5 months post concussion. When will this be getting any better?
 

Hi everyone

If you already could not tell I'm brand new here. I'm here to learn, to seek help, and just to overall get support from all different people. Which I hope I'm in the right place for. Anyways, this will be long, but I first want to give some background. I'm 14 years old and hit my head playing football in my friends backyard on October 17 2014.

I will never forget that day. I was having a blast with my friends and just In a few seconds it impacted everything in my life horribly. From depression, to confusion, to all these symptoms that won't go away I feel stumped. I had hope for the first couple weeks then lost everything.

I pretty much have little to no hope now. Now, let me tell you how my life's been since the accident. Every single day I'm in this weird dreamy fog, and I'm tying this right now with it. It's almost like how people explain what being high id like. That's how I feel, everyday. And I have to push through it, in school.

My next symptom is my brain gets to a point in the day where it's heavy and tired that it makes it hard to do anything. And finally, depression. I'm depressed a lot now thinking how I haven't hung out with friends or played a sport in so long because of my symptoms. Well, I guess it could be worse.

That's all for now, if anyone can please reply and just talk to me that would be great. Other info: I go to a concussion specialist every 3 weeks and I'm seeing a neurologist in 4 weeks.

Make sure to talk to people about it, and hang with your friends in a different way , I was super active when I got this and am learning you gotta keep people in your life even if it's a different way, just hanging out or whatever . Sometimes tou may be making strides in the right direction and not even realise it, I was in the same funk, I went back and read some of the notes I had made months ago and that have me hope cuz boy was some of it non sense



Do your best to relax, the more you relax the better it will get make small adjustments to ease the load. Have some fun

SamG11,

Welcome to NeuroTalk. I'm sorry to hear you are struggling so.

What has the concussion specialist done to try to help you recover ?
What are you doing to try to recover ?
Are you still taking/attending all your classes at school ?
What do you do when your brain gets tired and heavy ?

Are you taking any meds or consuming energy drinks, etc ?
How is your sleep ?

What is you home life like ? Noisy siblings ? TV or video games blaring ?

The usual protocol for recovery is a low stress life. Minimal screen time. Minimal chaotic sounds and visuals. Moderated physical exertion so there is good blood flow to the brain but not too much physical effort/stress.

We are here to try to help.

My best to you.

Hi mark, I'm going to try to answer most of your questions as best as possible.

Well first, I'm taking omega 3 fish oil pills everday of1000mg, and super b 12 complex vitamins of 500 mg per day.
The concussion specialist has done all sorts of things to help, he has tried different medicines (that did not work), gave me tips on taking good care of my brain while it's tryig to heal, and tries to answer most of my questions.

Now for school, oh school. School has been probably the worst part of my pcs experience. It is horrible. All my symptoms increase drastically and I have to push through it day by day. I missed a bunch of school and did half days way back in October but I just missed too much school so I am forced to go. my grades changed from As and Bs to Cs and Ds because of it. And it just makes me more depressed.

My house, no one really besides my parents know actually how bad this is. So whenever my siblings see me crying or complaining about it they just yell at me and tell me to man up. And my house life is very lazy, I just rest all day and play a little bit of video games here and there. Anytime my symptoms get worse I just lie in a dark room and rest.


oh and one more thing I wanted to mention is that my two worst symptoms are: An dreamy/foggy like state in in all the time, and my brain gets so heavy and tired.

Hope I covered everything,
Thanks so much
Sam

Can you be more specific about the things the concussion specialist did ? What meds did he try ? Are you taking any of them now ?

You should not be pushing through until you are fatigued. It will take forever to recover if you are constantly pushing through.

You would be better to miss school and need to repeat than to struggle through almost failing your classes. A reduced class schedule with tutors would be best. Has anybody suggested requesting an IEP (Individualized Education Program) ? You may qualify. Here is a link to information.
https://www.understood.org/en/school...-and-504-plans

i don't remember the names of the meds, however I know that they were for my eyes and my head at the time because my eyes would burn and I would get headaches. (some symptoms I used to have but now are gone)


And for school, good idea with the missing classes and a tutor. I think next time I go to my specialist I'm going to talk about that and see what he thinks too.


