Deos it get better?
 

Hi everyine just need to know does it get bettter and
will i get my old life back?

ED

You may not get your old life back but you will get a life back that will allow you to have a full life. It will get better.

Such a blanket question is difficult. How are you doing ? What symptoms are you still struggling with the most ?

What changes have you made in your daily life to reduce stress so you can let your brain heal ?

ED, it will help us follow your recovery if you stay with this thread. If you start a new thread with questions, we have to research your other posts on other threads to find out what has been discussed. We have PCS, too. Some of us have horrible recall difficulties.

Hi ED,

I agree with Mark. You may not get your old life back but your "new" life can be just as fulfilling.

Heavy partying, loud music, flashing lights may always cause problems. But getting together with a few friends for a barbeque or to watch a sporting event is possible.

Let us know what symptoms you are having and we can help.

Virginia

Absolutely it gets better.

We are designed to heal. I believe that.

Patience, patience, patience.

And adjustment to new normal helps a LOT.

Its a lonely feeling, being in this condition, it feels hopeless, no one can do anything. Today i pushed the issue with my nuerologist to confirm what is happening to me he said mri normal there is nothing wrong. I said aside the fact i have a concussion, he replied i bumped my head he said because nothing shows on mri he cant speculate. Nevertheless he said my symptoms r from me bumping my head that in time it should resolve. I mentioned other tests, such as fmri, eeg, pet etc... he said not necessary. He said to get another opinion , from a different neurologist. Im going crazy.

ED,

Doctors CAN NOT DO MUCH to help you. More imaging and diagnostics will be of No help. fMRI will possibly show that you have an injury but it will not change the fact that you have to take part in your recovery.

What are you doing to help your brain heal ?

Have you read the Vitamins sticky at the top ? Your brain needs good nutritional support. It is polluted from the injury.

Again, what are the symptoms that you struggle with the most ?

Your obvious anxiety is the worst thing you can do for recovery. Anxiety is a brain polluter. It only makes life worse. This is again why you need good brain nutrition.

Vitamins, diet and such are not a cure but they are a start to allow your brain to heal. Combined with stress reduction and proper quiet rest and your future looks good. Without these changes, your future may improve or you may cycle through the roller coaster of PCS for months or years. It is up to you to try to take some control over this situation.

My best to you.

Ed,

To answer your question, yes it does get better. I am virtually back to normal apart from still having headaches and fatigue. You will get better too, but its very early days for you, you need to reduce demands on yourself and relax.

The fact that the MRI is clear is good news. The problem is head injuries can still take a long time to get over, you are going to need lots of quiet rest.

I know it is difficult, but stop worrying you have a concussion not a permanent brain injury. Anxiety only increases the symptoms of PCS. Many users of this forum, myself included, have been helped by antidepressants. As well as improving mood and anxiety, many also help reduce physiological symptoms in turn, reduce pain and improve sleep.

An option to seeing another neurologist would be to consult with a clinical neuropsychologist. A clinical neuropsychologist specializes in brain/behavior relationships; their approach is more focused on resolving cognitive, behavioral and emotional deficits than a neurologist typically would be. A full neuropsychological assessment would be expensive but if you have health insurance this may be covered.

Your injury is fairly recent. Progress in TBI recovery is more often measured in weeks or months rather than days. Your recent posts have more detail and seem more thought out and focused than your early posts, which in and of itself suggests you are already improving.

Look for the positives rather than dwelling on the negatives. You can’t change the fact that you suffered a concussion, but you can be an active participant in your recovery. As Mark stated your anxiety is not helpful. People recover. Wishing you progress each day.

I can relate.

brin injjury from prescription drugs and in same boat
 

It was a hypertensive crisis caused by drinking beer with maoi, a type of antidepressant that causes a stroke if you ingest tyramine, a substance found in beer. trying to put the pieces of my lif together for 6 years now.

it DOES get better but in very small steps..progress is measured in weeks not in days!!!! and it is a marathon!!

Thank you to everyone in this forum especiallly Mark for the above words of wisdom!

Hi everyone, considering i fell hit back of my head on march 10
i only then began to experience symptoms april 9, why the delay
in onset of symptoms? Also, considering how long its been now, have
my symptoms / condition climaxed or is it possible for my
condition to get worst?, aside the fact i have anxiety in which
i have been managing now with meds.

ED

From what I understand people can (rarely) experience PCS for the first time up to 6 months after trauma.

My symptoms were delayed for about 3 to 4 weeks after head trauma in November 2012, but got progressively worse until Christmas, but then I collapsed in the New Year and things got worse again in January and worst of all in February.

I would say that my symptoms have got progressively better after the 4 month point, and I am now nearly better with the help of medication.

We all react differently, and no injury is ever the same, it is a rollercoaster, but eventually symptoms will come and go, until gradually they all disappear or are there in a greatly reduced form.

You can get 100% better, keep yourself calm and try not to worry - it just takes time!

thanks for this can u tell me how ur injury occured and the 4th month mark for was 4 months from the accident or from when symptoms began?

