[blackzest]

Hi guys,

I thought i'd compile my previous posts on this forum over the course of my recovery, to showcase how far i've come.

Although my initial injury was October 30th, 2009, I was not in the right mindframe, nor did I have the visual capabilities to use the computer until a few months into my PCS.

My first post here on March 18th, 2010, five months into my PCS...

Hi guys,

I suffered a hockey stick blow to the temple on November 30th, 2009. I did not lose conciousness. Immediately I felt a ringing in my ears and pain in my head for a day, with difficulties catching sleep right away. A few days later my vision went extremely blurry (tunnel vision like). A few days following I got the worst dose of nausesy I ever felt (immobilized for 24 hours straight). Lathargeay hit me and lasted for weeks as well. The unfortunate thing about this time was that my family and I assumed that I had a flu and then a cold, never putting together that I had gotten a concussion till a month later. I continued playing hockey/ball hockey during this time, taking further blows to the head. Over the course of the entire time up until this point, I have experienced a variety of syptoms:

headaches
dizziness (only days after the accident)
impaired balance (only days after the accident)
nausea (only days after the accident)
fatigue or sleepiness (for the first four months)
inability to sleep (up until very recently, i'm trying to wein off my sleeping pills)
decreased libido (recently come back)
sensitivity to noise or light (extreme case in the beginning)
ringing in the ears (only first day after accident)
blurred vision (all throughout, getting better over time, still very noticable)
irritability
anxiety (two weeks ago I had an anxiety attack, it's been off and on since)
restlessness
depression (experienced through the worst of my symptoms and lasted for a month and a half)
lack of emotion (throughout my depression)
emotional lability or mood swings (I became dependent on the girl I was seeing)
lack of ability to tolerate stress or alcohol (stress makes all symptoms heighten)
aggression (a stage of my recovery)
amnesia or difficulty remembering things
confusion or impaired cognition
impaired judgment
slowed cognitive processing
difficulty with abstract thinking
difficulty concentrating
decrease in work performance

Today, March 18th 2010, I am leaps and bounds better than I was. I have very recently been able to start entertaining myself again (computer games, tv). Many of my symptoms still persist however I have recently recognized that they seem to become amplied throughout my workday. Because of my injury, I took a semester off University and have worked full time 9 hours a day, 6 days a week with a job that has a moderate to high level of physical activity. Analyzing this fact now, it seems very irresponsible and damaging to myself. I now believe that I have prolonged my concussion by exhausting myself on a daily basis, not allowing my brain to heal. At the time cutting back work was the last thing I would have wanted because it was the only thing that got me through the day and made me forget about my deep feelings of sadness (depression). My question to you guys now is that i'm seriously considering cutting back the hours I work. I don't need this money to survive and I think i'm doing much more harm than good. What are you thoughts? Suggestions? Comments? Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

URL: http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread117042.html


After writing that, it would be a long time before I would post again, December of 2010...

Hi guys,

I went to my neurologist for only the second time (health care in Canada is a joke as it takes half a year to see a specialist.) Let me just go over the hell I went through with PCS.

On October 30th, 2009, I was struck in the side of the head with a hockey stick while playing hockey. Initially, I did not even know what horrors were soon to follow.

Starting that very night, I could not sleep. Little did at know at the time, I did not sleep (insomnia) for 8 months. After two weeks, I was prescribed sleeping pills in which I had to take twice a night to fall asleep (two pills every four hours).

Approximately three days the initial blow, I experienced extreme nausea, the most I had ever experienced in my life. Two days later, all of a sudden, my vision went completely messed up, with an extreme case of tunnel vision in which it would take me approximately two-three seconds for images to come into focus, and even then I was able to see a very little amount. My vision issues would soon prove to be one of the worst and debilitating symptoms both physcially and emotionally. I suffered extreme amounts of pain in my eyes for a week. I also experienced pain from ringing in the ears.

Within two months of my concussion, depression onset. It was the lowest time of my life in which all I would do is stare at the clock and cry. I suffered depression for approximately two months, and unfortunately did not recieve anti-depressents (horrible family doctor as well.)

