|
|
Post by magentapea on Oct 9, 2015 21:51:39 GMT
In May, DS (13) fell down a flight of stairs and suffered a concussion. He was seeing a specialist and an occupational therapist all summer. At the end of August, the Dr. gave him the clearance to return to his normal activities. DS and I asked if that included trying out for the football team. Dr. said yes (surprisingly) because DS "didn't get hurt playing football."
DS is on the football team. Last week Friday at school, he reached over in his desk to pick up a pencil from the floor. The desk flipped on him and he hit his head against the concrete block wall. He came home with a headache and skipped football practice that day. He complained about a headache and was "groggy" over the weekend. Monday he skipped practice again and came right home after school - still acting a little "off" (similar to after he fell down the stairs, but not as bad). Kept him home Tuesday. Called the dr. on Wednesday, they said he could fit him in today but to keep him home from school the rest of the week.
We go to the dr. today and he basically said my kid is lying! He said he wants him to go have a neuro-psych exam because he (dr) doesn't know if it is real or imagined. Really? Similar symptoms to the first time, a known incident occurred, and you think he "has a distorted view of the truth." Then he said that he might as well have him get an MRI to make sure there's nothing wonky going on. And, get this - he didn't tell him that he had to quit the team. Basically, if DS wants to play, let him. WTF? He doesn't want to see him until after the neuro-psych eval, which they are scheduling out 6-8 weeks!
Sorry, I guess this turned into a major vent. I am just frustrated for my kid, who very much wants to be back playing football and feeling 100%. At least he has a good sense of humor about this because all day he has been joking about how he can say, "I'm not crazy. My mother had me tested."
|
|
|
|
Post by gritzi on Oct 9, 2015 21:56:36 GMT
I would be questioning the Dr. evaluation / decision while also urgently seeking a 2nd opinion with a reputable concussion specialist.
|
|
|
|
Post by nurseypants on Oct 9, 2015 22:02:44 GMT
I guess I don't understand why you care what the doctor thinks about football. It's your decision, not his.
|
|
|
|
Post by christine58 on Oct 9, 2015 22:02:46 GMT
Get a second opinion...and he'd be done playing football....your doctor sounds like an ass
|
|
melissa
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,912 
|
Post by melissa on Oct 9, 2015 22:04:22 GMT
What kind of doctor is this?
|
|
|
|
Post by freecharlie on Oct 9, 2015 22:11:13 GMT
Does the school not have someone to do the impact testing on him?
Here kids have yo do impact testing before they can play any sport. If you have even a suspected concussion, you retake the test. If you fail, you can't play until you pass and then are cleared by a doctor.
If you pass the 1st time, it is the parents decision on whether they see the doctor or not.
|
|
|
|
Post by crimsoncat05 on Oct 9, 2015 22:12:55 GMT
your doctor DOES sound like an ass! I'd get your DS's medical file and find a second opinion.
It's one thing for the doctor to say he could play because was healed sufficiently from the May incident, but for the doctor to say he can play because 'the injury didn't happen during football?' That's all sorts of stupid, right there.
|
|
|
|
Post by anniefb on Oct 9, 2015 22:37:54 GMT
Get a second opinion...and he'd be done playing football....your doctor sounds like an ass yeah this ^^ |
|
|
|
Post by snappinsami on Oct 9, 2015 23:25:09 GMT
Yikes... I agree with what the others have said about your doctor, his saying your son could play football because his first concussion didn't happen on the field, and that you should get a second opinion.
I, unfortunately, have way too much experience with concussion. DD had one in fall 2013 (she was just 13) on the soccer field. Missed a few days of school, but nothing big. Fast forward 12 months, almost to the day. Another concussion during another soccer game. This one was SO much worse. Well, the concussion itself wasn't, but the symptoms were. She was, like your son, groggy a lot, and in constant pain. She said it "hurt to think." It was horrible seeing her suffer like that.
Our family doctor recommended that she see a neurologist. After hearing how both happened, he strongly recommended that DD "retire" from soccer. It was a shame... Erin loved it and was quite good. But her health had to come first. An MRI showed that there wasn't anything else going on that we had to worry about. It was just going to take time for her to heal.