ED

Hit my head off the metal corner of my car door very hard, drove for 30 minutes and started getting dizzy. I then pulled over and lost consciousness and woke up with four people around me, went to hospital via ambulance and needed CT scan due to bradycardia.

Symptoms started coming and going/reducing 3 to 4 months after accident, but I thought I was nearly better at Christmas before getting worse than ever in January/February.

I am now working/driving and leading a full life with the help of medication and pacing myself as I get better. You have plenty more ups and downs ahead of you but you will get there.

Keep a diary to log symptoms/triggers/positives/negatives/fatigue levels/sleep pattern/good and bad days. This will help you see what works and will also help you record your progress. Good luck!

im having a bad day, depressed, crying a lot, family going through my mind, feelings of dispare, not sure i will get through this, my gut feeling im like this for life and that why i cry and think about my family...what have i done?:(

It isn't easy, I used to think the same thing, is it permanent? The answer is PCS is a temporary condition, although it can take a long time to get over for some of us. Stay positive, ignore the sceptics and believe you will get better!

thanks for this

ed

ED,

One of the most anxiety causing things you can do is compare time lines. No 2 people have similar time lines. What matters is understanding the behaviors, work-arounds and therapies that help people move forward in their small steps.

Rather than post your email address, you can select the email option in your CP settings so people can email you through your screen name.

Select User CP at the upper left and in your preferences/profile settings check Allow people to email me.

ED,

As Mark says, your better just to PM me, I would also edit your post by deleting your email because anyone could email you. I really hope your feeling a little better today!

Hi just got back from store and a lot of people noise
it did not go very well for me, felt dizzy, out touch
with the eviroment, things happening to fast, confusion
setting in, it a terrifying feeling. Are these normal symptoms?

ED

Stores are a big challenge
 

I really limit the amount of time I spend in a store. The lighting is awful, there is too much stimulation and you will get sensory overload.

I also get really sick and dizzy from scanning the shelves looking for items.

Large crowds are hard, there are too many things to deal with. You also may find the same thing with conversations, I can speak with one or two people but once there are more people, I get really tired and trying to keep up is too hard.

My process know for the store is to walk in, go around the perimeter and pick maybe one aisle to go down. Unfortunately you do not get everything you need but you learn to make do.

Good Luck, it does get better, but try and limit your symptoms any way that works.

By going to a store with lots of noise, people, bright lighting, and hundreds of choices about what to buy you are overloading your brain.

If you can you should avoid Supermarkets and other busy or noisy places until a lot of your symptoms reduce.

I found the Supermarket a great recovery marker as I got better, because each time I went the symptoms decreased.

For the time being, I think you should stay indoors and be getting quiet rest and relaxation.

Having a hard time.
 

I am having such a hard time with my PCS today. I am almost 6 mo. in and feel like it will never get better either. My neuro said I would have some bad days - and I thought the days I was having WERE the bad ones - daily headaches, unable to concentrate - then out of nowhere - dizziness, fogginess and just feeling out of it. Everything is an effort. There are no warnings - I try and do everything right - eat well, exercise - it does not make a difference. I read each post and can relate to each symptom. Just a really bad day:(

prI complete understand what u r going through because im going
through the same, daily headache, dizzy, fatigue, noise sensitive,
problems with environmental awareness. Im in my 4 month post injury
and third month with symptoms post injury. there are many times
i think this will never get better, but as u can from this forum
there is hope, people do get better, :hug:so for me i hold on to
hope. I wish u a complete recovery, never give up hoping, the day
will come and u will feel better.

ED

Thank you
 

Thank you for the kind reply Ed.

Today is a new day and a better one than yesterday. It is nice to have a support group such as this as it is very frustrating trying to explain what is happening to you because they don't understand - I did not understand before this happened. I think also - that most injuries/surgeries etc. clear up quite quickly in comparison to a concussion - and I feel that I am always complaining when someone asks how I feel.
I hope that you are having a good day today - you certainly made mine better. Take care.

got home and i feel out of touch with reality, do u get this feeling or sensation, like lack environmental perception..does anyone feel this way?

ED

Yes.
 

Hi Mark.

I think it is extremely unlikely that you will not get your old life back.

I had concussion - it has taken me about five months to get back to 90%, but most people take only a few weeks or up to three months.

I have full confidence I will get back to 100%, or I feel a better diagnosis might be that any change will be almost imperceptible on a day to day level.

There are a lot of people on this forum that have ongoing problems but they are the exception rather than the rule. You will get there.

xo Raili

Very well said, I agree with you 100%!

If u dont me asking how did u get injured?

ED

Ed,

I've struggled with this question a lot since my accident. I can relate to you. We are a group that has plenty of time to think since our activities are so limited.

I found this and I keep reading it over and over.

"We must be willing to let go of the life we planned so as to have the life that is waiting for us." Joseph Campbell

I feel parts of me are forever changed. However, I can look back six months, three months, and see little parts of me coming back.

It's a longgggggggg process. It's the emotional equivalent of a twisty loop de loop roller coaster for me. Every day is different for me.

