Mild TBI, but significant impact

After numerous sports related mild TBIs, I finally ran into one I didn’t recover from. That was 2015. It took a year to get competent care, despite seeing my PCP three weeks after it occurred. Six months post-injury, I wasn’t and waited 6 months to see a neurologist, who was dismissive and really wasted my time. Word to the wise, seek sports medicine for concussion. They’ll see you quicker and know what they’re doing to get you back on your feet. I had to ask for PT, and the PT was the first knowledgeable provider I met. After a couple of months, the PT suspected other challenges. I got connected to a neuropsychologist well versed in head injury, who identified a number of issues, especially visual problems. I learned that the effects of TBI are insidious. I had no idea, until I was looking back, that I’d quit doing everything I loved and I was struggling significantly at work. My job was at risk. I’m disappointed in the year of recovery I lost because my PCP didn’t have the knowledge to do some basic screening and refer me to the right professional. Since getting into the right groove of professionals, with the support of medication and special lenses, I’m getting back on track. It’s slow, with occasional setbacks, but I’m getting better. Sadly, despite having decent insurance, the cost has been high. The neuro optician is not in network. The special glasses are out of pocket, the co-pays for visits to docs and other professionals add up, and some of the most helpful supportive services are not covered at all. Since this injury, I’ve hit my maximum out-of-pocket two years in a row and expect to do so again this year. I’ve had to give up my part-time job and I run an ever-tight balance of sick time at work. There is plenty of room for improvement with brain injury awareness and care here in Maine. I hope we do better in the future.