what happens after one year?
 

Hi everyone, I've been dealing with PCS and occiptal neurolagia from a car accident in august. I've had multiple concussions in my past which is why this last one has caused such a mess.

I currently see a neurologist, concussion specialist, and I go for vestibular rehab, massage, acupuncture and chiro.

I just wanted to ask others if they've heard that once you've reached a year after your injury you typically see little to no improvement?

I've been off work since the fall. Although I want to go back to work my doctors wont allow me as nothings improved yet :(

If its true that after a yr you don't see much improvement what happens then? Will they let me return to work and just live with the pain if there's no much chance of improvement at that point?

There are no hard and fast rules about recovery and improvement. Many start improving at one year because they finally start giving their brain quiet rest. Some delay their improvement by putting too much effort into active therapies. Finding that level of activity that does not cause over-stimulation is important. Also, gently treating upper neck injuries that often are the cause of head aches and occipital neuralgia.

So, you should not fixate on stated time lines. Everyone is different.

I am at the year and 3 month point. The slowest period of recovery was the first 6 months. The fastest felt like 6-12 months because I got back working and to the gym (eventually).

In my case there is something to be said for recovery slowing after the year point, but I am about 90-95% better. I still get the headaches, milder fatigue and rarely tinitus, I am more irritable. I am looking forward and not back, and no longer think about PCS and Concussion at all.

I am on Lyrica and Cymbalta so that probably influences everything as well.

There is no magic in a year. My biggest leap came after two years. Your brain continues to heal and adapt as long as you live. Hang in there!!!

Rest is important. It is hard with so many appointments. Some weeks I had 10. It was awful.

Rest and heal!

Recovery is a marathon and not a sprint
 

Hello!

One important thing I learned here is that recovery is a marathon of learning your triggers and how to avoid them. It's no sprint to the finish line.

Reducing stress has been key for me. And I hope you can reduce stress in every way you can.

We all break our brains differently and so no 2 healings can be just the same either. Even so, we can learn quite a lot from one another.

This Saturday I will be a year out from my "mild" concussion and ensuing pcs. There is nothing mild about a concussion at all. That concussion knocked me out of work and made me wonder if I would ever be able to work.

For myself, I only know that I continue to get better. I hope you too will keep getting better and finding the answers to your questions.

There is hope in all of this. I thrive on hope and try to put energy into positive thinking.

Take care

poetrymom

Yesterday was my "one year" anniversary of my head injury and subsequent PCS.

I floundered for a long while until some great people on this board recommended I see a neuropsychologist who was instrumental in my recovery.

I was seeing my primary care and a neurologist when I met with him, but through testing and interviews he pinpointed exactly what my issues where, and referred me to appropriate therapy - speech therapy in my case at a rehab hospital on an outpatient basis for memory issues and cognitive deficits.

There I learned that I was not "crazy", that I "might" improve, and maybe more importantly that I could learn "compensatory strategies" that could allow me to live as normal a life as possible.

I decided this is no different that anyone else that has had an accident and subsequent injury and is forever changed.

I don't know if I will get better, but I feel a lot better than I did a year ago. I was not driving, I had bad headaches, I had bad "foggy" feelings. When I saw the neuropsych in June of last year, he said "in one year, you will be a different person". I did not fully believe him, but it is true, although I am a "different" person, as some things that were easy and automatic, require effort now.

My own personal belief is that it takes confidence, the right therapy and time, and in the end, acceptance and accommodation. But I think maybe the greatest gift to those of us afflicted is support - from those who have "been there, done that", which this board is.

Hang in there! It's a long journey.

I am also at 13 months for a mild concussion that has left me out of work and un able to do many of the things one normally does in a day. I had been doing much better until some recent testing that found some inner ear damage, but stirred up all my symptoms again. I have not gone a day with out a headache in all that time. My neuropyschologist said "some day you will leave here and not be crying".
I am told that I still have a chance of recovering better than I am now. It just takes time.

Every person is different and every body heals differently, you will feel better, I still hope to! :)

I'm not sure I would call a concussion that keeps someone out of work and unable to do daily activities, for over a year, "mild".

But everyone does heal differently and everyone does have different areas of the brain injured...

It took almost three years before I was properly diagnosed with neuroendocrine dysfunction ... Many (possibly most) people don't get diagnosed for many more years than that!

Anyway, I'm finally improving and will continue to do so with the hormone replacement therapy.

There is hope for everyone I think. :)