Another think I wanted talk about more is about treatment for my symptoms. Do you know if there is any medicene or treatment for my dreamy/foginess feeling, and brain fatigue and heaviness?

Your symptoms will reduce when you heal more. Fatigue is because your brain is doing too much. Healing happens best when you are able to extend your minimal symptom days. Activity to a point of fatigue or an increase in symptoms is counter to recovery. You must avoid activities that cause an increase in symptoms. You siblings need to cooperate with this.

Your parents need to advocate for you. Check out the Vitamins sticky at the top. At the bottom of the first post are some links to check out. The YouTube and BrainLine links are great.

My eyes start to burn when I have done too much. My head aches also.

Recovery is more about what you don't do than what you do.

Hi Sam,

Welcome to the forum. A lot of us have been through similar experiences and know how hard this is. It can feel as though you're losing your life and no one understands. It will get easier.

The first thing I would like to say is that things are going to be okay even though they are going to be different for now. I have had to accept a lot of things being different. But I still have to say "accept, accept, accept" to myself over and over sometimes, about things that are changing.

It sounds like you were on a pretty good recovery plan, but that you were forced to return to school before you were ready. I know you, your parents, and your teachers are all worrying about your grades and life. What I am learning, especially with support on this forum, is that we have to address what is happening with our health right now, before we can start planning for next year.

So here are some thoughts, some of which have already been mentioned:

1. Your parents need to advocate for you between the doctor and the school. You should not be pushing so hard at school that you develop symptoms to the point of suffering or you will not get better. The doctors should have a detailed "Return to School" type of plan that the school must follow (something similar to http://www.chop.edu/pages/return-lea...n#.VRlOj0Kpn48). Try not to worry about missed time. Have your parents talk with the doctor and the school about any options regarding medical accommodations. Half days, tutor, half workload, limited makeup work, no tests or take home tests, at most, I would think.

2. We all wish it were different - boy, do we - but there is no magic cure but rest. You must rest. You are not "lazy" at home. Don't give yourself that negative label. This is recovery. It is your job to rest. If you feel like you need to do something, try listening to audiobooks rather than playing video games - or there are other posts on here that have good ideas of restful things to do.

3. Maybe your parents could talk with your siblings about being a little more supportive. Everyone can be more educated about brain injury and what kind of environment can help you recover.

4. Depression is a common effect of concussions. Don't be embarrassed about talking about it. It's not just a symptom, but it can also continue because of stress and life changes. This is a big ongoing problem for me. I see a therapist regularly and I remind myself that yeah, this is hard and sucks and I feel bad and it's okay to be where I am and tomorrow is a new day.

Hang in there.
Be well
Julie

Hi Julie!

Thanks so much for replying. i really do appreciate all the support and tips that you gave me it truly means a lot. anyways, what I also wanted to say was is that I don't want to take more time off from school cause it's just embarrassing now. all the kids at school look at me like I'm weird or have a problem because I've had a concussion for so long and I just hate the attention. I just tell the kids at my school that I don't have it anymore. (All the staff know that I lie about this because it just takes less pressure off me)

And they understand that I don't want to show as week to all the other kids. I'm going to have to figure something out soon or I'll just end up never getting better. Besides that, I just need these symptoms out of my life. I need some sort of medication to hold me to when I get freed from this concussion. My 3 biggest symptoms are this dreamy/foggy feeling, and my body is almost 75% percent numb. And my other one is my "concussion fatigue" is what I like to call it. It's just that my brain gets too tired from doing schoolwork and stuff and it gets heavy. Oh And the last one is sensitivy to light. (Forgot to mention this in my other posts)

The sensitivy to light is awful. In school or at a store those horrible big lights make my head super heavy. And make my dreamy feeling worse. I just need to know if there are medications for these type of symptoms.

Do you know? If not it is totally fine and maybe someone else can answer that for me. Meanwhile, I'll try to research it myself while in waiting for a reply.

