Woman Finds Answers and Recovery After Misdiagnosed Concussion
March 19, 2025
Michelle Colucci never imagined that one slip on black ice would change her life forever.
She was a college student at Penn State, juggling classes as she worked toward her degree in cybersecurity. A natural leader, she was captain of the varsity tennis team. She organized fundraising events, including one to raise money for children’s cancer. On top of all that, she was a social butterfly. But that all changed one winter day. During a January 2016 snowstorm, she fell and hit her head on concrete.
Michelle felt extreme pain. However, since she didn’t lose consciousness, she thought she’d recover quickly. She put an ice pack on her head and monitored her symptoms.
“About two days later, there was an hour and a half period where I didn’t even know where I was,” she reflects. “I didn’t know if I was home in New Jersey or at school. I couldn’t tell you what day it was. I couldn’t tell you the month.”
Concerned, Michelle’s boyfriend took her to the emergency room. Doctors there told her everything was fine.
But she knew better. Her speech was off, her vision blurred, and she had pounding headaches that wouldn’t go away. She was constantly exhausted, confused, and some days, she couldn’t even get out of bed.
“I just wasn’t me anymore,” Michelle remembers.
Getting Her Life Back
Doctors kept dismissing her symptoms. Feeling hopeless, Michelle dropped out of school. She returned when a neurologist told her to just get back to her routine. But nothing changed. The pain, the brain fog — it was all still there.
After two years of struggling with no answers, she found the Concussion Program at JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute. That’s where everything changed.
Christine Greiss, D.O., director of the Center for Brain Injuries, actually listened. For the first time, a doctor recognized how serious her condition was. Dr. Greiss diagnosed her with post-concussion syndrome, post-traumatic migraines, vision problems and balance issues.
“It was a struggle for her,” Dr. Greiss says. “We had to address the vision, we had to address the balance.”
With a specialized treatment plan — including medications, injections and therapy for her brain, vision, speech and balance — Michelle started to heal. She fought through the tough days. Progress was slow, but it was happening.
Michelle credits Dr. Greiss for validating her and helping her feel better. She says since meeting her, her life has “improved drastically.”
“I feel more like a normal person than I could have ever imagined possible,” she says.
Michelle has graduated college and taken back control of her life. Today, she’s back on the tennis court and manages a busy restaurant — something that once felt impossible.
“I still have moments where I stutter or forget a word, and I need treatment for migraines,” she says. “But my quality of life is 100 times better. I really did get my life back.”
While she still experiences issues with her balance, vision and concentration, Michelle is confident she will completely bounce back.
When asked what she would say to the therapists, physicians, and nurses who cared for her, she replies, “Thank you for listening to me and for not telling me this was all in my head.”
Next Steps & Resources
- Meet our source: Christine Greiss, D.O.
- Make an appointment with a brain injury specialist near you or call 800-822-8905
- Learn more about rehabilitation services at Hackensack Meridian Health.
The material provided through HealthU is intended to be used as general information only and should not replace the advice of your physician. Always consult your physician for individual care.
