emotional stress and isolation."

    Best wishes for a resilient recovery,
    Anna

    May 18, 2022

  • AP level tutoring for H.S. junior with persistent concussion

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    Nov 4, 2021

    Hi,

    Our high school junior has had a persistent concussion since July with the main symptom a sort of disequilibrium (the world moves while she stays still, sort of like when you get on land after being on the ocean for a while) with accompanying issues dealing with noise, motion, and computer screens, as well as sustaining focus for long periods. The school has allowed her to have a reduced schedule so she can heal, and she's showing slow but steady progress. She is in several AP classes, however, and the reduced schedule which is helping her heal, is also having the unfortunate effect of causing her to miss an uncertain amount of foundational material. She's doing her best to keep up through textbook reading, working with her teachers, etc., but we think we're at the point where she could effectively work with the right tutor to really get solid on the material. The three courses she's anxious about, in order, are: AP chemistry, honors math (I'm completely confused by the Albany High math curriculum so only know it's the one right before AP A/B Calc), and AP Spanish. Ideally, we'd love to find someone who: (a) she could start working with by the Thanksgiving break; and (b) who could work with her to minimize symptom onset, so probably in-person instead of online. I wish we could have started asking for recommendations sooner, but she just hasn't been ready before this. We'd really appreciate any advice you might have for us.

    Thanks!

    Nov 4, 2021

    I'm so sorry to hear that your daughter has persistent concussion, and during her junior year no less.

    I'm going to encourage you to reconsider increasing your daughter's work load by introducing a tutor, and consider dropping or delaying some of her load while her symptoms, particularly around ability to focus, remain. I imagine this is hard to hear during her junior year, yet her long-term brain health is at stake. I highly recommend you speak with her doctor and possibly a neurologist before increasing her work load or stress.

    In May, I was in a car accident from which I sustained a concussion. My doctor set the healing expectation of seeing significant improvement within six months (or do the next round of neurological tests) and at least a year before feeling fully like myself again. I'm almost six months in and was feeling much better. I have been slowly increasing my work load and it was going ok. Then, it wasn't. My symptoms have flared. I've had to cut back again. When my daughter had a severe concussion a number of years ago, this happened to her as well. She didn't tell me and kept going. Several years later, she continues to have headache flares that she believes are a result of the concussion. 

    Concussion healing is not linear. It's takes time and rest to heal. It's a lot of adding on then scaling back. The symptoms are real and like trying to walk with a broken bone in your foot, it significantly slows healing and may never fully heal if it's pushed. It's a hard thing to hear when your daughter is in the critical junior year of high school, yet she has a lifetime ahead of her. Again, I encourage you to work with her doctor through the process.

    BTW: acupuncture has been helpful to me in relieving persistent dizziness and disequilibrium. 

    Nov 8, 2021

    Deaar parent,

    I don't have a suggestion about a tutor, but my heart goes out to your daughter dealing with her post-concussion symptoms. If your daughter hasn't yet had a vestibular oculator motor screening with a physical therapist, this might be helpful.  This looks at the systems in charge of integrating balance, vision, and movement. There are exercises that a PT can teach her to do at home.  

    Best of luck in your daughter's recovery and her studies.

    Nov 8, 2021

  • Child psychologist: extended concussion symptoms / headache management

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    Jul 5, 2018

    My 8-year old son received a concussion three months ago and has lingering headache symptoms. His excellent doctor and physical therapist at Oakland Children's recommend we talk to a psychologist about post-concussion syndrome. I am wondering if anyone has dealt with this particular issue, or just has a wonderful child psychologist they recommend, who can get us pointed in the right direction.

    Jul 5, 2018

    I recommend you look up Eric Freitag, PhD. We found him very helpful. He’s a psychologist who specializes in concussions and children.  

    Jul 11, 2018

    You might talk to Dr Arrillaga to see if he'd be a fit. Concussion was the main reason my teen sought his care. He also does neuro testing.

    https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/christopher-arrillaga-ber…

    Jul 11, 2018

    This might not be what you're looking for, but have you considered a DO who does cranial osteopathy?  If my child suffered from a concussion that's the first place I would go.  You can learn more here: 

    https://cranialacademy.org

    This is additional training that DOs (Doctors of Osteopathy) take (and very different from sacral-cranial therapists, who have only 24 hrs of training). DOs, like MDs, have unlimited medical license to practice.  You can learn more about osteopathy here: http://www.margaretsorrel.com/osteopathy.html We took our son to Dr Sorrel when she was in the Bay Area (she's now in Santa Rosa) and I believe it helped.  If a blow to the head isn't a good thing it stands to reason that any gentle work to help the skull bones "reset" to their proper place can help with healing: reduce the inflammatory response, allow for draining (scientists have discovered the brain has a lymphatic system, and cranial osteos are well trained to aid in promoting needed drainage).  It's a biomechanical response to a biomechanical injury.  At the least, it won't do any harm- the manual manipulation is very gentle- feels like a light massage.

    More on osteopathy and concussions:

    http://jaoa.org/article.aspx?articleID=2498831

    https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/03/160328084859.htm for a 2nd study.