My neuropsychologist, which is great, advised me to get a hobby that doesn't highlight any of my disabilities. Huge help since I don't read, no tv, no movies, no music, no games. I do love looking at pictures. And reading here helps me cope but makes me sick.

I have no magic answer, but hope you find your peace, maybe a hobby, someone to email daily.

Peace, Jace

this is one of my symptoms: depersonalization, its really scary, does this symptom
resolve?

ED

Living Daze,

You are right, PCS is like being lost in the woods and then you recognise a path that you know and you start to come out of it. The trouble is it is a very long, often painful and tiring path, full of ups and downs.

As you go along the path, things about yourself and those who are close to you come back, and senses, activities, skills and understanding that you were once familiar with return to you.

Before you know it you eventually know that you are going to find your way and recover.

i saw something on line about hydrberic chambers, do u know if this helps or cures PCS?


Ed

sorry hyperbaric chamber

ED,

Most of the recovery from concussion that does not happen spontaneously and during the first few weeks requires the patient to learn to reduce stress. Constantly questioning the future is highly stressful. The only thing you can do about the future is to be patient and live a low stress life today.

If I wrote about every time I experience a PCS symptoms each and every day, I would never get free of that stress load.

We all need to find low stress activities to do to distract ourselves. We need enough activity to occupy our time and cause blood flow to our brains. We do not need activity that pushes our system and causes us to be reminded of our PCS because symptoms keep manifesting.

Some symptoms will be with us almost 24/7. Head aches, memory issues, over-stimulation, and dizziness are probably the most common. We do what we can to treat the head aches and accept that head ache treatment is not 100%. We use memory work-arounds and try to not take on projects that over-tax our memory system. We avoid sensory over-stimulation by using ear plugs, avoiding over-stimulating environments, and when over-stimulated, we take a break. If we can find treatment for the dizziness, we patiently allow the treatment to show benefits.

Some of us may be forced by financial and other circumstances to push in these areas. If so, we need to expect to have symptoms manifest. In the US, Americans with Disabilities Act provides workplace/job protections with reasonable accommodations. Understanding and accepting our current limitations helps us present our needs to our employer. If we are in denial about our symptoms, it will be hard to convince an employer to make accommodations for us.

I have experienced depersonalization. It is troubling and frustrating but by understanding what it is, we can continue on.

Think of it this way.
Someone goes to the doctor and says, "It hurts when I do this...."
The doctor responds, "Stop doing that."
The person responds "But I don't want to stop doing this."

What does the person expect the doctor to do ?

Just because one does not understand the connection between 'doing this' and "it hurts" does not mean denying that connection is acceptable.

Unfortunately, the U S population often struggles to connect cause and effect. They may have a bias that "the cause" cannot really be the cause in their mind. For example, research shows that most poverty is not caused by a lack of financial resources. Most poverty is caused by limits on or restrictions from opportunity. Give money to the poor and they stay poor with some nicer things. Provide them opportunities without burdensome restrictions on that opportunity and they tend to prosper. Giving money seems to be the easiest and quickest way to resolve poverty and more importantly the feeling of guilt by those who are not poor. Making opportunity accessible takes more effort and discipline and many of the non-poor will feel guilty as they see people struggle through the process toward success.

So, we need to stop denying our struggles and learn to work through them so we give our brains time to heal. No quick fix.

How are you doing?

Had a concussion from a car accident 4 months ago and can relate to all you are saying, for some reason my headaches are constant now, balance still off, confusion, memory problems, words coming out wrong, fatigue, depression... and I have thought is this how I'm always going to feel?

I also feel so detached from everyone.

Feel better...:grouphug:

im still battling headaches everyday, spacey feelings, lightheaded,
nausea from time to time and fatigue, anxiety and depression. its a battle
everyday, how r u?

ed

Just joining this discussion. Wanted to add that progress is lifelong. I am better than I was 3 months ago, but not healed yet. It is very slow, and there have been long periods of setbacks. Right now is one!
But I can see the pattern to have learned to be a bit more optimistic than before.
Having sad all that, there can be permanent deficits (visual, auditory, etc.) that one needs to accept and work around.
Good care and assessment is important so as to be able to be specific about therapies.
Hang in there. Take it hour by hour. You will come through this hell.

Hi Ed, hope you are feeling better today.

Last night I was thinking I have to stop fighting all this and go with the flow so to speak which is going to be very tough as I've always been such an active person, just walking the dog a short way, on flat ground, starts my headache up so then I get upset which doesn't help :rolleyes: the headaches can last for 2 days straight, then subside a little then come back full force.

Went to see my PT a few days ago who had me walking backwards and I could not keep in a straight line and almost fell over, so frustrating and I feel as though I have dementia. I feel detached from everyone, weird spacey feelings.

It's so tough, I'm trying to relax about it all and know it's going to take time but I'm the kind of person who fights through things and wants to feel 100% NOW!

As my therapist told me, your brain has to heal, you cannot push it.

Hang in there, you are not alone :grouphug: