Persistent Post Concussion Syndrome (PPCS)

 


If you don't use it, you lose it! After a concussion, the brain slows down due to inflammation and damage to neurons and their connections that send signals throughout the brain and body. Often symptoms appear weeks or months after the initial concussion as time as the intial damaged pathways begin to effect other regions of the brain. Compensations also occur as other parts of the brain and body increase activity to support weaker areas, fatiguing in the process. However the brain can heal! Our team of functional neurologists, occupational therapists, and nurse practitioners are expertly trained in post-concussion syndrome diagnosis and recovery. We use a neuroplastiicty approach that repairs the broken pathways in your brain that are causing signal interruption and symptoms. 

Many symptoms patients experience are due to slow communication as a result of disrupted neuropathways. These neuropathways act as roads in our brain, carrying information accurately and quickly allowing us to execute proper function and experience life symptom-free. Our Functional Neurologists are experts in healing your brain injury by locating the source of symptoms and addressing the disrupted neuropathways and their connections that occur as a result of TBI/Concussion.

Our Functional Neurologists evaluate brain function through sophisticated eye movement and balance (vestibular) testing that maps brain function, locating weaker ares and slow signaling that causes symptoms. How is this possible? Each eye movement relates to a specific part of the brain, allowing us to detect errors that we can trace back to find the origin of your disrupted neuropathways and thereby source of your symptoms. MRI's, CT and other testing only show pathology, not function. They show what HAS happened, not what IS happening. Our testing shows how well (or poorly) the brain is functioning (what IS happening). In addition, we perform tilt table testing that allows us to locate and understand exactly where the source of your autonomic dysfunction is, which is a major part of TBI/concussion/PCS. Symptoms related to persistent post-concussion syndrome are:

  • light and sound sensitivity
  • brain fog
  • slow processing
  • memory issues
  • nausea
  • headaches
  • migraines
  • eye tracking issues 
  • double vision
  • focus issues/vision changes
  • poor concentration
  • difficult looking at multiple objects at different depths
  • pupil size changes
  • eye pain
  • disorientation
  • visual lag 
  • imbalance
  • vertigo
  • dizziness
  • dizziness/light headed upon standing (Dysautonomia, POTS)
  • neck pain
  • pain at the base of the skull
  • disrupted sleep
  • emotional changes
  • easily overwhelmed in busy environments
  • digestive changes
  • Bowel/Bladder changes (often urinary urgency) associated with autonomic dysfunction

Is Chiropractic (Functional) Neurology right for me? 

We have excellent results with many post-concussion patients, using a combination of functional neurology, chiropractic care, physical rehabilitation, and Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy. Our team of Occupational Therapists, Functional Neurologists, Medical Doctors, Nurse Practitioners, Chiropractic Assistants, and friendly administative staff provide exceptional care along all levels of your problem. 

Our Functional Neurology team has extensive training in neurology, particularly in TBI. Our doctors have fellowships in concussion/mild traumatic brain injury and also in vestibular rehabilitation (vertigo/dizziness). Dysautonomia is a major part of TBI and is an area our doctors have extensive training. 

We specialize in treating difficult and complex cases. Many of our patients have tried other treatments without success, hopeless in their search to return to normalcy. Our functional neurology approach locates the root cause, looking in depth at all systems and their interactions through the complexities of the nervous system. Once we have located the problem(s), we then create a specific treatment plan to address and restore function to all of the involved structures and connections, creating complete restoration for the individual as symptoms abate.

In addition to our neurological rehabilitation, we also offer Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, both deep pressure with pure oxygen and mild pressure chambers with concentrated oxygen. Research has shown that Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy has tremendous healing effects on concussion/TBI patients and their symptoms. We've seen many miraculous recoveries with the help of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy. Our patients usually receive a combination of functional neurology rehabilitation and Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for the fastest, complete healing and return you to normal function (sometimes better!).