Hey there Wakey,

I agree with other posters that no one can tell you whether you will have those symptoms longterm or not.

I think it's important to remember that brain tissue is the softest in the human body, multi-leveled in complexity and slowest to recover from damage.

Maybe you will want to think about an anology of having a broken leg - you wouldn't go out and try to do a marathon while your leg is mending. First you have to heal to a reasonable level, then start walking, then trotting, then running. Next you would increase frequency , intentsity and duration until you work back up to your former stamina level.

Why do we think that the brain would heal in a different fashion? Especially since our brains continue on with all of our habitual activities like breathing, heart beat, digestion etc??

I take Mark In Idaho's advice - think of progress in terms of months, not days. I don't feel great today, and am frustrated at the slow pace, but I look back and see marked improvement since Feb when I was injured, and July when I was having meltdown's at work and crying uncontrollably.

It's important to remember to create the environment for good brain health:

No alcohol - I stopped for at least the first 6 months. Now, only very occaisionally such as holiday or birthday may have ONE glass of wine.

Good diet - I won't go on more about that here.

Reduced stimulation, - yeah, I can't go to malls anymore, the sound overwhelms my brain and I am down for at least a day.

Etc.

But have you thought about taking on healthy brain habits?

Andrew Newberg the neuroscientist at the U of Penn lists 8 ways to exercise your brain for optimal brain health in his book, "How God Changes Your Brain."

On page 149 part of his conclusion notes, "Activities involving meditation and intensive prayer permanently strengthen neural functioning in specific parts of the brain that are involved with lowering anxiety and depression, enhancing social awareness and empathy, and improving cognitive and intellectual functioning....." they also protect against the effects of aging and stress and promote control over emotion.

They are: (numbered in order of importance)

8) Smile
7) Stay intellectually active (for us, gentle tolerated thinking - not super abstract)
6) Consciously relax
5) Yawn
4) Meditate
3) aerobic exercise - only as tolerated, but get your blood gently moving
2) Dialogue with others
1) Faith - equivalent to hope, optimism, and belief that a positive future awaits us.

Take care,