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Car accident and Mild TBI/Post concussion and Uncontrollable Cying...HELP please!!!

I had a auto accident, w/ memory loss/concussion. 2/2011, so almost a yr. ago.Released from ER that day. My doc mentioned I have a Mild TBI and congnitive therapy would maybe help. I finally found(had to do this on my own) that what I really need to visit is a Neuropsychologist , who could give me a QEEG OR AN EEG?? I ended up w/ a neck back injury. I was very athletic prior and I am deeply depressed, I just started take anti-depressants a month ago. But, the crying thing has been since day one. I can't seem to control it any way. My reg.neuro and docs just kinda waived it of has a post concussion syndrome,depression or PTSD. I do suffer badly from ptsd. I don't understand it's not like I'm sitting alone crying(although I do that too) It is like, I'll be talking and just start crying. I have no control over my emotions??? I also feel my cognitive skills are slow. I have a hard time, when looking at a weekly planner at the physical therapist office , juggling what days I'm available....like I feel so stupid, I always say,"umm, just give me a minute, to gather myself"  Does anyone know what I'm talking about? Is this the right board for this question? I can't get in to see a therapist till March, I know I should have done that sooner.....I'm even thinking about hypnosis? I hate my life right now. I starting to avoid people because of feeling(crying) this way.  
To make things harder the insurance co. denied my IME for Neurology, a few months back. All the Neuo did was make me nervous and give me reflex tests and ask about headaches....nothing was asked about my cognitive abilities and to add another thing, I have a hard time w/ my writing skills, I invert words or leave out letters. I had to proof read this post and everything I write. Hoping someone has some insight on all this, the crying thing is so bothersome to me and I can't explain to my little kids.

Thank you for reading and peace.
Hoping someone has some answers or insight
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Avatar universal
Yah, I hear you.  And I completely understand about the diff user id thing, no problem, remember I'm confused too!!  Ummm, I will tell you one story for me, as relates to TRYing to get proper treatment and relief from my car wreck.  I had finally started going back to orthopedists and neuros to help me with this huge discomfort I had going with my back and all, and it seemed like whomever I saw did not want to give me any medicine for my pain.  So, I go to my psych after seeing one each of those docs, I was crying and upset the docs were more interested in getting me the hell outta there than helping me, and I had SO many problems and so much discomfort I really couldn't stand it anymore.  

Well, my psych knows me very well, she knows I'm honest, and have been dealing with all sorts of wild and crazy things from my back that had been fractured in three places and was all deformed and such, and SHE is the one who prescribed me a pain drug that helped me!  Eventually I had my neuro take it over.  And do you know, a number of years have passed since then, I tell this same neuro I'm having more problems again, and AGAIN he's putting me off.  Well, I'm gonna raise some hell at my next appointment with him, I see him every six months, becuz now he's got my MRI that shows some degenerative changes in the lower back where it hurts now, and so I'll need to have SOMEthing to deal wtih that.  I guess I'll just have a nervous breakdown right in his office if he doesn't offer some substantial pain control for me.  

I just think half these docs have never had the kind of pain you and I have and apparently don't have any real sense of how it ruins our sense of well-being, not to mention quality of life.  I cannot even go for a simple walk in my yard without my back giving out!  Maybe my doc is just making me hold out as long as I can.  SIGH.  Well, let's hope you and I both find the help we so desperately need, it's a scary thing to have all these pains and problems and no one seems to care.  Well, if it's any consolation GirileThirdeye, I CARE.  GG
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Avatar universal
Hi, first...don't want to come off as a nut, I was starting a new profile, so I could have a separate email for just Med Help emails. It clogs my reg. email. Anyway, I had my other email open when I saw your return post and just sent back the reply w/o logging out of the new med help account. Errr, makes me sound strange. Just trying to find a way to organize emails and stay informed w/ medhelp at the same time.
I did have a CT scan in the ER after the accident, just got the normal concussion release form(careful sleeping, vomiting, blah, blah) I've had a few concussions in my life, so I know the story. So I thought, but I was also in such pain in the back and neck(ribs and knee at ER) that the head was not a first concern. I was told to go to follow up w/ my reg. doc and she did send me for brain,cervical, lumbar MRI's. Brain didn't come w/ anything unusual, but a small pineal cyst(which, I've had two more brain mri's to follow up w/ that cyst and there was no growth and I just need to go one more time in the next year) the cyst was just a random thing I would have never known about if I didn't have an accident. It is common and means nothing, unless there is growth is what I was told.
Anyway, that is the reason I was told to see a Neuropsychologist testing because not everything, mild tbi's don't really even show up on ct scans(they're looking for brain bleed in the ER) not everything show's up on MRI's either. I never knew this till I did the research and have been put through hell this year. As far has the denied neuro, that is typical....from what I am told. The insurance co. doesn't want to pay for anything they can get away w/ having a SHADY ime(independent med. exam) doctor easily deny. Back/neck herniations not so easy from them to deny. The Neuro just had me do standard reflex/light test, I was in there for 10 mi. ,maybe asked if I get headaches. It such slick business, but I do also get it....keeps the fakers from racking up all our insurance rates. But not fair to the people who need/deserve help. I live NY(I think 1 of 8 "no-fault" states) it has different laws. It was 100% the other drivers fault, but she had no insurance. It changes a lot. It is very unfair, but lately the fight just puts all the more stress on me and keeping me from healing. I'm just letting my doctors and their doctors battle it all out, I refuse to pay any bill that has to do w/ this accident. I have lawyer for this reason. When/if there is a pay out it will be a joke, cause this idiot had no insurance and walked away for the scene w/ just a fail to yield ticket...so far. I have been broker than broke at some times, esp. earlier in life, but I always paid my insurance or I'd take a bus or get a ride. It's criminal, but in NY it doesn't matter.  Thanks again for your help and concern.
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Avatar universal
Dear GirlieThirdEye,
What gets to me about your situation is how that neurologist basically brushed you off.  And yet you were in a car accident, you had a concussion, you have a neck and back injury, you have memory loss as noted by your regular doc, you have no control over crying spells that happen without any trigger, and when you write things you mix up words and leave out letters, and you're depressed, too.  That's a whole RAFT of symptoms that apparently the neuro did not take any time to discuss with you.  

