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What Causes Post Concussive Syndrome?
Question: I had a concussion 4 weeks ago and have since been diagnosed with Post Connive Syndrome. Yesterday I passed out. this is the first time this has happened. Can this happen with the PCS?
Brief Answer:
Post concussive syndrome
Detailed Answer:
Good morning. If you are actually losing consciousness then,NO PCS is not a great explanation for that type of clinical picture. You should report that event immediately to yoiur doctor or treating neurologist because you should undergo and examination and possibly an MRI of the brain to be sure you residual damage or collections of fluid/subdural hematoma etc. have accumulated in the skull leading to increased pressure or some other phenomenon causing you to pass out.
Other things to consider would be both ORTHOSTATIC BLOOD PRESSURE which can occur as a result of a severe blow to the head as well as a seizure disorder which commonly accompanies traumatic head injuries. Also, if you were given any medications to control blood pressure, calm down nerves/anxieties, or treating headches then, the medications themselves could be causing the passing spells as well.
If I've provided useful and helpful information to your questions could you do me a huge favor by CLOSING THE QUERY and be sure to include some fine words of feedback along with a 5 STAR rating? Again, many thanks for submitting your inquiry and please let me know how things turn out.
Do not forget to contact me in the future at: www.bit.ly/drdariushsaghafi for additional questions, comments, or concerns having to do with this topic or others.
This query has utilized a total of 15 minutes of professional time in research, review, and synthesis for the purpose of formulating a return statement.
Post concussive syndrome
Detailed Answer:
Good morning. If you are actually losing consciousness then,NO PCS is not a great explanation for that type of clinical picture. You should report that event immediately to yoiur doctor or treating neurologist because you should undergo and examination and possibly an MRI of the brain to be sure you residual damage or collections of fluid/subdural hematoma etc. have accumulated in the skull leading to increased pressure or some other phenomenon causing you to pass out.
Other things to consider would be both ORTHOSTATIC BLOOD PRESSURE which can occur as a result of a severe blow to the head as well as a seizure disorder which commonly accompanies traumatic head injuries. Also, if you were given any medications to control blood pressure, calm down nerves/anxieties, or treating headches then, the medications themselves could be causing the passing spells as well.
If I've provided useful and helpful information to your questions could you do me a huge favor by CLOSING THE QUERY and be sure to include some fine words of feedback along with a 5 STAR rating? Again, many thanks for submitting your inquiry and please let me know how things turn out.
Do not forget to contact me in the future at: www.bit.ly/drdariushsaghafi for additional questions, comments, or concerns having to do with this topic or others.
This query has utilized a total of 15 minutes of professional time in research, review, and synthesis for the purpose of formulating a return statement.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
1 week after concussion, the Dr put me on prednisone for neck and shoulder pain. I also take Plavix, Prozac, asprin, Lipitor and buspar. I developed blurry vision, confusion, trouble putting words together and confusion. Could the prednisone be the cause of these effects and not Post Concussion Syndrome. My last 20 mg prednisone was a week ago. Can I still have effects from that?
Brief Answer:
Steroid side effects
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for the repeat question.
In fact, for persons who have never had steroids before then, many of the symptoms you mention could in fact, be side effects of the medication, however, it is not common and therefore, if you were my patient I might exercise caution as the doctor and not simply assume these were side effects.....especially if the last dose of 20mg. was 1 week ago. That particular dose is not considered terribly high and if it were going to cause such side effects I'd've expected the symptoms to occur rather quickly with respect to taking the dose and dissipated if you've not taken anything else for a week. The combination of the steroid with the other medications should not cause too much difficult either.
If I were your doctor and you did not resolve these symptoms in the next 24 hrs. I might highly recommend you get either a CT of the head or an MRI just to rule out an unnoticed bleed or other intracranial defect.
If I've provided useful and helpful information to your questions could you do me a huge favor by CLOSING THE QUERY and be sure to include some fine words of feedback along with a 5 STAR rating? Again, many thanks for submitting your inquiry and please let me know how things turn out.
Do not forget to contact me in the future at: www.bit.ly/drdariushsaghafi for additional questions, comments, or concerns having to do with this topic or others.
This query has utilized a total of 21 minutes of professional time in research, review, and synthesis for the purpose of formulating a return statement.
Steroid side effects
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for the repeat question.
In fact, for persons who have never had steroids before then, many of the symptoms you mention could in fact, be side effects of the medication, however, it is not common and therefore, if you were my patient I might exercise caution as the doctor and not simply assume these were side effects.....especially if the last dose of 20mg. was 1 week ago. That particular dose is not considered terribly high and if it were going to cause such side effects I'd've expected the symptoms to occur rather quickly with respect to taking the dose and dissipated if you've not taken anything else for a week. The combination of the steroid with the other medications should not cause too much difficult either.
