Who Knows?
 

So I'm at a loss. (sorry for the venting)

I am a little over five months out, and I honestly feel as low as ever.
Ive been traveling to see Dr Collins at UPMC every 6 weeks or so since the end of July ( 3 visits in total ), and my IMPACT scores have improved. At this point all my scores are in the 80th percentile or higher.

So that sounds like good news right? But I still have the foggy/drugged/out of it feeling. Still have the head pressure, and still have the anxiety/depression. Im in this rut, and I feel like I will never get out of it. I would cut off half my toes at this point to be back to where I was.

The only thing they could think to do was increase my dosage of Zoloft, which honestly just made me feel worse.

I dont understand- if my IMPACT scores are saying I am improving, and essentially healed, why am I still so symtomatic.

Is there anyone else on here who has been through a similar experience?

At times I think things are getting a little better, but then as many of you know, it all comes crashing back down :mad:

You are misunderstanding the meaning of ImPACT scores. The ImPACT system is primarily used to pull athletes off the field. The ImPACT system only tests a narrow set of functions. Then, it can be combined with other symptoms assessments to determine of the athlete is healed enough to return to play. A return to normal ImPACT score does not overrule continued fogginess, headaches, dizziness, or any other PCS symptoms.

Since you do not have a baseline ImPACT score, They can only use the broad baseline. This is problematic. Return to 80% of the broad population is not relative to 'your' pre-injury function levels.

The only value of the Zoloft is to treat the anxiety and depression. It does not treat or contribute to healing your concussion. It masks symptoms rather than heals them.

What have you been doing to facilitate improvement ? Are you moderating your activity levels ? Are you doing anything to minimize anxiety levels ? What about nutrition and dietary toxins ?

What are your daily activities like ?

Hey there. What you describe sounds very familiar. There were quite a few moments around the 6 month mark that I felt like my healing had not only plateaud, but actually gone backwards. But those feelings passed as well. As the months pass, improvements keep stacking up for me, as long as I do my best to support those changes. And like mark said, that test is quite a narrow aassessment of your functioning, and just one of many possible assessments. You are the first authority on how you feel and how that compares to how you felt before, and so be careful not to get too hung up on anyone else's perception of how you're doing, or how you ought to be feeling.

I am working full time, trying to exercise regularly, and trying to eat as many fruits and veggies as possible. I'm really not sure what else I can do.

Read the Vitamins sticky and at least get started with B-12, B-50 Complex, D-3, magnesium/calcium, and Omega 3. The injured brain needs more than simply a good diet.

And, do not push the exercise until your head pressure goes away. Just enough exercise for good blood flow. Not enough to cause head pressure.

It sounds like you have never given your brain the rest it needs.

Mark,

For 2 months, I did very little. I laid very low and tried to rest lots.
I noticed no improvements.

What were your peak activities during that time ? It is not the amount of rest that is important but rather reducing peak activity levels. But then, you just may need more time. Some do.

Are there any other stressors in your life ? Family or relationship issues, financial, household, job struggles, etc. All can contribute to anxiety and depression. The head pressure can take a long time. For me, it has not been uncommon for head pressure to last 6 months to a year, then return from time to time for no understandable reason. The strain of feeling uncomfortable can feed the depression/anxiety issues.

Zoloft can also have negative effects.

What is the difference between a headache and head pressure, are these synonymous?

For me, headaches (migraine and tension type) are present constantly whereas head pressure typically occurs only after over-exertion or over-stimulation. In my case, it feels like there is pressure in my head that builds following these situations. Sometimes it manifests as an uncomfortable feeling as I am talking, but may actually be intense enough to cause pain. Alternately, I encounter head pressure when laying down, dipping my head, etc.; I think this is more or less normal, but since my concussion the pressure I feel when doing these things is much "higher".

I believe the pressure is associated with blood flow; blood travels to and from the head differentially such that "pressure" builds. The pressure effect for me is fairly global across my scalp. To be honest, though, I'm not sure if head pressure and headaches are exclusive events. I suspect they are not, though like everything else associated with PCS it is likely very complicated.

Mark may be better able to contrast the two.