Except for a miraculous discovery with stem cells, and not just the garden variety of stem cell recovery hoped for, all brain injuries are permanent according to the most indepth research. The big question is how much of the injury is permanent. Many, if not most PCS subjects will 'experience' a full recovery.

This 'experience' means a sense that they are back to normal. By normal diagnostic means, their cognitive performance will appear to be normal based on a non-stress testing environment.

Up until my last injury at 46 years old, I experienced a full recovery with each of my previous 12 concussions, whether severe or very mild. I was aware if difficulties in certain stress situations but could minimize these situations by minimizing stress in my life and environment. When stress hit me, all bets were off. I might have an outburst of uncontrolled anger or a cognitive screw-up.

As much as I 'experienced' a full recovery after my serious concussion at 10 years old, I have come to find out recently that others did not experience that full recovery in their relationship with me due to personality changes. My personality 'settled down' after a decompensation at 16, most likely due to medication (Dilantin, then Phenobarbital).

My research shows that the medical establishments criteria of a full recovery is quite simple. It just means that the subject was able to return to their previous activities/functions. At very young ages, before the brain has finished growing to almost all of its adult size by age 5, there are brain growth factors and other issues that help overcome brain injury. Also, the brain continues organizing its functions up to the age of 15 so 'rewiring' is most possible during these times.

Even though the brain continues to mature until age 25, the brain has then started to lose its ability to rewire and brain growth factor is minimal. By 40 years old, the brain has begun to deteriorate slowly at first, then increasingly as the brain ages, especially if it is not exercise with cognitive challenges.

My position is simple and mirrors many of the best in brain injury recovery. Get the body healthy as a first goal. This included emotional health such as stress factors and physiological health such as nutrition and illness. Get a good understanding of the brain's current condition. This would be by diagnostic tests such as neuro-psych and qEEG, etc. ImPACT is a mini neuro-psych test.

Accept this current condition and learn to work within it. Only when the current condition is acknowledged will progress be available without the stress of 'denial.' Quick fixes are not available. There are some neurotherapy techniques that help with the psychological components. If these are available and work, great. If not, accept the new ME and go on.

There is a value in trying to get to a 'normal' life if possible as it will hopefully lower stress issues. If the 'normal' is a new normal, work to get family and others to accept the new normal. They can often be a big source of stress by denying the ongoing symptoms.

Much of what we try to attain as a normal life is actually abnormal when looked at from a holistic health standpoint. We try to live to fast and furious. Energy drinks, coffee, alarm clocks, Instant messaging/texting, all contribute to a furious life style.

There is a wise Irish song about three young ladies looking for their man.The lyric sung by one are:
"I’m somewhat in a bother
That is really quite alarming
I have two lads pursuing me
And each of them is charming
One of them is dark and poor
One fair with lots of money
I don’t know which one to choose
The flower of the honey

What on earth am I to do
It’s driving me half crazy
Tonight I’ll make my mind up
When I see them at the ceili

To be a poor man’s wife
Will be a life of washing dishes
While a rich man’s wife will surely have
Great luxury and riches
In comfort how I know
It wouldn’t bee too hard to wallow
And being poor is not much fun
On which one should I follow

What on earth am I to do
It’s driving me half crazy
Tonight I’ll make my mind up
When I see them at the ceili

I’ve been lucky I’ve found a lad
Who’s handsome and a neighbour
And me, I’ve met a decent man
Whose friendship I will savour

And me I made my choice as well
And in no way was it aisy
But I’d rather have a man for love
Than be a rich man’s lady"

I have found it is much easier to enjoy a simpler life full of relationships and simple pleasures that to be constantly pushing the limits. I am convinced that had I pushed though my PCS that my life would have been a roller coaster of highs and lows as I crashed hard and fell from the heights every time I had a decompensation. At one point early in my life, I was in the top levels of income, it was quite a roller coaster. It was when others pointed this out to me that I decided to pursue a more simple life. A life that did not push my PCS buttons.