Long story short, Erin missed 5 weeks of school right at the beginning of her freshman year of high school. It sucked, to say the least. But I was so glad that I had doctors that I trusted to guide us through it all.
So yes, like the others have said, I'd get another doctor involved ASAP. If YOU don't think he should play football anymore, or at least for a while, it's YOUR decision. If it were my son, he'd be off the field for a year, at least.
I do hope he's feeling better soon. And big (((HUGS))) to you as well.
|
|
|
|
Post by originalvanillabean on Oct 9, 2015 23:27:28 GMT
Second opinion.
|
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
May 5, 2024 23:09:26 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 9, 2015 23:32:09 GMT
First I would get a second opinion, then after son is taken care of, I would report the Dr. What an ass.
|
|
Sarah*H
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,977
|
Post by Sarah*H on Oct 10, 2015 1:58:44 GMT
If he has a baseline of either of the two standard concussion tests, it should be easy enough to figure out what's going on. It seems really odd that a concussion doctor wouldn't do that first.
|
|
|
|
Post by pierkiss on Oct 10, 2015 2:50:42 GMT
You need a different doctor.
|
|
|
|
Post by 950nancy on Oct 10, 2015 3:01:23 GMT
My kid had a serious concussion in 2012. Still has negative effects from it. He has tremors and psychological effects. What someone should have told you after the first concussion is that a second concussion within six months to a year compounds the situation. It can be life altering and oftentimes the second concussion can kill you. While most concussions are not this bad, some are. I am not sure what your doctor is thinking and don't tend to think that he is a quack because I don't agree with him. I would think that this doctor has seen something similar to this and wondering if your son has it too. That being said, I would see a second doctor about this. Brain issues are so very difficult to measure. My poor kid has been through MRIs, CT scans, acupuncture and this summer just got an evaluation from a neuro psych. That was $3,500. Is a sport worth it? You guys have to make that decision.
|
|
|
|
Post by 950nancy on Oct 10, 2015 3:02:45 GMT
My kid had a serious concussion in 2012. Still has negative effects from it. He has tremors and psychological effects. What someone should have told you after the first concussion is that a second concussion within six months to a year compounds the situation. It can be life altering and oftentimes the second concussion can kill you. While most concussions are not this bad, some are. I am not sure what your doctor is thinking and don't tend to think that he is a quack because I don't agree with him. I would think that this doctor has seen something similar to this and wondering if your son has it too. That being said, I would see a second doctor about this. Brain issues are so very difficult to measure. My poor kid has been through MRIs, CT scans, acupuncture and this summer just got an evaluation from a neuro psych. That was $3,500. Is a sport worth it? You guys have to make that decision. My husband was the one who got this testing into our city. He ran the baseline tests on my son. Even with those you cannot be too careful. |
|
|
|
Post by dizzycheermom on Oct 10, 2015 4:40:42 GMT
Just a note about the impact testing. My daughter had one the summer before freshman year as she was on the HS cheer team. She got a pretty severe concussion in September, and actually scored better on the test with the concussion. Luckily she was already seeing a concussion specialist and we have a great athletic trainer so it was just a formality. She took several with the concussion specialist and of course a final one with the trainer to be cleared, but scored better every time.
|
|
|
|
Post by LavenderLayoutLady on Oct 10, 2015 9:07:34 GMT
I would be questioning the Dr. evaluation / decision while also urgently seeking a 2nd opinion with a reputable concussion specialist. All of this! I would not trust that doctor's opinion on my child's medical care any longer. |
|
|
|
Post by Really Red on Oct 10, 2015 10:59:05 GMT
My lord! How old is this doctor? I'm serious. With what we know and hear about brain injuries, he sounds like he has read/learned nothing. As a parent of three athletes, I take concussions seriously. I would expect my doctor to as well. Please do like others have suggested and get a second opinion. And don't go back to the original doctor.
