6 weeks with PCS, what can I do?
 

I was in bad car accident about 6 weeks ago where my car flipped. I was in state of shock for 10 minutes or so. I somehow escaped with minor bruises but don't feel normal in the head. CAT scan showed no signs of bleeding so that's good. Main symptoms are

1. not mentally sharp at all, simple task take a lot more focus and it puts a strain on my brain.
2. feel slight pressure on my head constantly. It's not like a typical headache. It's uncomfortable but not necessarily painful like most headaches are.
3. slight trouble with memory where I can't recall certain names/things
4. personality difference. I'm not as easy going as I used to be. Definitely more anxiety and irritability.
5. Inability to drink coffee or alcohol. Tried drinking 2 beers a month after accident and face got flush with headache. Overall lousy feeling.

Neurologist says I just have wait it out and it should get better in 1 month. Stay away from alcohol and stay active by walking for light exercise. If my symptoms get worse then he says MRI is the next step.

My stress levels are pretty high with dealing with constant pain from another injury. I also have mild case of sleep apnea which I don't use any devices for so may not be getting the rest I need to recover. Fiance thinks I'm holding myself back from getting better and it's all mental which is extremely frustrating.

I'm thankful I'm alive and can still function normally for the most part. The every day grind does wear on me at times though and it's easy to get down. Should I see another Dr. besides neurologist or is his advice sound this early on? What can I do to help myself recover? Thanks for any advice.

Are you still working and/or attending school? Most doctors recommend complete brain rest and light physical activity.

When I was in brain rest mode, I colored, listened to nature sounds (rain, waves), walked, listened to guided meditation & relaxation podcasts, did senior yoga at my community center, and avoided TV, reading, and computers as much as possible.

Good luck!

Currently off work due to an un-related injury. I went for a walk today which I found helpful to be in nature and just relax my mind. I wasn't sure if I should try to exercise my mind by reading and try to push through the strain but I'm thinking it's probably better just to rest for now.

today....

Never try to push through concussion symptoms. It only makes them worse and last longer. You doctor was dead wrong when he said you will be better in 1 month. He has no idea how long it will take for your brain to recover.

First, NO alcohol. No caffeine. As you get better, a single serving of caffeine in the AM may be OK. A single serving of alcohol may be OK. No getting buzzed. A hang-over is the brain complaining about the toxicity of the alcohol. You brain is currently struggling with the toxic waste from the concussion.

You say you were in a sate of shock for 10 minutes. Do you mean you were confused and struggling to think? Confusion from a concussion is very different than shock. Shock is a life threatening blood circulation condition.

I am betting you were dazed and confused. Did you have any alcohol in your system at the time of the roll over? It can magnify the symptoms.

Your symptoms may get worse without a need for further imaging. If you get extreme head aches or mental confusion or lose muscle control, get to a hospital. If you just start feeling more confused and lethargic, it is likely just the PCS as your brain tries to get better. Sometimes, the brain will shut down some neurons rather than wait for them to heal and work right. This can happen weeks to a few months later.

The change in personality is common as is the memory struggles. Slow down. Rest up. Eat healthy. And, watch the "You Look Great" series on YouTube with your fiancee'. It is 6 videos. Search YouTube for "You Look Great". You can also download the TBI Survival Guide at www.tbiguide.com Read it over with her.

She needs to be your support, not your conflict.

This is a start. More ideas later.

My best to you.

Thank you for the tips Mark. You're right, I didn't mean actual "shock" but just rather confusion and in an altered state of mind(1st survival mode and then confusion.) I had no alcohol in my system. I was reading about post traumatic stress disorder and the author Stephen Joseph said, "During trauma, however, the activity fot he hippocampus is supressed. Many scientists believe that this outcome is related to exxcessive stress, which kills neurons in the hippocampal pathway. It's as if a fuse has blown in the brain, shutting down the usual transfer of information...It usually takes around a month for the brain to repair the "blown fuse."

I no longer experience symptoms associated with PTSD but I'm wondering if that's contributing to my delayed recovery. I was taking pain relievers for another injury the 1st month after my accident so I'm thinking that masked a lot of my symptoms. I will watch that series on you tube. Thanks.

Be careful with self-diagnosis, especially PTSD. Even the pros are divided about PTSD. Reading about a disorder can easily lead just about anyone with unexplained symptoms to self-diagnose with that disorder.

