Skip to Content
800-533-8762
  • Careers
  • Newsroom
  • Health Care Professionals
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
UPMC
  • Find a Doctor
  • Services
    • Frequently Searched Services
    • Frequently Searched Services
      Allergy & Immunology Behavioral & Mental Health Cancer Ear, Nose & Throat Endocrinology Gastroenterology Heart & Vascular Imaging Neurosciences Orthopaedics
      Physical Rehabilitation Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Primary Care Senior Services Sports Medicine Telemedicine Transplant Surgery Walk-In Care Weight Management Women’s Health
      See all Services
    • Services by Region
    • Find a UPMC health care facility close to you quickly by browsing by region.
      UPMC in Western Pa. Western Pa. and New York
      UPMC in Central Pa. Central Pa.
      UPMC in North Central Pa. North Central Pa.
      UPMC in Western Md. Maryland & West Virginia
    • See All Services
  • Locations
    • Locations by Type
    • Locations by Type
      UPMC hospitals
      Hospitals
      Physical Therapy
      Physical Therapy
      Urgent care
      Walk-In Care
      UPMC Outpatient Centers
      Outpatient Centers
      UPMC Imaging Services
      Imaging
      Community Health Centers
      Community Health Centers
      See All Locations
    • Locations by Region
    • Locations by Region
      UPMC in Southwest Pa. Southwest Pa.
      UPMC in North Central Pa. North Central Pa.
      UPMC in Northwest Pa and Ny. Northwest Pa. & Western N.Y.
      UPMC in West Central Pa. West Central Pa.
      UPMC in Central Pa. Central Pa.
      UPMC in Western Md. Maryland & West Virginia
    • See All Locations
  • Patients & Visitors
    • Patient & Visitor Resources
    • Patient & Visitor Resources
      Patients and Visitors Resources Pay a Bill Classes & Events Medical Records Health Library Patient Information
      Patient Portals Privacy Information Shared Decision Making Traveling Patients Visitor Information
      Man uses mobile phone
      Pay a Bill
      Nurse reviews medical chart
      Request Medical Records
  • Patient Portals
  • Find Covid-19 updates
  • Schedule an appointment
  • Request medical records
  • Pay a bill
  • Learn about financial assistance
  • Find classes & events
  • Send a patient an eCard
  • Make a donation
  • Volunteer
  • Read HealthBeat blog
  • Explore UPMC Careers
Skip to Content
UPMC
  • Patient Portals
  • For Patients & Visitors
    • Find a Doctor
    • Locations
    • Patient & Visitor Resources
    • Pay a Bill
    • Services
    • More
      • Medical Records
      • Financial Assistance
      • Classes & Events
      • HealthBeat Blog
      • Health Library
  • About UPMC
    • Why UPMC
    • Facts & Stats
    • Supply Chain Management
    • Community Commitment
    • More
      • Financials
      • Support UPMC
      • UPMC Apps
      • UPMC Enterprises
      • UPMC International
  • For Health Care Professionals
    • Physician Information
    • Resources
    • Education & Training
    • Departments
    • Credentialing
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Newsroom
  • UPMC >
  • Our Services >
  • Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine >
  • ... >
  • About Us >
  • Patient Stories >
  • Sports Medicine >
  • Concussion >
  • Everyday Active People >
  • Josh Concussion
Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine
About Us
Patient Stories
General Orthopaedics
Joint Replacement
Sports Medicine
ACL Program
Athletic Training
Concussion
Professional Athletes
Collegiate Athletes
Young Athletes
Everyday Active People
Performance Services
Physician Services
Sports Nutrition
Orthopaedic Surgery
Your Care Team
Conditions We Treat
Our Services
For Patients
For Professionals & Students
Our Locations
Contact Us
Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine
About Us
Patient Stories
General Orthopaedics
Joint Replacement
Sports Medicine
ACL Program
Athletic Training
Concussion
Professional Athletes
Collegiate Athletes
Young Athletes
Everyday Active People
Performance Services
Physician Services
Sports Nutrition
Orthopaedic Surgery
Your Care Team
Conditions We Treat
Our Services
For Patients
For Professionals & Students
Our Locations
Contact Us

Chat Keywords List

  • cancel or exit: Stops your conversation
  • start over: Restarts your current scenario
  • help: Shows what this bot can do
  • terms: Shows terms of use and privacy statement
  • feedback: Give us feedback
Continue
Chat with UPMC
RESTART
MENU
CLOSE

Josh: Concussion

Image of Josh.

The Challenge: Brain Fog

With the temperature edging toward 100 degrees, Josh spent July 13, 2015 on a motorbike running errands in northern Thailand. He and his family were based in Southeast Asia, working with the Global Hope Network International (GHNI)— a Swiss-based humanitarian nonprofit.

Josh came home tired and dehydrated, but he couldn't resist when his children begged him to join them on their trampoline.

“I never fell or hit my head, but when my feet landed on one jump, it didn't feel right. I literally felt my brain hit the front of my skull," he recalls.