|
|
|
|
Post by Patter on Oct 10, 2015 11:18:59 GMT
I would definitely be getting a 2nd opinion and moving to a new doctor (a neurologist). One of my daughters suffered a severe concussion from a middle school activity where her head was hit on concrete. Within 3 months she was hit in the head by a girl in the locker room that then knocked my daughter down, and she hit her head on the ground. She then ended up with post concussive syndrome and was out of school her entire 7th grade year. A lot of docs do not "believe" there is such a thing as post concussive syndrome. I am here to tell you there is, and my daughter suffered greatly. I ended up homeschooling 8-12th grades after that incident. She is now a junior in college and doing great but concussions are nothing to mess with especially with a 2nd hit so soon after the initial injury. Hugs to you, and praying you find the right doctor.
|
|
|
|
Post by magentapea on Oct 10, 2015 11:25:35 GMT
Thanks, everyone, for the responses.
The Dr. is a concussion specialist - I'm told he is one of the best in the area. DS did have some kind of computerized testing done after his first concussion (I think it was the impact testing?). He had it repeated prior to his being released from the doctor's care the first time.
DS is done with football. He knows that, I know that, his coach knows that. He won't be returning. I told him it was a good thing he played almost an entire half of his last game because that was his career ending swan song.
I think I am just more upset by the fact that he basically called my kid a liar. I know teenagers lie. I know my DS lies. I know he is NOT lying about this. He is an "A" student in all advanced classes. He has an active social life, a good level of self-esteem without being cocky, and a great sense of humor. He doesn't want to feel like this - "it hurts to think" and "I don't get it" or "I can't remember" are all very frustrating to him.
DS is scheduled for an MRI so I guess we will just see what happens with that. I am going to call his pediatrician and see what he says, too.
|
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
May 5, 2024 23:09:26 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 10, 2015 11:56:24 GMT
That kind of worries me -- is the doctor a neurologist? You might be wise to see one if your son is saying that it hurts to think.
You're smart for putting an end to the football, and I hope your son heals quickly.
|
|
Sarah*H
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,977
|
Post by Sarah*H on Oct 10, 2015 14:14:19 GMT
An MRI doesn't show a concussion. You really need to find a different concussion doctor. To not give him a comparative IMPact test and just say he is lying is ridiculous. FWIW, my don's pediatrician said essentially the same think when ds presented with his 2nd concussion in 6 months. Luckily, we got him back to his concussion doctor anyway and he was properly diagnosed.
|
|
|
|
Post by ktdoesntscrap on Oct 10, 2015 14:24:37 GMT
Get a second opinion...and he'd be done playing football....your doctor sounds like an ass yeah this ^^ Absolutely this! ^^^^ |
|
|
|
Post by anxiousmom on Oct 10, 2015 14:48:46 GMT
He may be one of the best concussion doctors, but he sure isn't listening to y'all. Why does it matter if he thinks your son is lying, what on earth kind of benefit does he think your son is angling for?
I was so lucky in the beginning of my parenting to find a pediatrician who had just had a baby of her own. Her feeling was that you, as the parent, have an instinctual understanding of your own child that isn't always obvious to others at first glance. She would actually listen to what I had to say, even the parts about 'I can't put my finger on it, but this is what is happening and it doesn't seem normal.' It made a huge difference in the relationship I had with the boy's doctor and how I dealt with their medical care.
As your son's mother, you have that instinctual understanding of your son. The doctor didn't listen to you or your son. Even if there was nothing wrong in the long run, the fact that the doctor not only didn't listen, he dismissed your concerns out of hand and went a step further to lay the blame for that dismissal at the feet of teenager. That right there is reason to seek a second opinion.
|
|
|
|
Post by Patter on Oct 10, 2015 15:17:54 GMT
An MRI doesn't show a concussion. You really need to find a different concussion doctor. To not give him a comparative IMPact test and just say he is lying is ridiculous. FWIW, my don's pediatrician said essentially the same think when ds presented with his 2nd concussion in 6 months. Luckily, we got him back to his concussion doctor anyway and he was properly diagnosed. Yes, totally agreet that you need a different concussion doctor. Is he a neurologist? Your son really needs to see a neurologist IMO. Attitude alone with that doc would make me leave not to mention everything else. |
|