I do know this, sometimes right after a car accident, they'll do a scan at the hospital, for example, but when it comes to things like a bleed or bruise, sometimes it won't show up until a day or two later.  So, I do think whomever you wind up seeing for all this should at least do a new CT scan, just to make sure there's not some problem in your brain that makes you cry all the time and all this other.

I thought it was great you were getting some alternative medicine type help for your symptoms.  I remember when my back worsened significantly as I aged, I got to where I could hardly walk because my muscles had tightened up from all the discomfort I was in.  I saw a Rolfing Massage Therapist who in two visits got all my muscles back in pretty good running order.  I am a little shy, tho, and I need to go see one again, perhaps not Rolfing but maybe just a simple deep Swedish massage for a few visits.  I'm just happy to hear you are getting some positive results from your special therapy!  GG
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2006751 tn?1327806466
whoopsie, That comment is from me thirdeye33, I guess I posted from an old account.
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2006751 tn?1327806466
Thanks for listening and giving a better understanding of what I have ahead. I'm just waiting approval from the car insurance to get in for the eval w/ a Neuropsychologist. My PM doc was real concerned about my memory, appetite and weight loss, so he said he also calling the insurance co. and revoking the denied IME for neuro. Meanwhile, I found a holistic massage/acupuncturist who uses infrared therapy, slide cupping and Amma massage on my head, its to balance the flow of energy. I don't know, but its been almost year since the accident and after two sessions with this doctor, I'm feeling hopeful again :)
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Avatar universal
http://www.bing.com/health/article/mayo-MAMY00194/Cognitive-behavioral-therapy?q=cognitive+therapy

Just to backtrack a little, I wanted to give you a link that sort of explains what that cognitive therapy was your docs originally talked about.  I went thru that type of behavioral therapy becuz of fear of cars from a car wreck, I'm good now.  It just helps you identify, manage and deal with stressful stuff.

I can tell you that when you have injured yourself, especially the spine, that pain will drive you to distraction, that's for sure.  And the frustration and pain will make you feel super sad or depressed, as you say.  I'm in a daze much of the time, I cannot think straight but maybe an hour each day.  I also cry a lot, my eyes are filled with tears no matter where I might be, but for whatever reason, it doesn't bother me.  Most of the people I come in contact with know about my situation, I'm disabled, I'm older, so what the heck, I can be tearful.  And forgettabout my handwriting skills, right down the drain.  All because of pain and stress over what it's done to me.

Oh, I get medicines for it, things are generally under control.  I'll be getting a new back brace soon, a change in one of my drugs since I have new pain in another part of my back.  I have a neuro who watches over me and a psychiatrist.  If I could just get into walking, it helps to "get in the zone" with activity.  But it all hurts almost too much to try.  I don't know how much pain you're in, but by golly if you feel it, it's going to really wreck your day.  So, my suggestion is to ask your regular doc to help you with pain control, if you are very much bothered by it.  

I also think there's a chance your spontaneous crying just might have to do with your old brain injury, could be a simple CT scan (I hate MRIs) just might show that you have a little bruise that is doing this, so while they won't be able to do much about it, might give you some consolation, not to mention maybe a disability claim of some sort, altho that's a whole another world to deal with.  But anytime you have a concussion, it's going to bother you, and anytime your spine has been injured, it's also going to bother you.  Let your regular doc give you a checkup, make sure all your bloodwork is okay, could be stress has drained some of your vits and minerals.  Those would be my thoughts.
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