Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What types of conditions does your office treat?
We diagnose and treat:
· Acute Concussion & Post-Concussion Syndrome
· Acute & Chronic Dizziness/ Vertigo
· Motion Sickness
· Brainwave Dysregulation with Neurofeedback
· Balance Disorders
· Migraine/Tension Headaches
· Neck/Arm Pain and Lower Back/Leg Pain
Q: Does your office participate with insurances?
Due to the specialized services that insurances do not cover and insurance carriers looking more at cost savings for them rather than the best care of the patient, our office is not in network with insurance carriers. This helps our patients save money by not having to pay both their deductible/co-pay in additions to the non-covered diagnostic and neurofeedback services. If requested, we can provide you with a superbill to submit to your insurance carrier for possible reimbursement directly to you.
If required, we offer affordable, interest-free payment plans to allow you to receive the care necessary to improve your condition while fitting into your budget. We have found that often the out-of-pocket patient cost for out-of-network benefits are similar to in-network benefits due to the high deductible plans that most insurances are offering.
Q: How can I schedule an appointment?
Scheduling an appointment at our office is easy and convenient. You can contact us during normal business hours, or simply click the "schedule online" button on our home page and you will be directed to our scheduling site where you will see the days and times available for you to choose an initial vestibular (concussion, dizziness, imbalance) appointment, initial QEEG brain map appointment, initial chiropractic appointment, or reschedule an existing appointment. This process was designed to save our patients valuable time and allow us to spend more time with each patient. It also allows for appointments to be booked after business hours. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us via email at info@carolinaconcussion.com or leave a message at (919) 435-7396 and we will promptly get back to you shortly.
Q: What is the vestibular system and how is it treated?
Your vestibular system is comprised of 3 parts: Visual (brain), Vestibular (inner ear) and Proprioception (joint and muscle sensors). All three parts work together to allow you to move about with proper balance and a normal perception of your surroundings. When one or more of these systems fail, symptoms such as dizziness, motion sickness, nausea, imbalance and headaches can arise.
Vestibular rehabilitation is an evidence-based treatment aimed to restore impairments of the vestibular system. Our office also utilizes chiropractic manipulation to improve proprioception and relieve neck pain, back pain, and headache symptoms.
Q: What age ranges does your office treat?
We treat individuals from 5 years old to 95 years young.
Q: Does your office do ImPACT testing?
No, our office does not use the ImPACT testing software. The ImPACT test does not diagnose concussion injuries and is best used as a screening tool to indicate when additional assessment is needed. This is where our office comes in. Carolina Concussion & Physical Medicine offers the assessment necessary to diagnose concussions and creates customized treatment plans for both the physical and cognitive impairments caused by concussion injuries.
Prior to assessment, most patients have not had an ImPACT baseline test or a post-injury ImPACT test. This is not a problem. An ImPACT test is not necessary to diagnose and treat concussion injuries.
Q: What is QEEG Brain Mapping and Neurofeedback Training?
The brainwave data is recorded through QEEG, which is a non-invasive procedure where the patient wears a cap with sensors inside. Brainwaves are simply recorded in 12 sites with the patient having their eyes closed and then eyes opened. The procedure is very relaxing and lasts approximately 45 minutes. The brainwave data is statistically compared to a large normative database and a report is generated to assess if the patient is a good candidate for neurofeedback training.
If the patient qualifies for neurofeedback training, the patient can opt to either come into the office several times per week, or use a home training unit to conveniently perform in the comfort of their home. Patients connect to a computer using sensors that allow the computer to record their brainwave activity. The Braincore Neurofeedback software automatically detects when the brainwaves are properly ordered, and it feeds that information back to the patient in real time through training media chosen by the patient, which may include movies, tv show, music or musical tones. The patient is actually controlling the training media with their brain; and by doing so, the brain is learning how to regulate itself!
Q: How long does it take to begin to see my symptoms improve?
The brain and vestibular system are quite complex. Many factors must be considered in diagnosis and prognosis. Factors such as age, history of injuries, current health status and length of time the condition has persisted are a few variables that can affect and determine the length of your treatment program.
The length of time it takes to see significant symptom improvement varies from person to person. Usually, patients experience some symptom improvement after the first few visits. With the utilization of advanced technology combined with extensive clinical experience, we have seen patient symptoms begin to improve within days or weeks even in cases where the condition has persisted for years. Whether through neurofeedback training, vestibular rehab, or chiropractic care, patient compliance is a significant factor affecting the length of treatment time.