    HTH,

    Jul 12, 2018

    Hi, I have personally experienced post-concussion syndrome, and still have some lingering effects. I can't recommend a pediatric specialist, but I can recommend an excellent, empathic  neurologist--Dr Selena Ellis. And an exceptionally smart and empathetic neuropsychologist--Tom Van Vleet (tomvanvleet [at] gmail.com would be the best way to reach him)--whose research and practice is in TBI and post-concussion effects. They have been very helpful for me. I also used a speech therapist and an occupational therapist through Alta Bates for a short time. Tom is really only available Wednesdays, and he does not take insurance, but he can bill you and you can submit bills to your insurance if they take out-of-network providers.

    I can go on ad nauseam about how difficult PCS and related symptoms can be, and how other symptoms can be linked. Dr. Ellis will evaluate him thoroughly (she helped me understand all that I was experiencing). If your son's only lingering symptom is headache, I can guess that he probably needs more cognitive rest--in the form of naps, more sleep, no electronics, and maybe just time in a (darkened) room with no noise or other stimulation, trying not to think. All the professionals I saw told me that if I experienced symptoms (e.g., confusion, drowsiness, headaches), it was because I had already overtaxed my brain and should have stopped to rest already. So any neuro-professional may give your son similar advice. Cognitive rest is really the only way to recover. 

    Tom & Dr Ellis would be helpful in fully assessing and advising him. If they don't take children as patients, I'm sure they can refer you to someone else.

    The only other thing I can offer, if you're still looking for more, is that the daughter of a friend of mine suffered a concussion playing soccer. Her club had the right protocol (this is how I first learned that I'd been given bad advice from the ER). She's in the south bay, but I could ask her if she took her daughter to a neurologist or other specialist, and whether she went to a pediatric specialist. Her daughter was on a very limited school schedule for about 3 months, and I think it was a month or more before she was allowed to listen to music or watch TV. 

    Good luck. Tell him he will likely start feeling better soon, especially if he rests!! The first 3-6 months can be the most difficult. I'm told recovery is quicker with kids, but for me the first 3 months were horrible, and I didn't see any real improvement until about 6 months. My headaches began to diminish in about 6 months, and it was about a year before I could say my head didn't hurt most or much of the time. The rest I forced myself to take was the most helpful; probably good if your son can get as much as possible before school starts. It's surprising what can be exhausting, so the need for rest can be subtle. The first day I went back into the office, just seeing and talking to people was so exhausting I went home and slept 18 hours! (I'm normally an extrovert and an insomniac.)

    I hope this helps. Please contact the moderator if you'd like me to talk to you further.

    Jul 16, 2018

    Hi again, just wanted to provide some more direct information. The therapist who has been helping is Alissa Blackman MFT on 66th and Telegraph. Johanna's contact is johanna.ortis [at] gmail.com and 510.303.3197. She can explain more why at this stage it has been an MFT who has helped the most, and the other approaches and therapies they tried along the way. All the best, Elizabeth

    Jul 18, 2018

    I really appreciate these specific and thorough recommendations.

    The symptoms seem to have resolved for the moment, but I am keeping all of this information on file for the time being.

    Many thanks!!!

    Jenny

    Jul 31, 2018

Archived Q&A and Reviews

Post-concussion syndrome

Sept 2010

Hello, I was in a car accident about a month ago and am still suffering from post-concussion syndrome. (I was rear-ended coming off the freeway - I did not hit my head but had major whiplash.) I am pretty out of commission with total lack of energy, memory problems and problems with cognitive function. I am seeing a cranial sacral therapist, chiropractor and accupuncturist. But aside from brain rest, there really is no treatment. It can take weeks to months to get over this. I would like to hear from someone who has been through this before (who is now over it). I have never met or talked to anyone who has been through this. Thanks, M

A friend of ours, Jane McGonigal, had post-concussion syndrome and turned her recovery process into an amazing chronic illness/injury game called Super Better. She is a game designer by trade, and the results were remarkable - she totally destroyed her concussion symptoms. Here's her ignite topic on the subject: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZztLac0Q1EI&feature=player_embedded And here is her blog post outlining the process: http://blog.avantgame.com/2009/09/super-better-or-how-to-turn-recovery.html The game includes ways to recruit your family or friends to help, fight your symptoms, limit suffering, keep positive, and move forward with recovery. Best of luck. Jess L.

Hi, I saw your post and can relate for a couple of reasons. I had a major concusion as a child that took a long time to fully recover from. When you receive trauma to the brain stem, either through impact or some form of stress like a whiplash, you can have lasting symptoms due to the inflamation of the brain stem. Even after healing physically it may seem that things are not as they used to be. Symptoms generally get better over time, but not always. Symptoms are wide ranging. Your sensory systems are processed in this part of the brain, so it makes sense that things may seem different as this is how you relate with the physical world. The therapies that you mentioned have been effective for some people and I fully understand your frustration for something more. bryan

Pre-teen with post-concussion syndrome

Feb 2009

My daughter is 12 and is suffering horribly from post concussion syndrome (severe CONSTANT headache that lasts for months) from a head injury last November. No medicine seems to help make it go away. After many doctor visits and a diagnosis that in time the headaches will fade we are now hoping to find someone who may have suffered the same condition so that we can learn more. It would also be great if my daughter could talk to someone who has been through this and has come out of it so she know it WILL end. We are looking for hope. Please let me know if you have any experiences to share and please pass this on to anyone you can think of. Thank you so so much k.

Sounds like the concussion caused migraine. You may be able to reduce pain by avoiding migraine triggers like bright lights, perfume, air fresheners, natural gas, chocolate, etc. More info here: http://www.relieve-migraine-headache.com/migraine-triggers.html anon