Originally Posted by Mark in Idaho

NorwegianGuy,

Welcome to NeuroTalk.

Your concussion last summer sounds very minor. I think you are right. Your OCD has you all wound up about every little movement and possible symptom. Add to that a doctor who is clueless. She appears to have ignored your neck. The left side symptoms indicate a neck injury. These are very common with head impacts, especially top of the head.

Your mom's reading is one perspective of concussion recovery. Your doctor is the opposite perspective. What your mom read is closer to the best understanding. You need to get on with your life and stop worrying about every little bump. The neuro will not be helpful unless your neck is addressed.

Do you have access to a physical therapist/physiotherapist? Or an upper cervical chiropractor or therapist who treats upper cervical injuries? The upper neck injury is what I call a subtle neck injury. It does not have any neck stiffness or other symptoms. It just causes inflammation that disrupts nerve function and blood flow. 80% of concussion have a neck injury.

The therapy would be gentle traction and manipulations. Maybe some trigger point or myofacial release therapy. Gentle neck strengthening exercises without pushing for range of motion is usually best. Most important will be your discipline. Laying in bed or lounging/resting with poor head and neck posture will make your symptoms worse.

Resolving your anxiety is very important. The stress hormones you cause to flood your body magnifies everything. Some have needed medication. An SSRI or tricyclic helps some let go of looking for symptoms. At the present, you appear to be looking for symptoms with the reinforcement of your doctor.

Read the vitamins sticky at the top. The first post and the link to the update of the first post are worth reading.

I don't think you had any concussions this past week. Nor have you had any in the past few months. And you need to stop researching concussions, 'countless sources' is not good.

The current best research says to rest for the first 24 to 48 hours after a concussion but to get safely active after that. Your brain needs good blood flow. Rest does not cause good blood flow. Non-stress activities are important. Keep you mind and body active. Go for walks. keep you mind occupied with things that keep you from obsessing about concussions, every little bump, the risk of CTE (very low risk for you) and on and on.

It is interesting. As I read your list of symptoms, it sounds like you are copying them from a concussion web site. This is the result of too much reading about concussions. Stop that. More than half of what you read online about concussions is wrong. Most of it is outdated. Even the Mayo Clinic had bad information up to about 5 years ago.

You need to make sure you are getting good sleep with good head and neck posture but only sleep during normal sleep times. NO napping during the day.

You don't say where you live so it is not possible to recommend sources of care/therapy. Are you in Norway or just a Norwegian Guy? Does your health care system have a delay getting to see specialists or physical therapists?