Comment  - “ Disappointed ”

It took forever to get in, and I was very disappointed. She simply told me that I needed to rest my brain (I have post-concussive syndrome from multiple concussions), which is the same advice I was given 11 years ago. There is much more research now. I was able to access a military TBI clinic last year, and it was extremely helpful. They are actually using the latest research and they told me last year that resting your brain is NOT the best way to recover, nor is overdoing it. They try to provide the correct balance of rest and stimulation. Dr. Neilson said she simply doesn't "believe in it." She didn't seem to care if I felt it helped me, or not, which is interesting, since they are the ones who recommended her clinic. She didn't even ask me what I felt I needed or what had been helpful in the past. I was also told, both by the military clinic and by a different neuro clinic (that I wish I had chosen, instead), that I would need neuropsych testing before being seen. She told me she would not test me until at least six months after the injury. She argued with me about the class of medication an antidepressant I am on belongs in, and she was wrong. That's kind of a big deal to me, a neurologist should know about medications affecting brain function. She was brusque, cut me off constantly, and really didn't act like she cared at all. On the positive side, she did ask me more than anyone else has about my prior concussions and she did seem to give a fairly thorough exam. However, she didn't give me much advice, I got more from my GP's office, and only got information when I asked for it, like what kinds of supplements to take and how much. I feel like I wasted two months of my life waiting for an extremely disappointing visit. I am sorry, but I felt that I knew more than she did just by doing my own research on the internet. If you have a TBI, research the most reputable studies, they should help.