How can diffused brain injury be really proven?

[red_spinel]

My doctor says i have it, so does the consultant, try telling an insurance company and they they can is, 'well there is no evidence of that on your CT scan'...

[Hidden]

THERE ARE SOME GOOD REPLIES TO A POST THIS MORNING ABOUT THIS SUBJECT. SORRY I CAN'T REMEMBER WHO THEY'RE FROM BUT IF YOU BROWSE ALL IN THIS SECTION I'M SURE YOU'LL FIND THEM. GOOD LUCK

[Stardrop]

Let me guess you have a critical illness policy, and because diffuse brain injury doesn't show up on the CT scan the insurance company say they have no proof?

[red_spinel in reply to Stardrop]

yep, that's about it...

[Negeen in reply to red_spinel]

Try a pet scan? It might be more detailed.

[Stardrop in reply to red_spinel]

A way of proving it is have a sample of your brain and looked at under a heavy duty specialist microscope, but they don't do it on people still alive. My solicitor found a Neurologist who was prepared to observe and test me for approximately 8 hours but I would have to pay the cost myself and it was thousands of pounds.

The insurance company were saying I still had a reasonable quality of life, I can make a cup of tea, wipe my own bottom and string a sentence together. They judged it on physical things and didn't consider poor memory and executive function problems as having a significant effect on quality of life. I would have considered a refund of twenty years payments a result and wished I'd put the monthly payments in an ISA account.

I went to the ombudsman who upheld the insurance company but the ombudsman (who has no medical qualifications) upheld their decision.

[Negeen]

Do you have a neurologist you can ask?

[iforget]

CT is great for immediate bleeds and being more readily available is often the first choice in A&E but for more detailed information other scans are better. I would think that your neurologist would be the best person to start this discussion with.

Big fat BOO to insurance companies trying to squirm out of payment

[Negeen]

Find a good neurologist who will back you up!

[Negeen]

Can you not have a neuropsychological assessment.

[Negeen]

Do a pet scan.

[debs-86]

Hi, I sustained a diffuse axonal injury in a road traffic accident nearly 6 years ago now. I have no memory of the accident or the initial days in hospital, but was told I had been taken for a CT scan on admission to A&E, which was clear. A few days into my hospital stay I underwent an MRI scan as I wasn't right (it was as though I was drunk). The injury was visible on the MRI scan. I'd say that may be your best bet. How long ago was your accident?