It triggered an array of problems that Josh and his wife, Lisa, feared would be permanent.

“The next day I worked from home in a brain fog," says Josh, then 32 years old. “And I cancelled dinner with friends. I was nauseous."

His family doctor in Thailand told him dehydration could shrink the brain, but a CT scan showed no damage.

“She told me to take it easy and drink lots of water," says Josh. “But I knew something more was wrong."

At first, Josh saw some improvement.

But two minor bumps to the head worsened his symptoms, which included:

  • Trouble balancing and judging distances.
  • Getting easily tired.
  • Painful headaches.
  • Sensitivity to light and noise.
  • Atypical mood swings.

Then one night, Josh couldn't even tell a taxi driver where to drive him home.

The Path to the UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Program

Josh went on to see neurologists, each confirming that he had a concussion and telling him to rest. But his symptoms wouldn't go away.

Unable to work, Josh and his family returned home to Maryville, Illinois, in January 2016.

“We tried to get an appointment with a neuropsychologist in nearby St. Louis, but couldn't get one for 10 months," he says.

Josh's wife had heard about the UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Program through an online concussion support group and called. Three weeks later, she had Josh meet with the program director, Michael “Micky" Collins, PhD.

“At that point, I was getting ready to file for permanent disability," says Josh. “I thought, what do I have to lose? If I don't get better, I'll know I saw one of the top concussion doctors in the field."

The Solution: Concussion Treatment and Recovery

Josh scored in just the 50th percentile on ImPACT® (Immediate Post-concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing) during his first appointment.

Dr. Collins told him that rest was the exact opposite of what he needed.

“He said that if I followed his directions, I could expect to regain a normal life," says Josh. “Dr. Collins took time to explain the science behind his approach. He's done extensive research. I trusted his history and depth of knowledge."


"While everyone's concussion is different, if you've been seeking help with out results, I'd recommend UPMC's concussion program with out hesitation." — Josh


Josh's treatment included:

  • Exertion therapy to strengthen his balance and sensory system.
  • Behavioral therapy to confront situations he was avoiding due to fears they could trigger concussion symptoms. Doctors link balance and vestibular issues to the emotional center of the brain, which can create higher levels of anxiety.

Josh recalls Dr. Collins telling him that he couldn't hide from his symptoms. He needed to attack them.

“Those words freed me to tackle my fears. The therapy wasn't easy, but it produced results," Josh says.

Three weeks later, Josh had his second appointment with Dr. Collins. He showed impressive test gains, reaching the 76th percentile in cognitive performance.

On his third visit six weeks later, his scores exceeded the 90th percentile.

The Results: A Trip Back to Asia

Josh describes his work with GHNI as “more of a calling than a job." GHNI serves people on the fringes of society worldwide through knowledge transfer and community development.

“The thought of not being able to continue that work was daunting," he says. “But thanks to the UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Program, I went back to work with limited hours in November 2016."

Dr. Collins' final assignment was for Josh to take an overseas trip as part of the healing process.

“That was major. Sleep hygiene is a huge part of my recovery and travelling abroad really wreaks havoc on sleep," says Josh.

In March 2017, Josh and his wife successfully traveled back to Southeast Asia.

It marked the first of many trips for GHNI to Myanmar, Kenya, and Hawaii — and an upcoming return assignment in Thailand.

Running was also part of Josh's rehab. Though he doesn't think of himself as a true runner, Josh ran a 5K race and placed third in his age group.

His final meeting with Dr. Collins was in April 2017.

“He said my tests were normal and my results phenomenal," says Josh. “I no longer live my life with restrictions, but I know when I push myself too far. While everyone's concussion is different, if you've been seeking help without results, I'd recommend UPMC's concussion program without hesitation."

UPMC
200 Lothrop Street Pittsburgh, PA 15213

412-647-8762 800-533-8762

Patients And Visitors
  • Find a Doctor
  • Locations
  • Pay a Bill
  • Patient & Visitor Resources
  • Disabilities Resource Center
  • Services
  • Medical Records
  • No Surprises Act
  • Price Transparency
  • Financial Assistance
  • Classes & Events
  • Health Library
Health Care Professionals
  • Physician Information
  • Resources
  • Education & Training
  • Departments
  • Credentialing
Newsroom
  • Newsroom Home
  • Inside Life Changing Medicine Blog
  • News Releases
About
  • Why UPMC
  • Facts & Stats
  • Supply Chain Management
  • Community Commitment
  • Financials
  • Supporting UPMC
  • HealthBeat Blog
  • UPMC Apps
  • UPMC Enterprises
  • UPMC Health Plan
  • UPMC International
  • Nondiscrimination Policy
Life changing is...
Follow UPMC
  • Contact Us
  • Website/Email Terms of Use
  • Medical Advice Disclaimer
  • Privacy Information
  • Active Privacy Alerts
  • Sitemap
© 2025 UPMC I Affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences Supplemental content provided by Healthwise, Incorporated. To learn more, visit healthwise.org
Find Care
Providers
Video Visit
Portal Login