I have recovered!
 

So, if you follow the posts I've made over the past month, you can see that I have tried a lot of things, before eventually giving in to the frequent posters on this forum and going the "do nothing and rest" route. However, I ran across a story about a hockey player, Sidney Crosby, who had the same symptoms as me -- brain fog, depression, vision problems, head pressure, etc... -- and ultimately, he was diagnosed with an upper cervical injury. I searched through these forums, and discovered that one poster said that the doctor at the Buffalo clinic said that 90% of the patients he sees have neck injuries, not head injuries, which are causing their problems.

So, I began doing neck exercises, and some light jogging (this time capping it at 20 minutes). Here are the exercises I've been doing: http://healthyliving.azcentral.com/s...neck-3299.html

Also, I've been sleeping on my back, rather than my side. What I believe has been happening is that a muscle in my upper cervicle area is inflamed, and jogging and stress and sleeping on it wrong make it worse, which leads to an increase in symptoms. By altering my sleeping, exercising lightly, and doing frequent neck PT several times a day, I am happy to report that my symptoms have cleared up dramatically in the past two days, to the point where I feel great.

If you are struggling, rest may not be the best approach! If you have a neck injury, resting is not going to correct that injury, especially if you have the same posture and are inactive.

I strongly encourage you to investigate a neck injury, if you're having similar problems to me. I feel awesome today. There's a light at the end of the tunnel at last!

I'm happy to hear you're feeling well! The only thing I'd recommend is waiting a few weeks before declaring a definite recovery. If in a month you still claim that your symptoms have cleared I will jump on your recovery routine in a second.

I'm not trying to down grade a thing but as you likely know already, pcs comes with varying degrees of good days and bad. I do agree with you that the "rest your *** off approach" that's preached on this forum is wrong. There's enough research out there now that shows that exercise/cardio is essential for recovery, which may account for why you're feeling so well. I was riding my bike on my indoor trainer for a while before I pulled my calf and I was feeling great!

I'm just curious do you experience muscle spasms?

I frequently discuss upper neck injuries and the need to have good sleeping posture to allow the ligaments to heal and tighten up. Unstable upper cervical vertebra can cause chronic inflammation that exacerbates concussion symptoms. I have been living with this issue for 14 years.

Others frequently have used upper cervical therapies to resolve this issue.

btw, A few good days is just a start at recovery. Hopefully, these improvements will be lasting.

Interesting I just did the neck stretches sleepybo19 pointed out and I feel a slight relieve.

What I also did that helps is to rub the spot where the top of the spine meets the head. If you poke around in that area, you will find places that are sore. Rub those. I feel some immediate relief from doing that as well.
Day 3 since I started these neck exercises and I feel 98% recovered. Still feeling great! After almost two months with symptoms that weren't improving!

Hi sleepybo, can you give us an update? Just curious if the relief is lasting? I've got neck issues. VB

Doing awesome! I'd say I'm at 98%. Maybe even 100%. I had vision prpblens in my right eye for the past month and a half which have completely gone away, along with the cognitive problems. Come to find out, the optic nerve runs down the neck! Go figure.

Strongly encourage more people to give the whiplash exercises a try to see if it brings you any relief. I noticed rapid improvements.

This is day 5 or so I think?

Just an update. It's been over two weeks now. I am back to 100%.

Once again, I strongly encourage all of you to investigate a neck injury as the source of your problems. Worked for me.

When I got my concussion... they MRI my head and my neck.. which showed I have herniated/ degenerative disk on my C5... I am 3 months post concussion and can't exercise because when I try I get crazy head pressure and chronic fatigue the next day.... WITH THE WORST NECK ACHE EVER... I feel like the back of my neck is trying to strangle me...It has actually been keeping me up nights its so bad.. I miss working out soo bad... And that what is depressing to me... I miss the pounding heart... the sweating and the rush of a great workout..... But when I try.... I freak cuz of the head pressure... did you have this as well... I'm going to try the neck exercises and I will visit the chiro...tomorrow after reading this.....


Thank You

Hi there
Glad you are improving so well. I checked out your neck exercises. And they are very similar to what I am doing in yoga, without the dumbbell and towel.
My turning point in recovery was when I started yoga.
I noticed immediately the improvements.
My neck issues are all but gone but I still do the exercises two or three times a week,
Plus I see an osteopath , but only about once every 4-5 weeks , which also helps
But yes I believe you are right about neck causing head problems.


Good luck and keep healing.
Am

I am 99% there after 17 months . And thTs good enough for me xx
Carole x

Hey guys, felt the need to check in, since it's been a few weeks. Over Christmas, a lot of my symptoms returned, unfortunately. But then the past few weeks have been much better again? I had the doctor do a CT scan of my neck, with dye in the blood, to see if any blood flow was being blocked, and they couldn't find anything.

Anyway, not saying that it's NOT an upper cervical injury, just that my "I have recovered!" post may have been a little premature. The neck exercises did bring noticeable results within a few days, so it's cool to see other people experimenting with that!

Christmas is a stressful time period, even though it's a "good" kind of stress for most. You may have overdone it without realizing it.

I'm really glad to learn that you're still doing well.

And setbacks are kind of the way thing work after suffering from a bad concussion.