Some other symptoms I experienced:

nausea
blurred vision and sensitivity to light (extreme amounts of each)
slurred speech or saying things that don't make sense (even months after my injury, I still had issues pronouncing some words)-
difficulty concentrating, thinking, or making decisions
difficulty with coordination or balance (such as being unable to catch a ball or other easy tasks
feeling anxious or irritable for no apparent reason
feeling overly tired
lack of libido
anxiety (at about the fourth month, I suffered an anxiety attack after which I suffered constant anxiety for over six months)

I'm sure there are other symptoms i'm forgetting.

Now, 15 months later, the only remaining symptom is blurred and delayed vision. This symptom has improved INCREDIBLY but it is such a slow process that I am still suffering some issues. I look forward to being healthy more than you could imagine...

I have also seen an optomologist (eye doctor) twice during that time period. Both times they did a multitude of tests, and concluded that my eyes are physically fine.

Anyways... I went to my neurologist yesterday. I explained all my symptoms and what I was still experiencing. His answer? "You are not experiencing symptoms of a concussion and you have no neurological issues. Go see your optomitrist."

Needless to say, I was initially very angry and sad. How can my ONLY lifeline to such a horrible expeirence deny the existence of the injury symptoms? Apparently because I wasn't initally "knocked out" I can't still be experiencing symtoms of it. Hello... it doesn't take a neurologist to conclude from my issues that it was due to the blow. I was PERFECTLY healthy before the injury. But no... not concussion related...

Also, he said that because I wasn't experiencing headaches or hadn't due to the concussion, that it can't be that serious. In my entire life, I have NEVER had a headache. The fact that I didn't get any due to the concussion doesn't suprise me.

What do you guys think? Yes, it has been a year and three months, and most documentation (that I have found) states that concussions rarely last that long (especially without initial knockout). My neurologist said the longest reported symptom of a concussion was 18 months and that I in NO way qualified. Please give me your opinions. To me, it's clear. This is my final remaining symptom, also my worst initially (which makes sense). I have very slowly made progress over the last 15 months, including my vision. Please reassure me that my neurologist is mistaken, that this symptom (like the rest) will dissappear with time, and that this damage is not permenant (my progress indicates this should go away with time.) I believe this to be true, and I am extremely frustrated with the medical system.

URL: http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread144270.html


I regret not writing more information down, as these two posts are tiny snippets of what I was going through. Even prior to writing the first one, I went through the absolute worst five months of life. The gap between the two also lapse quite a considerable amount of time.

The purpose of this post is to illustrate my success story. Today, 18 months following my initial blow, I am virtually symtom free. The only thing I experience is some visual issues, but they are showing impressive improvement thanks to a recent visit to a vision therapy center.

I write this today after cramming 10 hours almost without breaks for a statistics midterm in a couple days. I absolutely despise statistics but the feeling of happiness simply makes everything I do these days a joy. Even my family and friends notice how bouncy I am. My sister recently told me, "your back to your old silly self". Today, I can't be prouder or happier to be who I am. I've battled the hardest feat of my life. Nothing will stand in my way.

I wish all of you the best. Rest up, and always keep your head up.

[carmell]

I am from Canada too, and boy can I RELATE. Neurologists, though smart and well educated on the brain, have NO idea of the implications of concussions. None whatsoever. I am also now fully recovered after my concussion (FINALLY). I saw a neurosurgeon and 2 neurologists along the way and all they had to say was "it will all go away in 4-6 months". I am not a doctor but 2 months in, standing in their offices, I could have told them that was not going to happen.

Seriously Canada, get a grip. One of our great Canadian heroes (Sidney Crosby) has been out for MONTHS following his head injury. IS THIS WHAT IT TAKES TO GET SOME ATTENTION THESE DAYS? I am sad this has happened to him at such a young age...my age actually...but he is starting to bring much needed publicity to the CORRECT management of concussions

5 weeks after my concussion I was experiencing vertigo...and my doctor said it was anxiety and told me to go for a run. A RUN??? SERIOUSLY?? After a head injury. She spent that much time in medical school and had no idea that if I actually went for that run it could have been enough to cause second-impact syndrome. Drives me bonkers.

End rant.

