When did you guys know you had healed
 

New here and tried to find a similar thread but it was a bit challenging hopefully I can find some help here

About 4 months into PCS from a Car accident, Tboned, Nuero symptoms eyes tracking and focusing issues etc. Headaches have become less frequent, Psych symptoms were terrible at first but have begun to resolve. Other issues with cognitive impairment memory amnesia stutter slurring seem to have left me (I think).

Now to my question, I feel like I have had 3-4 good days in a row and feel I am recovering, but, how do you tell??,

I can remember from a previous concussion I returned to Hockey far to soon as I 'snapped" out of it about 2 weeks later and came to realise I was still in the midst of it.

I feel like somedays I am really on the ball, my supplements seem to help but how did any of you, if you got to healed or mostly, how did you know you were done?

I realise this may be a rambling kind of question, maybe my cognitive symptoms aren't better (Ha Ha) hopefully this makes sense, I would love any help or advice..

Thanks!

And sorry to be clear a good day would be minor visual symptoms light headache, little slowed down and foggy maybe a memory slip here and there I have yet to be "symptom free" I guess I hopeful/hopeless looking for answers

MVTBI,

Welcome to NeuroTalk.

I don't think you can accept any improvements as even questionable as long term until at least two weeks of the improved condition. I think the reality is more like 6 weeks of symptoms free or more before you can start to feel confident. Even then, you need to be aware of stress and even minor head bumps as likely to cause a return of symptoms.

3 to 4 good days just means you have had low stress levels without triggers leading up to those good days. The focus should be to continue those low stress levels without triggers for as long as possible. Research suggests that the best healing for long term happens during these reduced symptom periods.

You still have recovery to work on to get some totally symptom free periods. It sounds like you have a start.

Recovery is a marathon, not a sprint or even a series of sprints. The tortoise completes this race best. Slow and steady.

My best to you.

Thanks Mark,

I appreciate the feed back, I guess I am starting to realize that even at 4 months I could be in the infancy of all this. I have a hard time tempering my expectations a lot of days. At least I am starting to get answers from people with experience, I am sure Ill flood the message boards with questions initially. I am excited about the feed back at least

I was going to start my own thread - but this one was perfect. I feel like I am driving myself crazy. I am almost into this for 2 years - finally last week I felt like my old self in the morning - had big plans - back to work, driving, gym - you name it. By 1pm - 2pm before the clocks went back - BAM - right back to pain and fog. Even earlier if I do anything. I almost feel I was better off last year - did not feel like doing anything - could not do anything. Now I have 1/2 a day where I feel normal but still can't do anything - feeling very down - feeling like I will never get better - Just want my old life back.
I guess I haven't offered much hope to you - just know that we get it - even if those around us don't or have moved on.

I appreciate the feed back it is nice to hear from people who do get it, although my vision symptoms don't really leave, I sympathise with the absolute madness of having fog come and go and having to guess why or what happened. Feeling good and not being able to do things certainly has been depressing for me I appreciate the response and hope that things do get better for you.

Recovery from TBI is frustrating because it is rarely an uninterrupted march of constant improvement. At times, it's more two steps forward, one step back.

Often those set backs come because, feeling a bit better, we push too hard. Recovering from a TBI takes a lot of patience and pacing. It's important to try and not add to your anxiety by getting frustrated. In my case, I accept that I will need to follow a busy day with a couple quiet ones.

Have you looked into vision therapy? I am into mine for the last 5 months - just started to read my first book in 2 years.
G&B

I have browsed the subject, I was sent to an optho who said I had mild Exophoria then was sent to neuro optho who said I had mild convergence insufficiency, I don't know if they both mean the same thing in fact I think I called them something else unrelated earlier- anyways, my neuro optho said "you dont need surgery" come back in six months, I have asked for a second opinion and that is pending. Thing is, I don't feel like anything is mild, driving is difficult, reading books is extremely limited and I avoid it now, and at the end of the day or during stressful periods I feel like I have to flex my eyes to focus on something. I have caught my eye wandering significantly it was almost comical I wish I had taken a picture, so that I would be taken seriously. Any info would be appreciated, this forum is helping me immensly fight through the "is this really happening" " Maybe its me" kind of things.

Exophoria is when the eyes diverge or look away from a centerline. Convergence insufficiency is a symptom of Exophoria.

Have you checked into a behavioral optometrist ?