Hi - I'm a new member who has browsed this forum for a bit and found it quite helpful. I got a concussion about 11 weeks ago (almost three months). My question is about whether, based on your own experiences, my recovery might be soon. The symptoms I had about two months ago were sensitivity to light, fatigue, headache, insomnia, nausea, pressure in the head, and some brain fog. Overall, I have got better (sensitivity to light is gone, as is the brain fog and a lot of the fatigue) but there have been relapses and my progress has been slow. I can do errands now without symptoms but the next day I will feel sick (nausea, headache). I can do cardio for about 25 min. I sleep OK now - not great, but better than I did. I have more energy overall.

Both specialists I consulted said I would be fully recovered by the end of August. This is difficult for me to comprehend given that yesterday I did about two hours of errands and although I experienced no symptoms (a first!), today I have felt nauseous and have a bad tension headache. I am concerned that beginning a very high stress/long hours job at the very end of August is not realistic. I know it is important to stay positive and remain calm, but any ideas based on your own experiences regarding my recovery would be much appreciated!

Thanks

Sounds like you're overdoing it. This is why PCS is so tricky - you can overdo things without much symptoms, but then will pay for it the next day or the day after.

You said running errands is what causes the increase in symptoms, obvious advice would be to try and limit how much you do on a single day until there are no symptoms the next day.

Maybe you could explain what the errands include? Big box stores like Costco? Heavy lifting?

As for full recovery - there is no set limits as each concussion is highly specific to an individual and depends on many variables.

The first neurologist I saw after my concussion told me 3 months, and it stuck in my brain, so when I was about 3 months out and felt mostly ok, I overdid it in a very bad way and haven't fully recovered since then.

Listen to your brain/body that's the best indicator if you're doing too much.

You're well on your recovery, just need to be a little more patient.

Thanks, that is probably true that I'm overdoing it. For some reason, going shopping/doing errands is the worst thing for me (whereas I can read for a long time, by contrast). Yesterday I just did some makeup and tea shopping at boutiques and then did grocery shopping at a medium sized store. I felt pretty much fine until right at the end, when I could feel a tiny bit of pressure at my temples and slightly slowed down. Very mild though. It is also very hot where I am (about 33 degrees Celsius).

One thing I am trying to work on is my anxiety when I go out. I get very fearful that the symptoms will come on and then I'll have a relapse. It's not like being at home where you can just stop what you are doing, because there is the inevitable travel time to come back. So I think that could make things worse.

Shopping takes a lot of concentration and sensory processing. Some PCS sufferers, myself included, have a hard time going shopping.

You have the bright lights, noise, people, have to think hard to make a decision on what to buy, all of the bright packaging that catches your eye, etc... No wonder our concussed brains get overloaded.

When it was really bad for me, I literally planned my shopping trips on paper, usually tried to go to the same store where I knew the locations of everything I needed as quick as possible and get out. Several times I thought that I'm going to pass out in the checkout line it was that bad.

For me, grocery shopping depends on the layout of the store. Here, we have Albertsons and Winco. Albertsons uses all kind of multi-media and signage all over the place that creates quite a visual zoo to fight through. Winco is a plain brown wrapper store. Well laid out and spacious. I have to get in and out of Albertsons fast. I can wander through Winco for half an hour with no problem.

Smells, sounds, lights, voices, can all be a part of the stimulation. Ear plugs can lower the sound level. Sunglasses and a hat can lower the brightness.

There is also a need to set the right attitude. Going with an anxious start is not good. Shopping/errands during low traffic times is best.

Lists are important. Trying to remember with all the stimulation is very stressful.

There are many trick, work-arounds and other accommodations that can be used to make different environments tolerable. What kind of job are you starting? Maybe there are ways you can lower the stress levels.

It would be helpful to get a home blood pressure kit. That way you can check to see if blood pressure rises are contributing to you symptoms. A beta blocker like propranolol or atenolol as an emergency aid can work wonders. My wife takes 1/4 to 1/2 the dose her doc prescribed and get great results when she has those odd spikes in BP.

Hope this helps. We are here for you.

Hello,
I am a new member as well. I am 8 months post recovery. I was in an MVA, rear-ended, back in November. I was diagnosed with whiplash and a concussion. I am still off work as a nurse on a med/surg, hospice unit. I was working on my masters as a nurse practitioner, primary care. I did have to drop from the program.
I now am diagnosed with PCS, as well as TMJ, PTSD and occipital neuralgia. I have cognitive issues (i.e. difficulty concentrating, forgetfulness, short term memory lapses, difficulty following conversations), ringing in the ears, light and noise sensitivity, difficulty in walking in the dark, vertigo, disequilibrium, headaches, nausea.
Everybody will have different recovery times. No neurologist that I have seen could give me a date for full recovery. Everyone heals differently. If you don't feel ready to return to work, don't! If you push yourself too hard, it could delay recovery. I tried returning to school, online, in June. That was a disaster! I gave myself a severe headache and couldn't drive for 3 days.
Just hang in there, keep positive, and listen to what your body tells you.

I am 28 months post injury. All of your above is familiar...too familiar. Have any of your doctors, neurologists, etc. ruled out a occipital spinal nerve injury, compression, or scar tissue building up around it. This nerve around your C2 can have far reaching and high numbers of unwanted results if your head and neck are moved (forcefully) into a position not good for it.

your greater occipital nerve runs very close to your optic nerve and can mess up the signals...

neck movements, even slight from exercise, to even walking and the impact transferred up to your neck can cause this occipital nerve to become inflamed and then maybe 24-36 hours the inflammation takes its course.

and everything plays catch up.

You were much farther along than I ever was at 6 months. Regretfully, all head injuries are different. every last one.

I went to multiple neurologists, multiple therapists, to the point where I was eventually diagnosed with a somatoform...(see s phychiatrist...its in your head...mental)...After 21 months or so...I finally found a neurologist that in under 30 seconds of hands on proved something decisive. Search neurotalk for "occipital" and you may find some more info. My profile info has my story...

gl

Thanks everyone for your responses.

I thought I would update - I have improved a lot (no more nausea during or after shopping). Basically, the only thing I have left are persistent pressure or tension headaches (low grade), a bit of unsteadiness on my feet, and some fatigue during the day.

My question is whether anyone would recommend at this stage for me to start taking medicine for the headaches? Although the headaches are pretty low grade, they are super irritating and distracting. Mark, thank you for the recommendation of a beta blocker - I have a script for atenolol (I have asthma, so can't get propranolol) and I'm hoping it will help. Would anyone recommend me taking anything else? I would like to approach my doctor about this.

BTW, I do take 400 mg of ibuprofen (on average every other day), but I'm reticent to take it on a regular basis as I'm concerned about rebound headaches. It does work quite well. I take only one serving of caffeine a day.

Thank you.

How about taking ibuprofen for the headaches that interfere with important tasks and toughing it out the rest of the time ?

I used to take aspirin and acetaminophen combined quite regularly. The work almost like codeine. My doctor told me to combine them. I used just one or the other for most headaches and combined for break through headaches.

Thanks, Mark! Good idea - I will definitely try aspirin and acetaminophen for those tough ones.