Hi Joe,

I read through the thread and didn't see what is causing the issue with walking to see if I have any help to offer. At first my dr's thought it was vestibular, but the therapies didn't help. My walking issues were based on proprioception and bodywork helped.

Proprioception defined - is the process by which the body can vary muscle contraction in immediate response to incoming information regarding external forces, by utilizing stretch receptors in the muscles to keep track of the joint position in the body. Layman terms it means the body's ability to know where it is in space.

While I'm near 7 years post injury I still experience situations that compromise my ability to walk and talk - usually overstimulation. Example: my 1st and last attempt at attending a concert, attending my nephews Chuck E Cheese bday party, any noisy and/or visually stimulating atmosphere - all cause loss of balance, visual problems, horrible headache.

I'm still working on controlling my headaches. The neuro's say it's migraine because I had them pre injury, but this is a constant debilitating headache. Gabapentin helped me, but there are other meds if it isn't working. The trial and errors are difficult to endure, but once you find something that works it's like going from a black and white world into technicolor and well worth the struggle.

Hearing intolerance. I was diagnosed with hyperacusis which is a change in your tolerance to sounds and better described here - http://www.hyperacusis.org/ also plays a role in my ability to walk and talk, as well as emotional lability. I was prescribed musician quality ear filters that I hope to get this month.

At my worst these activities help me:

swimming - I didn't need balance to swim and the exercise feels good. If you get tired you can just float or tread water.

Art - discovered I could draw post injury where I needed a ruler pre injury. See if anything calls to you - it doesn't matter what it is aside from being creative. I even created a dream board from magazine clippings glued to canvas to visualize what I wanted in my future. It helps hand eye coordination and has a meditative quality that allows thinking to flow vs feeling like a chore.

Bodywork - Ex. Swedish massage, Shiatsu (amazingly beneficial), sports massage. I had my car accident while going to massage school and would not have made the progress I did had it not been for the bodywork I received. If you do go make sure you tell them of the brain injury and headaches. You will need more foot work and little work on the head as it can be too stimulating. Energy work is also helpful. I suggest finding an individual locally thru here - http://www.amtamassage.org/findamass...searchcat=famt

Start a Journal - At this point I've forgotten more than I remember. While my family and friends help me remember my progress, reading my own words about my journey is empowering. If you can't write yourself, ask your mom or someone to help. I forget just how much progress I've made over the years until I read my journal. There are times I still get frustrated, upset, angry, etc. feeling I'm stuck. My son reminds me. My journals are a testament to my journey of trials, tribulations, and triumphs. I track how med's make me feel to some pretty dark poetry when at the depths of depression. My one warning - I would forget where I put my journal and start a new one so I have a ton of them all dated, but each one with random dates. I suppose I don't think or experience time linearly anymore so it's a good representation of my rewired brain. :-)

I also found playing Tetris like games or even the children's game Memory either electronic or the original card game beneficial - they help add tactile and kinesthetic memory to augment visual memory.

What I've learned over 7 years - 5 steps forward, 11 steps back is part of the healing process. As the brain rewires itself you'll find you may improve vastly in some areas and take steps back in others. It's okay. Hang in there. It gets better.

I hope some of this was helpful. I wish you the best on your journey.

Kristy