Thanks so much!
Sam

Sam,

There is no 'concussion' medication. There are meds that help with some symptoms, like head aches. There is not a medication for the fogginess.

The best way to help with recovery is to avoid activities that cause a return or increase in symptoms. Pushing through will slow or stop your recovery.

You and your parents have a decision to make. Are you going to become informed about concussions and how best to recover, or are you going to push forward for the sake of image and staying on schedule and flounder for months or even years ?

Have you had a full neurological exam ? Your numbness could be from a neck injury. Do you have any, even slight stiffness or tenderness in or around your neck or behind your ears ?

Sam,

I am so sorry. This is really unfair, I know it. I know you want and deserve to have a normal life.

I know you need to be a normal high school (I'm assuming) student, you need your peers to respect you. You are smart and competent and deserve respect, and your injury does not affect that. However, other people are shallow and make uneducated judgments, as you know, and that can't change the decisions you make for your own well being.

Something I imagine you are worrying about: not finishing the year. Okay. Pretty bad, yes. You have to talk to your parents and teachers about this worry. There are options. But just pushing through may not take you there, and more importantly, you will not have healed, meaning that in the fall you will not be in a position to handle a full time year.

I am so, so sorry that Mark is correct and there is not going to be a medication that will cover for you and 'bridge' you until you recover.

Someone might have ideas about the numbness - I don't. But what I can tell you is that this is a very painful process of acceptance, at all ages. You will feel like you are losing parts of your life - but you will get them back. It is really, really hard and most of us have gone through it. No one here underestimates how difficult it is - and we are here for you.

Also: Try to find a support group nearby, especially one with young people. There should be one. Contact biausa.org of your state. Social difficulties happen for many of us after our brain injuries, but rough snap judgments especially happen a lot in adolescence and young adulthood - we older people forget because we survived (as will you) but as a result we aren't always as sympathetic as we should be. Other kids with injuries will get that.

Warmly,
Julie

healing
 

Hi Sam,

Sorry to hear about your injury and struggles. Amazing how life can change in an instant. We share the light sensitivity and numbness symptoms.

It has been about 6 months since my accident and I also tried to push through working full time up until March. It doesn't work!

I wanted to share the analogy that my vestibular therapist gave me yesterday. Non-injured people are able to subconsciously filter out the
irritating noise, lights, etc. that are so bothersome to us, and they don't need to make an effort to do so. Likewise with vision, balance, and
just thinking clearly.

Post-injury often we no longer are capable of those 'automatic' processes, and they now require a huge portion of our mental 'fuel tank'.
Any tasks, etc take longer than they used to, and that's before even factoring in the cognitive strain.

So as everyone has suggested, you need a plan to allow yourself to heal without draining the fuel tank on a daily basis.
Been there, done that!

Try to think of the big picture-- high school kids that don't understand the situation are only a temporary presence and way less important than
the rest of your life!

Obviously you are smart since you are capable of A's and you are seeking help here. It will get better and you have youth on your side.
Being well-rested may also help with the depression.

Take care,
Grace

SamG11,

It gets better, but only with time and rest. After my concussion it took 10 months before I felt like myself again. Rest is the name of the game.

Try to wear sunglasses as much as possible, even indoors, to deal with the light sensitivity. If you have sensitivity to loud noises try earplugs at night or when you need to concentrate.

What helped me is listening to podcasts. There are a million podcasts out there for every subject and pretty much every possible thing. Get an ipod and listen to those. I suggest comedy podcasts. It might lighten your mood.

Another thing I suggest is to go see a counselor that specializes in people that have had injuries such as yours. When you talk it out, it makes things feel much better. You may have to go see a few different ones until you find the right guy that can help.

Remember. It will get better. It just takes time. When you're 15 everything feels like it takes so much longer. Good Luck :)

First off I'd like to thank everyone for all the support and the advice you have been giving me it truly means a lot.

And so sorry I didint reply for a week or so!