If I were your doctor and you did not resolve these symptoms in the next 24 hrs. I might highly recommend you get either a CT of the head or an MRI just to rule out an unnoticed bleed or other intracranial defect.
If I've provided useful and helpful information to your questions could you do me a huge favor by CLOSING THE QUERY and be sure to include some fine words of feedback along with a 5 STAR rating? Again, many thanks for submitting your inquiry and please let me know how things turn out.
Do not forget to contact me in the future at: www.bit.ly/drdariushsaghafi for additional questions, comments, or concerns having to do with this topic or others.
This query has utilized a total of 21 minutes of professional time in research, review, and synthesis for the purpose of formulating a return statement.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
My prednisone dose started at 60mg then tapered down from there to 20mg. It was a 10 day regiment. I also had completed a 10 day regiment from an Orthopedic Dr for a tendon tear 1 week prior to my concussion. I asked the Workers Comp Dr if it was too soon to start another and he said it would be fine. I had a CT scan which was normal. The hospital diagnosed as Post Concussion Syndrome. I just find it hard to believe the symptoms are lasting this long. I truly believe I had some kind of reaction to prednisone that isn't going away. Can that happen? Or can Post Concussion Syndrome be this ongoing?
Brief Answer:
Post concussion syndrome (pcs) can last for up to 3 years
Detailed Answer:
Good evening. The symptoms of PCS is said to have a potentially long duration of up to 3 years with symptoms of headaches, malaise, imbalance, brain fog, speech and language problems, and even personality trait changes. Generally, however, symptoms and the entire syndrome is much shorter on the order of a few weeks to several months.
If your prednisone taper has been steadily coming down then, you will see once you are completely off in the next week or 10 days (depending upon how quickly your doctor wants to taper) if these symptoms are due to the cumulative effects of several weeks of steroids. As I said earlier your symptoms are consistent with steroid side effects but these are usually much less common than the duration and type of symptoms seen in PCS...especially if the concussive force was particularly rough.
If a recent CT of the head was recently normal then, there is certainly no reason to add more imagine tests. I would simply watch how things evolve now that you are tapering down on the steroids. I expect your symptoms will slowly subside if due to the steroid effect. If due to the PCS then, my prediction is that things will either stabilize or possibly get a bit worse so again, don't be bashful about going to the ER if need be.
If I've provided useful and helpful information to your questions could you do me a huge favor by CLOSING THE QUERY and be sure to include some fine words of feedback along with a 5 STAR rating? Again, many thanks for submitting your inquiry and please let me know how things turn out.
Do not forget to contact me in the future at: www.bit.ly/drdariushsaghafi for additional questions, comments, or concerns having to do with this topic or others.
This query has utilized a total of 33 minutes of professional time in research, review, and synthesis for the purpose of formulating a return statement.
Post concussion syndrome (pcs) can last for up to 3 years
Detailed Answer:
Good evening. The symptoms of PCS is said to have a potentially long duration of up to 3 years with symptoms of headaches, malaise, imbalance, brain fog, speech and language problems, and even personality trait changes. Generally, however, symptoms and the entire syndrome is much shorter on the order of a few weeks to several months.
If your prednisone taper has been steadily coming down then, you will see once you are completely off in the next week or 10 days (depending upon how quickly your doctor wants to taper) if these symptoms are due to the cumulative effects of several weeks of steroids. As I said earlier your symptoms are consistent with steroid side effects but these are usually much less common than the duration and type of symptoms seen in PCS...especially if the concussive force was particularly rough.
If a recent CT of the head was recently normal then, there is certainly no reason to add more imagine tests. I would simply watch how things evolve now that you are tapering down on the steroids. I expect your symptoms will slowly subside if due to the steroid effect. If due to the PCS then, my prediction is that things will either stabilize or possibly get a bit worse so again, don't be bashful about going to the ER if need be.
If I've provided useful and helpful information to your questions could you do me a huge favor by CLOSING THE QUERY and be sure to include some fine words of feedback along with a 5 STAR rating? Again, many thanks for submitting your inquiry and please let me know how things turn out.
Do not forget to contact me in the future at: www.bit.ly/drdariushsaghafi for additional questions, comments, or concerns having to do with this topic or others.
This query has utilized a total of 33 minutes of professional time in research, review, and synthesis for the purpose of formulating a return statement.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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