Concussion workshop takes place in Las Vegas - FOX5 Vegas - KVVU
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About 30 former NFL players have gathered this weekend at Palace Station to tackle the issue of concussions and also discuss the medical maladies they're all now experiencing after their playing days.
"I have serious depression, severe and chronic headaches and mood swings," said former Washington Redskins and Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Charlie Brown.
Brown was a member of "The Fun Bunch" with the Redskins in the 1980s. He's had a number of concussions both diagnosed and undiagnosed.
"If I had 15, you probably have to triple that," he said.
Doctors have told Brown the damage he's done to his brain is the equivalent of more than 370 car accidents.
Brown however, is the first patient participating in a concussion treatment program based here in Las Vegas through the P.A.S.T. Retired Athlete Medical Group.
"One of the things we found is there's a lot of inflammation," said Dr. Jon Roxarzade of Eternity Medicine Institute, the program's primary treatment provider.
"There's a lot of inflammation that actually leads to proteins that are produced that actually cause deterioration of the brain cells," he added.
The players in the program are being treated with medication, counseling and hormone replacement for free.
Brown feels he's making strides but his mind wanders, thinking of the recent suicides of former players Junior Seau and Dave Duerson.
"What are the symptoms that I'm having that Dave probably had, or Junior Seau? You know how close am I? How far away am I?" he said.
The conference, which runs though Saturday, is here to raise awareness. Post-concussion symptoms are still being ignored by players and even by the NFL, according to Brown.
"To the best of my knowledge I don't know on anything that they're doing and I've been in the loop for about two years now," he said.
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