In need of guidance...
 

Hi all,
My names Is Cody and I joined this site in search of some guidance from others who have or who are experiencing PCS.
8 long months ago I was in a head on collision as a passenger in the front seat. Both cars going at about 50km/h. So pretty heavy as you can imagine.

I am seeking some sort of help to cope with my overwhelming stress, anger, and fatigue. In terms of pain (I don't even know where to begin) most days I am overwhelmingly cloudy in the head and have pain around my eyes. I experience an abundance of fatigue daily.

I feel like this is never going to end :|

I am currently still practicing meditation to deal with my stress.
Is it bad to over sleep with PCS??? Sorry for so many questions at once I am just very anxious to hear what everyone has to say.

A couple other things I should note, is that I am super irritable. I am taking Vitamins C, omega3, and over the counter tyenol for headache pain.

I guess the biggest thing Im wanting to know is: When your PCS symptoms come to an end, is it like the flick of a switch and they're gone.. Or a slow gradual slope to recovery? (im guessing #2) Also. At the tail end of recovery, did anything change in terms of symptoms??

Just a quick response....you need to get your vision assessed by a neuro-opthamologist or at least a neuro-optomistrist. The eye pain may be a sign your eyes do not work together any more, a common outcome of MTBI.

Someone like this...I don't know her but she is the type of person you should see!
http://www.visiontherapy.ca/

I think at this stage for you it will be a gradual improvement if you get an an accurate diagnosis of your deficits.
The other Vancouver person I would go to see is
http://www.bcphysio.org/carol-kennedy

She was so kind that she talked with my spouse here in Manitoba and even called a colleague here to tell him about my injury. She is an expert in concussion.

I would address the vestibular issues too.
Good luck! Accident must have been traumatic. Hope you are dealing with that.

It does get better. Slowly. Sometimes setbacks. But the brain is amazing and one day you will feel much better.

RoscoBC,

Welcome to NeuroTalk. Sorry to hear of your injury. The symptoms you mention are common. Over time, you will slowly heal and learn to change how you deal with these symptoms.

Did you hit the windshield with your head ? Seatbelts or airbags ? What kind if injuries were diagnosed ?

You will be surprised to know how many other injuries can be caused by such a wreck.

Read the sticky thread at the top about Vitamins. B's and some of the others are very important to an injured brain.

Ibuprophen/Advil is safer than Tylenol for head aches.

What are you doing to help with your recovery. Are you still active in life ? Are you or were you involved in contact sports ? More information about your living situation and daily activity will help us direct you.

My best to you.

Yes. Was wearing my seatbelt. Airbags deployed but I think my head hit the dash, and then the bags deployed.

I was active every day, constant gym-goer and played non-contact hockey once or twice a week. Thanks for the quick responses btw :)

This does not make sense. If you had your seat belt on, your head should not be able to hit the dash. A late air bag is also odd. A head on is by far the quickest to cause airbag deployment.

My questions are to discover possible injury mechanisms. You may have a severe case of whiplash. Seatbelts can cause whiplash.

I just wanted to add
 

Recovery is a little different for everyone, but my experience has been that a few months of gradual recovery was followed by a few big leaps forward. For example, my cognitive function was restored overnight. I don't think everyone has this experience, but I did!

Be aware that getting better, you will likely deal with setbacks, because it is dofficult to prevent yourself from doing too much. To try to avoid setbacks, you need to reduce stress and activity levels and very slowly ease back into your normal life. The key is to listen to your body! Denial is dangerous, so try to accept this reality will be your life for a while. It's hard, but you can get better! Good luck!

Anger and irritability is a common symptom, this is frequently treated by a mild antidepressant. Fatigue is a different issue and it may be the result of your not sleeping well. I developed sleep apnea after my injury and it plays havoc with my energy levels.

Lethargy
 

Lethargy is a very common symptom of PCS. There's always the chance for underlying conditions making it worse!

Rest is incredibly important in order for the brain to heal. I would not be overly concerned about sleeping too much at this point. After a brain injury, the brain can produce an excess of glutamate, an excitatory amino acid. This can cause irritability, anger and anxiety as well as sensory overload. Increasing Gaba helps to offset this, as it is an inhibitory amino acid, and has a calming effect. You can try taking a Gaba supplement. I have found it to be beneficial. To combat fatigue, I take Nulife Energy, which has a combination of different types of ginseng and other energizing supplements in it. I usually take this before I go to work to help me get through an eight hour shift. Green tea also helps with energy, and has a calming effect due to the l theanine in it. I am currently experimenting with taking Curcumin, as it is said to decrease inflammation in the brain. It also has an effect similar to ibuprofen and other NSAIDS, and may help to decrease pain. The pain around your eyes could be due to occipital neuralgia. I had severe pain in my scalp and behind my eyes after my car accident. This went away after about six months. Some of my PCS symptoms resolved after a few months, others took a few years. I still have some residual issues i.e. dizziness, balance problems, impaired cognition. Everyone's rate of recovery is different.