Carmell

[blackzest]

Originally Posted by carmell

I am from Canada too, and boy can I RELATE. Neurologists, though smart and well educated on the brain, have NO idea of the implications of concussions. None whatsoever.

It's unreal isn't it? My neurologist supposedly sees concussion victims "all the time" yet he had no real advice what so ever to give me. No information, no possible symptoms, no danger signs. He just told me, "you'll know when your ready". When I asked him how long concussion symptoms could last, he said 18 months but because I was not knocked out, it wouldn't be more than a few months.

Seriously Canada, get a grip. One of our great Canadian heroes (Sidney Crosby) has been out for MONTHS following his head injury. IS THIS WHAT IT TAKES TO GET SOME ATTENTION THESE DAYS? I am sad this has happened to him at such a young age...my age actually...but he is starting to bring much needed publicity to the CORRECT management of concussions

Amen. I love Sid, as well as hockey. As unfortunate as his injury is, I hope it will be much needed attention to an issue that is getting out of control in the NHL, among other places. He's been out for months, with little to any indicators that he'll be playing again this season. The lack of knowledge and correct management is lacking immensely, I agree.

5 weeks after my concussion I was experiencing vertigo...and my doctor said it was anxiety and told me to go for a run. A RUN??? SERIOUSLY?? After a head injury. She spent that much time in medical school and had no idea that if I actually went for that run it could have been enough to cause second-impact syndrome. Drives me bonkers.

Wow, just wow. I would hope this would be an MD and not an neurologist. My MD had no helpful advice at all along my recovery. She was totally confused. I thought I times she didn't believe my symptoms because she was giving me a hard time when I was requesting continuation of my sleeping meds.

My father recently had a horrible spell, when he was in excruciating pain, bed ridden for almost a year. Doctors suspected he might have had cancer but could not locate the source of his pain or the stressor. In the end, my mother's non-stop research on the internet solved his problem. Turns out ten minutes of groin exercises a day is all he needs to stay pain free. Thank you Canadian medical system.

My mom, for the last seven years has struggled with Lyme Disease. Canada does not recognize it as an illness. She has been off work for two years often times in crippling pain, forced into bed 24/7. Our insurance company, Sun Life, recently denied her coverage and we're suing their ***. My mom is finally on a road to recovery, but it was through self diagnosis and research. The Canadian doctors were useless.

Combine that with my recent PCS and hell I went through without any support whatsoever from our medical community. Oh my, how lovely our medical system is.

/rant

(Sorry for that, but you started it Carmell )

[wtrpk]

my regular MD didn't even tell me I had a concussion...she said I had a "little brain bruise" and to rest the weekend. She barely wanted to write me a note to get out of work when I went back 2 weeks later!@

[carmell]

Though many feel we are fortunate here in Canada to have a "free" medical system, it has MANY down sides. We have LONG waiting lists, especially to see neurologists, which often leads to mis-management of head injuries. I feel that if I saw a good doctor within the first week of my concussion I would have had a concussion that resolved uneventfully. Instead, I continued to try and "train" through it and ended up with severe post-concussion syndrome.

Research on things like Lyme Disease IS minimal. Much of treatment consists of "try this drug" instead of looking at lifestyle changes.

OH CANADA. Great Country, poor medical system.

Carmell

[Jeffrey]

Thanks for the good news.

Hearing someone recover from PCS is now one of my great joys.

18 months is a long time, but I hope to be posting a bunch of smile faces as well.

Only really soon- 9 months. Lord willing.

[blackzest]

Originally Posted by aireyden

my regular MD didn't even tell me I had a concussion...she said I had a "little brain bruise" and to rest the weekend. She barely wanted to write me a note to get out of work when I went back 2 weeks later!@

It is unreal to me how little doctors seem to know about concussions. Surely they have been around since human species existed. How is it possible that so little is known?

My family doctor was not even aware that concussions could last more than a week. She was completely confused by my symptoms.

Originally Posted by carmell

Though many feel we are fortunate here in Canada to have a "free" medical system, it has MANY down sides. We have LONG waiting lists, especially to see neurologists, which often leads to mis-management of head injuries. I feel that if I saw a good doctor within the first week of my concussion I would have had a concussion that resolved uneventfully. Instead, I continued to try and "train" through it and ended up with severe post-concussion syndrome.

