Exercise after concussion
 

Hello everyone! I am new here. I am recovering slowly from a concussion (it was actually two blows to the head within a few days of each other). The accidents occurred around the first week of July, so it's been exactly a month now. CT scan was normal but I was having persistent swelling, pain and nausea even after three weeks. Finally I started making progress with rest, acupuncture and craniosacral therapy treatments. I was able to walk again without too much pain or swelling. I was feeling so much improved that a few days ago I decided to try going back to yoga as I have MISSED moving and working my body SO MUCH. The kind of yoga I do is Bikram yoga, which is a series of 26 poses performed in a heated room so that you sweat out toxins in the process. I think the heat wasn't such a good idea, as the day after I felt the swelling coming back and now it's been two days and I am feeling almost as if I'm back to square one. I don't want to get depressed but feel myself slipping into a hole again, as I feel like this is going to take weeks of rest and no sun -- again. I had come so far!!!! And then I pushed it too hard I guess.

My questions are, what's the best way to return to exercising? Has anyone else had problems with heat and swelling? Are you eventually able to go in the sun, and do intense exercise that raises your body temperature and heart rate and lets you SWEAT? I miss sweating! Never thought I'd say that but it's true :) I just feel so inactive and sedentary and not being able to exercise is depressing me so much.

I want to stay up and positive and hopeful, so I hope to hear from some of you with encouraging words and not the opposite :) :)

Much love and many thanks.

Maria

Welcome

Don't know your age or how you got injured or how severe. I do know injuries can be lifealtering, hopefully for a short while. I would think a head injury could be tricky; meaning not like a broken bone, usually 6 weeks and a broke bone is mended better than before.

I'm assuming you're not under a doctor's care for the head injuries or the doc would be the one to ask. See, with head injuries, it's a little more specialized.

Hot Yoga is very intense, so I will defer that to a doc. You could probably get by with some stretches right now. All that faithful exercising can pay off now so don't be in despair about not being able to right now. You're probably in great shape so your body can heal better now that it's injured. Give it a little time.

Here is the brain injury forum:

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum92.html

We're here for you. Keep in touch.

http://i489.photobucket.com/albums/r...tothegroup.gif

Hello Maria, and welcome to NeuroTalk! This is such a nice place with lots of friendly, caring, and helpful people.

We're so glad you found us! :)

I have no experience with brain injuries, but I agree with Broken Wings. If it was me, I would go easy on the exercise and I would talk it over with my doctor about what kind and how much exercise to do this soon after the accidents.

I wish you all the best.

Welcome to NeuroTalk. Great to see you have come to be with us. Just let us know if we can be of any help. We are all here to assist each other as possible.

Again welcome, looking forward to seeing you around.

Darlene:hug:

Easy Does It
 

Welcome Limitless,
I agree with the other posters, take it easy and defer to good medical advice on exercise.
Frankly, it is too soon after your injury to really know how your recovery is going. A clean CT scan means little: it isn't subtle enough to detect more than bleeds. Not to scare you, but many of us here were told we'd be over our little concussions in eight weeks only to later discover that we'd sustained diffuse axonal injuries or would would suffer from PCS for years.
The more we learn about concussion (and sadly troops injured by roadside bombs in Iraq and Afghanistan are providing lots of research subjects), the more it becomes clear that there is no such thing as a minor brain injury.
At this stage, if an activity aggravates your symptoms, your battered brain is begging you to stop doing it. Would you run on a broken leg? I was a serious athlete before my TBI so I know how frustrating enforced coach potatoness can be. However, you don't want to do anything that slows or limits your ultimate recovery.
In the meantime, be attentive to your symptoms. If they persist, if you notice cognitive deficits or if you (or others) notice personality changes, don't be afraid to push your doctor for more specialized testing.
Good Luck and Patience:Good-Luck:

Hey All,
I just registered after this thread came up on google. I sustained my latest concussion (many minor to medium before) 3 and a half months ago. I had total amnesia and a day after the most serious symptoms I've had yet from a head bang, I did yoga and stood on my head for a long time. From that moment on, the pressure headache hasn't let up a bit.

MRI was normal.... cognitive stuff lasted about 3 weeks....sensory overload lasted 3 months and is finally a bit better. But, the headache weirness (pressure on temple like imploding in head feeling), hasn't let up.

I too 'was' 'am' a serious athlete. I am going crazy doing nothing for 3 months. The two root canals last week didn't help, nor did finding out I have skin cancer and need a mohs procedure on my forehead in a week.

From those of you who've posted here a year ago or so.... IS it GONE? Can I look forward to this being gone? I am in and out of hope and depression. Any insight?

thanks a million,
steph

Hello Steph... I'm going to copy your post out to a thread all it's own as this thread hasn't been posted to in over a year.

I think you will get more responses having a seperate thread.
Here is the link to your own thread...
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/sh...d.php?t=138810

I hope you don't mind... I didn't want to see you get lost in this older thread.

:)
Abbie

Great to have you with us!!
 

Hello and welcome to NeuroTalk. Happy to see you have come to be with us. Just let us know if we can be of any help.

There are great number of fellow members here to assist as possible. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Again welcome, looking forward to seeing you around.

Darlene :hug:

Hi Maria, thank you for posting your experience.. I am so glad I stumbled upon this thread.. I am recovering from a cycling head injury a week ago and feel well enough to exercise and was contemplating on whether or not taking a Bikram class (love to sweat too) but after reading this I might have to wait!! I don't want to go into a deep depression if I go backwards..

I know this is an old posting and hope you're doing much better but if you have any tips on slowly getting back, I would greatly appreciate it!! Btw, how long did it take you to get back into the studio (Bikram)?
Joey