Things have still been the same at school sadly, but I've been discussing medications with my doctor and i have been less depressed. My parents and I are trying to figure out what I'm going to do for my last 2 months of school, but I'll try to make sure to let you all know what we end up doing.

Hi Sam,

I was waiting to pick my kids up from school and got hit in the head with a basketball. I'm 2 months in to my concussion. I get how you feel. I was so active in my life and so busy and got really depressed after this happened feeling like I would never get better. I couldn't work or go to my kids soccer games or do anything. I walked around with my head in a fog most of the time. And I felt like no one understood what I was going through. My doctor still doesn't get it. He keeps telling me I should be better by now. Even friends would see me and think I should be better.

I'm no expert. I'm still having issues. All I can write about is what has helped me with my depression.

1 - Telling everyone what I am going through. They call this the invisible injury because no one can see your broken brain. It's like when I broke my ankle and had crutches and a cast and everyone was like " yeah that must be hard to get around" and I could explain how I couldn't take out the garbage etc. But with a brain injury no one gets it. There is nothing to 'see'. No way for people to understand just by looking at you. So I post on Facebook how I am feeling and doing. So people know. I get a lot of understanding and support this way. Because people see me and think I'm fine. But I'm not. So I write about my daily experiences. What it's like to have foggy brain. Or how frustrating it is to get a headache after talking to someone. Or how last week if I titled my head in the shower I got sick but this week it's ok. I want people to know what I'm going through so they get it.

2 - I focus on small goals. Things that I can do and things that will make me happy. A friend coming over for a small visit, painting a picture, re-organizing my room. Whatever small thing. Because I need things to look forward to. I was so social and active before so now I have to re-frame what that is. Before I was getting so consumed with what I couldn't do so now I find positive things to focus on. Things I can do. Things however small that will make me happy.

3 - Have hope. I just have hope. I just have to. I was so consumed and depressed thinking about how sucky my life was and all the things I couldn't do. So one day I just said no more. I just have to believe I will get better. So I focus on any small thing that I can do this week that I couldn't last week. My husband is great for pointing stuff out since I often don't notice. Even though I seem to be getting over one symptom and then developing a new one, I still focus on the one that's gone. I just chose to believe my future will be bright. It may not be exactly what it was, but it will be awesome. Maybe even better

4 - I've stopped pushing myself. I had a really busy job and when this first happened I was crazy stressed trying to get people to cover for me and stressed thinking the job couldn't be done without me. I know you are younger and in school but maybe it's the same. I finally accepted that now is not the time to be working - it's the time for healing. And that means resting and doing whatever I need to do get better. So for me, work is not an option. Not now. Not until I'm better. But I do try and do small things every day. I get out of the house for short periods of time. And when I'm home I try to find things that bring me joy. Anything to keep my mind healthy.

Anyway. I just wanted to say Hi. I get it. You aren't alone. I hope you find a way to not have a foggy head every day. I hope you find a way to find people who understand. I hope you find a way to bring joy to your days. I hope you find hope

shaymm,

Glad to hear you found the "This is the way I am and I am going to rejoice in small victories rather that what I can't do." That is the best way to move forward. Research has proven it.

Many have found that this new perspective can actually improve their life as they learn to let go and just live day to day.

So, be sure to cherish your small goals but try to remember that improvements are best followed over a longer term, two weeks or even more. Those short term improvements tend to just be up parts of the roller coaster ride. Over time, the roller coaster will slowly start to flatten out.

If you need help explaining your condition/limitations, there are ssome simple concepts that can be helpful.

The most common issue is called filtering. The concussed brain often has lost a great amount of its ability to filter out excessive stimuli. Background sounds, voices, lights, images and such that used to be ignored are now competing for attention against the things you need to pay attention to.

Multi-step processing is another. In the past, you may have been able to connect steps of a multistep task without even thinking about it. Now, those steps do not get linked together as easily as we expect.

It can help to use lists for multistep tasks.

Keep moving forward and please let us help you understand your symptoms and frustrations. Properly understood, it is easier to find ways to work around our limitations.

btw, SamG has not been on NT since March.

My best to you.