Is dizziness concussion symptom or PCS?
 

Hi,

I am a new member here but I have the same annoying everybody has. I bumped my head about a year ago and got minor concussion at that time. Since then, I bumped my head lightly several times (I have a 2-year-old) and felt dizziness after each time. Things are getting better in general but I cannot exercise at all. Whenever I move fast, I feel dizziness and have to stop. Three days ago I hit curb when I was parking my car, the speed was low but I shook my head again (didn't hit anything). I started feeling strong dizziness this time. The symptom is still there till now although it is lighter. I really worry about my future.

1) Does dizziness mean another concussion or just some PCS? I noticed many people say they get concussion even after driving through a bump, does it mean being unconscious or just some headache or dizziness? I really do not know if my current symptom indicates another concussion or just a PCS triggered by moving.

2) What kind of exercise do you do when you have severe dizziness? I basically can do nothing. I behave normally in general but I feel dizziness after exercising. :(

3) I am living in Seattle. Should I go see any neurologist? I didn't visit any before. I visited my two family doctors and both said I am fine but I know I am not. :(

Thank you for your patience to read the post. People around me cannot understand my situation at all.

Johnson,

I think seeing a Neurologist is a great idea. I'm not sure if the "jarring" causes a concussion or not. I'm new to this. I do know if I'm in my husbands truck my head starts to hurt and I feel like throwing up. I dont have this with my car...well at least not all the time anyway.

The dizzyness/unsteadyness while trying to work out I can relate to. I would try walking. Its very theraputic. You can put your two year old in a stroller and just walk walk away. I am now using a treadmill at the gym. I put on my ear buds and focus on the music and hang on so I dont fall or loose my way. Sometimes my head hurts and other times it doesn't. It really depends on how busy the gym is and how tired I am.

I would stay away from running due to the head getting jarred around.

I would recommend getting gel inserts for your shoes so it can absorb the impacts while your walking. That has been a life saver for me.

Good luck and keep us posted. Make that appt. If anything you'll have some answers and piece of mind.

Johnson,

Welcome to NeuroTalk.

Some people develop a severe sensitivity to any form of head jarring after a concussion. This can be a sensitivity to a simple jarring like you experienced parking your car. It is a common symptoms of Multiple Impact Syndrome.

In your case, you may have also suffered whiplash during any of your previous head bumps. The neck is often overlooked after a head bump. Whiplash combined with concussion can cause some odd symptoms.

As crystal said, seeing a neurologist may be a good idea. You also may consider seeing a specialist in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, especially if you can get a referral to a PM&R doc who has good knowledge of concussion issues. A PM&R docs are often called a physiatrist.

You may find some information about local mTBI care at http://www.headinjury.com/

You may need a vestibular analysis done to see if vestibular therapy can help.

Keep looking until you find a doctor who listens to you.

My best to you.

I have all sorts of odd symptoms, too bad mine all are similar to someone who ahs anxiety, no one can diagnose me for certain.

I had major vertigo and balance problems. When I first went to the vestibular center for evaluation, one of the doctors tried to diagnose it as anxiety. I had someone with me, who can be fairly forceful, who fought that diagnosis and just kept repeating that before the injury I never had any anxiety issues. Finally, they did a thorough examination and found that I had some inner ear issues related to a jaw injury that was aggravated by the car crash that caused the pcs.

My advice would be to take an advocate with you to appointments and get a vestibular study done. There are lots of "dizziness" training exercises and I hated all of them but they helped a lot.

I had sever vertigo for 3 weeks after my injury. It was like being sucked down whirlpool, I would be pinned to my bed/couch unable to move until it passed.

I did some vestibular rehab moves and it lessened and now is almost gone.:)