ok, maybe rest and less stress works
 

So, Im now a week and a half into not working. With the final decision coming this past Wednesday. Once i was told to fully rest and knew i wasnt going to work....i've just been resting.

Although i have zero energy still, my headaches have lessened quite a bit. I dont feel like there is a cinderblock on my head, just some pressure, not as many icepicks.

I guess there is something to say for rest and less stress. Seems to have already helped a little. Now i just need some energy so i can do more than lay in bed!

Yes, time and space to heal are VERY helpful (if frustrating)!

I downloaded a lot of guided relaxation/meditation podcasts to listen to. Also listening to nature sounds like waves or falling rain helped to pass the time but keep me still and quiet.

Happy healing!

It takes a lot of courage to "stop" everything and take care of yourself. Taking time to heal is such a great start to healing your mind and body. You will know when you have "energy" to do more. Be sure to just do a little at at a time though. With the word finding and confusion issues you described, maybe some easy crossword puzzles will help jump start the thinker for ya. But eat well to. I did light leg lifts and arm circles while lying down/ Just some suggestion from another bed ridden lady. You are in my thoughts.

I made the biggest/quickest strides in healing during a period of one week where I scheduled 3 hours of sleeping during the day in 1 hour intervals (3 x a day.)

how did you ever sleep at night? I couldn't sleep during the day no matter how hard I try..(or tried even in the beginning)

WOOOOOHOOOO! So glad to hear good is coming of this! I know how hard it was for you to get taken off work again, so I'm rejoicing with you that you're seeing positive things coming of it soooooo quickly.

You go girl! Or rather... don't! Stay, relax and HEAL....

Amy

As always....i post too soon. I have one good day of feeling good and then 2 days of barely being able to get out of bed and headaches that feel like my head wants to explode. Waiting for that day when all this rest truly pays off and stays!!! I tried watching football yesterday at a bar with friends (i didnt drink alcohol) and a ceiling fan was in my view of the TV.....fans kill me! When i got home i was nauseous, my head was pounding, and then i got to a point where i felt like i didnt have legs when i was laying down, i couldnt move a muscle for over an hour. It was brutal. Slept till 3pm today.

what's the deal with the fan...because its moving? I bet it was all the noise etc

Fans have bothered me since the beginning of my injury. My therapists office has a ceiling fan, and i would hold my hand above my eyes like a visor because it would give me the worst headache. Now whenever there is one in my line of sight and i have to look that way, it gives me a headache. I think it has too much motion to it.

I've always been a good sleeper. Also, i really needed it. The rest of the day I was doing a normal work load.

nightnurse...what about grocery stores..and driving? are you having issues there too?

Is the pain in your neck and head? do you see a chiropractor?

Driving at night definetly bothers me a lot. The lights mess me up. During the day it isnt so bad, but when i have a bad headache, i notice my anxiety goes up while driving. Groceries store dont really bother me, i go straight for what i know i need, so i dont stare at everything in every aisle.

My neck initially after the accident was out of whack and i saw my chiropractor and an acupuncturist and now its in good condition. I do go regularly to the chiropractor for adjustments because i have a back injury that was associated with my accident but happened a few years ago.

nightnurse...how do i know which is from my neck and which is from my brain? I get all this tingling feeling all the time in my head.

Today went to dentist (adjustment on orthotic) ...which wow..my whole face is in pain for a week since I got it...jaw, etc.
Then..went to chiropractor - driving not far .few miles. I just don't know what is what. I have no issues driving...my head gets tingly, but not so bad....same as when I watch tv, computer or read. SOmetimes I wonder is it head position (which from xray my c1&2 are out and some lower i think 4 &5) I have this constant feeling like my head is so heavy and neck is always sore (head feels very sensitive to the touch by the end of the night...like putting my hand thru it, it feels different..hard to explain). I'm in sooo much pain when I wake up too (which I'm going to post separately)

The most pain seems to be when I'm in conversation with people - whether it be phone or in person.

Honestly wtrpk, i dont know how to answer your questions because everyones perception of pain is very unique to them. I know that in the 2 locations i hit my head are where 90% of my headaches are...along with sensitivies like brushing my hair or touching the spot that was hit. I often say myself "i dont know what is the concussion and whats my body actually being sick". I cant distinquish any more. I recently had my hormones checked because i havent had a period in 5 months. Turns out Im hypothyroid. My doctor also checked me for Mono, cause i was so rundown and exhausted. That was obviously negative. But it just goes to show how confusing and difficult our conditions are. Everyone has different triggers, pain, symptoms, and experiences.

Nightnurse, I can relate. I don't know if the hardest thing was not being able to perform at work or the dicision to bite the bullet and stay home. I have to admit it is easier in the sence that the stress is gone but there are other stressors each day dealing with our disability. It's not fun.

So many folks tell you how good you look and others see the outward signs. Life now is so flat, now I'm glad to be here, don't get me wrong. All of us lost things people cannot see, even our family and friends can't see what we've lost..

Most of us want to know one thing; what's wrong. There doesn't seem to be a lot of answers unfortuately.

Insurance is my biggest stressor now. I don't want to do anything that's a blatent infarction, not that I can, but If I fall, get sick, my world spins if I try to do some little task, give me credit for trying.

I'm even paranoid about posting. Don't take into consideration about typo's, word searching, transposions, etc.....

Good luck to you,
Mike