6 months pcs
 

Hi All,

I am just over 6 month’s post-concussion symptoms. It has been an absolute roller coaster, good days and bad. I just have a few general questions for my recovery.
My headaches have become more manageable, and less frequent, which is good. When I do get them they all seem to stem from tight muscles in my neck and back. I am seeing a physio at the moment; I have been there 5 weeks. I have seen some slight improvement, but I am still waking up every morning with tight back and neck muscles which eventually leads to a headache. My question is what could be causing my muscles to be so tight every day and what can I do to relieve it and help my recovery!??

Hope everyone is well today.

Thanks.

I do not know what your accident consist of...but I had major muscle spasms all in upper body,neck,face, because of many issues physically because of accident but the leading cause was anxiety/panic.The only muscle relaxer (out of A LOT) that worked was muscle relaxer/benzo that helped greatly was valium and I had to get cortisone shots because of physical problems.

thanks Mia,

What is benzo. I am currently taking magnesium which helps a little. I was knocked to the ground in August 2012 suffered whiplash and concussion. Definetley recovering, just tight muscles! !!

Benzo's are anti-anxiety meds. Benzo is short for benzodiazepines. They are a class of sedative. There are also muscle relaxants like carisoprodol (Soma) that can help your muscles to relax. You should not take them for long and not when you need to use your muscles in a strenuous way.

A physio may not have all the skills to manipulate your back and neck into proper position.

Thanks for your input mark. I had previouslt been to a chiro, to align my neck. I had an mri after it and it didnt show nay misalignment.. is it possible that is has come back out of alignent? Are there any over the counter muscle relexers apart from magnesium, ??

Thanks again

There could be bulging instead of misalignment....I have C1-C5 bulging

Thanks Mia,

I had an MRI about 2 months ago which showed nothing abnormal. Very frustrating having pain but not being able to pinpoint how to treat it :!

A standard MRI will not show the fine injuries common to concussion. A generic chiro is also not much help. If fact, if he did twist the head and pop the neck, he may have made it worse.

An MRI with the head turned sharply to the right and the left may show the lack of stability at atlas (C-1) to skull base (occiput).

btw, An MRI will never show a need for a chiropractic adjustment. Plus, a radiologist would not be looking for the signs of needing a chiro adjustment. M.D.'s and D.C. don't mix.

A good chiro may refer a patient to an MD but an MD will never refer a patient to a chiro.

Peter11,

Did you always have neck pain? I am 4 months PCS and like you my headaches have decreased, but they with still be aggravated by too much noise, light, activity and stress. I had neck pain, but only noticed it 2 months after injury. I was getting wave sensations through my body, which I am told is tension. In my case I feel that this has led to neck pain, it is only now that I am taking anxiety medication with pain killing qualities that my symptoms are dissipating.

Thanks for the input Mouse, Yes My headaches are exactly the same,, slowly diminishing but are aggravated by sound, stress, etc…. and yes I only noticed my neck pain recently… but I think this may be because my headaches are going. Throughout the whole ordeal I had neck pain, but now it seems to be more of a tense neck. I believe this tense neck and muscles contribute, and may even be the sole cause of my headache. I have had neck pain on and off for years, I have always been a ‘stress head’ and I think this is the reason for my neck pain, along with my poor posture which I’m working on at the moment.