You are not alone.
My concussion and path to migraine surgery
Anyone who has suffered a traumatic brain injury understands that no two concussions are alike and that it can silently change your life in ways that are difficult and hard to understand. My concussion created extreme vision difficulties, daily migraine-like headaches, anxiety and insomnia. I also had extreme pain in the back of my head and neck. My path to understanding that in addition to trauma to my brain, I had trauma to the nerves in the back of my head and neck that continued to get worse with time. It took me a long time to discover this because of the complexities of concussions when accompanied with migraines. But, I found Dr. Peled in San Francisco and after my migraine surgery, I finally found relief from my pain. I share the following information simply as my personal experience and in no way can indicate if any of this will help your unique concussion, migraine or nerve injury.
Concussion
There has been tremendous advancement in the treatment of concussions. But, not all doctors are trained in the latest research so it is best to talk to a specialist. I found that seeing a neuropsychologist was most helpful because they often specialize in full concussion symptoms and treatment options. In Colorado, I visited Dr. Alissa Wicklund at the Regional Concussion Center in Fort Collins.
Visual Dysfunction
Often visual problems resulting from concussions are overlooked during initial treatment. Frequently these problems are hidden and neglected, lengthening and impairing rehabilitation. Vision is the most important source of sensory information. Symptoms include blurry vision, reading difficulties, sensitivity to light and comprehension difficulties. I saw two different nuero-optometrists in Colorado Springs: Dr. Watt at Impact Vision Therapy and Dr. Saxerud at Pine Creek Vision.
Post Concussion Migraine
Many people suffer headaches or migraines after a concussion. In fact, it is the most common and persistent symptom people will experience. There are many factors that may be at play, including previous headache history, whiplash injury, and nerve injury. For complex headaches or migraines that aren’t going away, consult a headache neurologist. I saw Dr. Judy Lane at Blue Sky Neurology in Denver.
Migraine Surgery
Migraine surgery is the name used but it is actually occipital nerve decompression surgery. While this is the extreme and rare result from concussion and whiplash, it can be the most important if you suffer from debilitating headaches and neck pain. I was in so much pain that I could only sit on my couch and close my eyes all day for about 10 months. I tried everything to relieve the pain but it was Dr. Peled in San Francisco who finally provided me relief.