Up until 0430 last night. Unable to sleep.

N from the brain injury support group sent me a link to a web cast which took place yesterday afternoon. This had some very positive information. The studies cited in the web cast supported the basic propositions underlying the TBI Proposal, and my current work project.

There were also some negatives. I had a hard time listening to Arkansas and similar accents from the American south. But the truly gut wrenching body blow was hearing these Forrest Gump medical professionals describe an extremely sophisticated TBI return to work program. Québec thinks it is a sophisticated place but these US states put it to shame. The only rehabilitation clinic in western Québec informed both me, and another support group member, that the clinic did not provide rehab for brain injury. Basically there are no rehabilitation services, and extremely limited medical knowledge and resources in Québec.

The web cast was distributed via YouTube. The same page listed other brain injury videos. The following video was very informative:

What was most interesting about the video was a frame toward the end. This states that MRI is not a valid means for diagnostic testing for mTBI injury. Nothing will be seen on the MRI scan. A normal MRI scan will not assist in assessing the injury.

At our Monday support group there were a number of handouts made available. One of these was created by the Ontario Brain Injury Association. Page six of the pamphlet titled: Concussion – Adults, includes exactly the same message:

I find myself asking the following questions.

• Why is this information only known in Ontario?
• Why did my neurologist tell me that an MRI will detect mTBI?
• What does this say to the validity of a diagnosis based on a plain MRI scan? (i.e. no fMRI and no injection of contrast material)
• Why was I made to wait over a year for this meaningless diagnostic to be performed?
• Why did the insurer demand this test be performed?