PCS or no?
 

I am quite paranoid about having PCS, I very much do not want to further damage my brain, or have recurring symptoms.

Ever since I was a kid I have had a fairly severe chronic headache problem, often triggered by high amounts of stress or stimulation.

For the first few months of my PCS I did not have ear ringing, it spontaneously started about 4 months in, and has never gone away.

At this point in time my only current symptoms are ear ringing, and headaches. The problem is I don't know if these symptoms are related to my concussion or not.

I have no cognitive struggles, and haven't for about 6 months. Honestly, I am almost tempted to go for a jog and see if I have any symptoms, though I really do not want to instigate a setback of symptoms.

Any suggestions? This is a really annoying situation for me.

The ringing in your ears may be a symptom of the concussion. It also may go away.

If I were you, and I hadn't had any cognitive problems in over six months, I would definitely try to see what I could do. (I've tried to see what I could do despite having cognitive problems!)

Instead of going for a jog, which does sound very nice, why don't you see what a long walk or a brisk walk would do? Or a short hike? Or something not quite as jarring as a serious jog? Then build up to a jog after you can take a brisk walk, or whatever, every day, or every other day, for two weeks without having symptoms return.

Yes, I completely agree with you. However another problem is I have had headaches almost daily for my whole life, and let's say if I went for a brisk walk, and I got a very bad headache, I wouldn't know if that was due to my walking, or just my normal headache type stuff.

Thanks for the quick reply.

If sounds like you are concerned about whether the head aches are PCS related or due to you lifelong struggle with head aches. I don't think the differentiation matters. If jogging causes head aches, you will need to either tolerate them or change your jogging to something that does not cause headaches.

At this point in recovery, everything becomes a test. The slower and more cautiously we introduce new activities into our daily activities, the better chance we have at determining if they are triggering symptoms. So add one new activity, wait a few days to see if it causes a return of symptoms before increasing the intensity of that activity.

Having recurring symptoms is much more likely as stress levels vary in our lives. I doubt your activities will damage your brain unless they result in a head impact. Jogging with a heavy pounding style of foot plant can be problematic so you need to work on jogging with a soft foot plant.

Your brain has been injured and is not sensitive to any impact or stress. This will be true for the rest of your life. You can develop behavioral disciplines that will minimize your risk of recurring symptoms. I have lived this way for decades. Sometimes, I will take on an activity knowing that I should expect to pay for that activity with a return of symptoms. It is an accepted risk with a risk benefit analysis.

We learn and move forward. That is how life works.

My best to you.

Shouldn't my sensitivity decrease as time passes? I hear that one can make a near-full recovery, and even more so when you are younger (18-) as I am.

I would be extremely content with living a life without any impact sports, or without doing risky activities

Do you think a life where I can play soccer by myself, on an empty field with no heading or any other players is possible? I honestly love running, and that is my ultimate goal.

Also I do want to get back in shape, and have great cardio as I did before. Are there better ways to get my cardio back besides running?

Also is weight lifting and abdominal exercises possible?

Those near full recoveries are just that. Often, the person can return to full functionality but will still be a person with a concussion history. This means keeping stress levels low and reducing risk of further impacts is still necessary. The brain is not like a bone that heals to original strength.

Anybody who claims a full recovery is misstating the case. Research completed in the 1970's shows that every concussion leaves lifelong weaknesses to stress, be it physical, cognitive, metabolic, or emotional.

You need to slowly reintroduce activities to see what your trigger points are. I have no problem jogging or exercising or working to high energy levels. I have learned how to pace those high energy activities.

I can not endure auditory over-stimulation. That is just me. Your triggers are specific to your injury.

I see, so even if you seemingly reach normal levels, and return to your normal routines, the fact is you still have had a brain injury.

Are there are good cardio exercises that you know of that are suitable for the more sensitive brain?

Try swimming. Also headaches are generally treatable it is distressing to hear you suffer from them daily. Have you sought treatment for them? If so what?

Nope, I have just learned to cope with them my own way. Honestly, headaches, tinnitus, most pain really doesn't bother me, it's what that pain signifies that worries me.

recovery
 

Mark really nailed some important points. We all have to learn how to live in a state of recovery from a brain injury. Each person will have a different answer to this.

I have recovered quite a lot from where I was, but I do tire more easily and my tiredness is no longer easy to put off. Meaning, I have to rest.

I need quiet in my life. I can't tolerate a lot of noise the confusion of many voices talking all at once. As I am more tired at the end of the day, this is harder for me and can give me a light headed feeling.

That said, I will take that 97 or 98. something and go with it. I never want to have to go back to the dark cave days of being in minimal light for 18 hours and waking brain tired.

Heal on friends. Heal on.

Yes. Another thing that is very troubling for me is that every single neurologist or physician I go to have VERY different opinions.

My sports physician seemed much more conserved than my neurologist, whom specializes in MTBI. My physician had the opinion that I should follow my symptoms, and try to find work arounds. Whereas my neurologist told me to just get back into the swing of things, and ignore my symptoms.

My neurologist was of the opinion that exercise is essential to recovery, and running and things like that were completely fine.

This really confuses me, as I honestly have no idea what to do, and what not to do.

I do feel like I've made significant progress which makes me happy. A week ago I was forced to drive on a dirty road which was EXTREMELY bumpy, this normally would have caused me a week setback. Now I had a bit of a headache for they day, and that was that. It doesn't seem like much but to me it is improvement.

Oh the confusion!
 

Hi there

It's very hard when you don't know which doc to listen to. But you seem good at listening to your own body and it will tell you what works and what doesn't work.

I do think exercise is important too for getting oxygen into the brain, but I know for myself, I probably can't tolerate the really hard running or hard heart pounding of an extreme exercise. I choose to walk long distances and use an elpitical machine, but never to exhaustion.

Ultimately only you will know what works and doesn't work for you by some trial and error. I am a believer in learning your triggers and working around them. But that's me. In time, maybe some triggers no longer are problems. I really don't know.

I don't think we come through PCS without some issues, scars if you will.

I take the good days I get, the healing I know, and just try to roll forward.

Take care,

pm