Research on things like Lyme Disease IS minimal. Much of treatment consists of "try this drug" instead of looking at lifestyle changes.

OH CANADA. Great Country, poor medical system.

Carmell

Yes, I couldn't agree more. People internationally hear of the Canadian medical system as "great" and "something to aspire to", such as in the movie Sicko. Although I appreciate the fact that health care is universal, the waste and neglect for the system causes extremely long wait times. Compounding that, the overbearing amount of work pushed onto doctors forces them to speed through everything, misdiagnosing conditions such as concussions.

Originally Posted by Jeffrey

Thanks for the good news.

Hearing someone recover from PCS is now one of my great joys.

18 months is a long time, but I hope to be posting a bunch of smile faces as well.

Only really soon- 9 months. Lord willing.

PCS can be incredibly painful and frustrating. I wish you all best Jeffrey.

[Mark in Idaho]

There is a simple reason why doctors know so little about concussions.

First: There is very little the Medical Doctors can do to help the PCS patient. There are no drugs approved for the treatment of concussion so the drug companies do not support the care of the PCS patient either.

Second: Since many concussions do not cause lasting symptoms, they think that all concussions should have no lasting symptoms. Also, by the time many of the delayed concussion symptoms show up, they are attributed to psychological causes.

Third: The liability insurance industry has thrown big money behind the denial of concussion as they defend against those injured in auto accidents.

Fourth: The sports doctors have been paid to get players back on the field for the financial gain of the professional sports team or the collegiate sports team.

Fifth: Very few neurologists have any skills at diagnosing any ailment that is not imageable on an X-ray, CT, MRI, EEG, or EMG, etc. If it does not show up on one of these imaging systems, it does not exist. The qEEG has a high reliability (95% and above) at diagnosing concussion but the insurance companies and Neurological Medical Associations have been successful at discrediting this fact.

Sixth: Because of the above, there are many old wives' tales that have been accepted as medical fact, such as any concussion with no Loss of Consciousness (LOC) will recover 100% with no after effects.

Seventh: Now, with most health care systems using a managed care protocol, there are many roadblocks to follow-up care of those who are diagnosed with a concussion.

btw, One of the big problems with the Canadian health care system is free services get overloaded and then many of the best doctors leave Canada to practice in the USA.

[blackzest]

Very insightful post Mark. All of those reasons ring true. The overload in the Canadian health care system is a detriment to the quality of the medical profession. I would imagine money is an insentive for doctors to migrate to the US as well.

[Gryph]

Wow my story is almost the exact same as yours, I was headbutt for no reason at all on halloween night and experienced concussion symptoms for 2 weeks. When I was starting to feel better approximately two weeks later I was struck in the head by a hockey stick and had to receive 4 staples for my head. Again I was out for about a week with symptoms which seemed to go away. After this week I was able to work out, go to the gym party etc. After 2 weeks of heavy studying and exams I partied hard 4 days in a row, after this I thought I had cold symptoms as my entire body was feeling like crap. I continued to exercise and hang party as if it was nothing but a cold. However over my christmas break I experienced brutal symptoms of dizzyness and nausea I spent my entire christmas day in a hospital for 5 hours watching star wars because I couldn't open a damn present. My doctor told me I would need to stop drinking and rest as much as I could for my symptoms. Its tough because people who have never had a concussion dont understand what it is like, they think you are a wuss and are just being "soft". The last 2 months have been the most stressfull of my life with school work, my roomates party 3 nights a week which makes it very hard not to drink alcohol. I wont have a drink for a month feel slightly better then fall off the wagon and get back with my symptoms. The last couple Months I have felt depressed and have had very weird thoughts about life and other subjects. It sucks cuz I need to be better within the next month to make money for school at my summer job. Im tired of this **** I cant do anything cant exercise, play hockey, can barely play video games and stress harder then ever in all of my classes. Ive already told myself im not going to have a drink for the next month but who knows if doing any of this will make my damn symptoms go away.

Thanks for listening, Mike