With PCS, it is a cluster of symptoms that follow a concussive event. Only the symptoms are treated with PCS. There is no generalized treatment for PCS, just 'non-treatment' of rest, rest and more rest. Pain killer for the head aches, etc.

6 weeks turned to 6 months
 

Hi....my goodness,,this is my first day on here and it is blowing my mind to read about how so many of us have so much in common. It feels good in a way to hear that everything I feel, someone else actually has experienced, because from my experience with this PCS, you tend to feel very isolated and atmy times paranoidsince that people/docs think that u arecan nuts. I hate to sayyou it, but tomorowI will makebe 6 month since my concussion,,,and i am nooo way near better. I have had multiple cunsults with my phsyiatrist and neurologist,,i have not had yet one single day in 6 months without headaches and head pressure,,,witht a multitude of other symptoms over the months. Have lost my job...and it feels that no one takes this serious. I feel like a nuiscance to the docs...but this is very real. They tell me i should not be feeling this after 6 months....OK...maybe i shouldnt,,,BUT I DO..SO NOW WHAT?? Needless to saythe its verylike frustrating,,yes u should see ayou neurologist,,,there maywith be notfeeling much theyin can actuallyno do at this stage, but uI should beI monitored. Dont wait,,take ita from me,,this oneis fall down a fligt of stairs has changedto my wholefirst life...B]

QUOTE=todayistomorrow;830378]I was in bad car accident about 6 weeks ago where my car flipped. I was in state of shock for 10 minutes or so. I somehow escaped with minor bruises but don't feel normal in the head. CAT scan showed no signs of bleeding so that's good. Main symptoms are

1. not mentally sharp at all, simple task take a lot more focus and it puts a strain on my brain.
2. feel slight pressure on my head constantly. It's not like a typical headache. It's uncomfortable but not necessarily painful like most headaches are.
3. slight trouble with memory where I can't recall certain names/things
4. personality difference. I'm not as easy going as I used to be. Definitely more anxiety and irritability.
5. Inability to drink coffee or alcohol. Tried drinking 2 beers a month after accident and face got flush with headache. Overall lousy feeling.

Neurologist says I just have wait it out and it should get better in 1 month. Stay away from alcohol and stay active by walking for light exercise. If my symptoms get worse then he says MRI is the next step.

My stress levels are pretty high with dealing with constant pain from another injury. I also have mild case of sleep apnea which I don't use any devices for so may not be getting the rest I need to recover. Fiance thinks I'm holding myself back from getting better and it's all mental which is extremely frustrating.

I'm thankful I'm alive and can still function normally for the most part. The every day grind does wear on me at times though and it's easy to get down. Should I see another Dr. besides neurologist or is his advice sound this early on? What can I do to help myself recover? Thanks for any advice.[/QUOTE]

Yeah, I don't have any PTSD symptoms now. I was just saying that I was in an altered state of consciousness for a brief period and perhaps that contributed to my symptoms of PCS. I suppose it doesn't really matter why I have my symptoms but just how to go about treating them now. The consensus seems to be rest, rest, rest so I'll do my best to do that.

I am five months into this crazy world of PCS. There are so many differences in each of us and of course alot of commonalities. I will say it's a roller coaster ride that you just cant seem to get off from. Some days are better than others.

I look back at when I was first injured and I have come a long way. It's hard to be in pain day-to-day and in feeling that it can be hard to take the time to think about how far we've come.

Some days I cry and have my pity parties because it is isolating and sad, depressing and lonely. It's ok to have them, its good to cry.

Other days are better and I feel almost normal and think I'm gaining. It's those days I live for and it's those days that keep me going.

We are all grateful to be alive and I know it could of been worse but sometimes when your day is that bad and the pain is just plain awful it's easy to lose sight on that.

I hope you get the answers you are looking for and know you can always come here for advice.


I cant believe how long of a process this has been for me and there are many here who have been living with this for much longer.

It's nice to have a place to go to and know your not alone. To know your not crazy.

See another MD and get someone who works with you and that you can trust it's important to your recovery.

So I plan on going to see a neuropsychologist. Do you think based on my current symptoms I should do the 4-6 cognitive test or do the simpler less costly ImPACT test?