Does this sound like PCS?
 

Hey all,

I've been browsing the site for a few weeks now and it seems like a great spot for support and information. Before I get started, I wanted to wish everybody the best of luck with their recovery, and congrats to those who have recovered.

So, 18 months ago, I had a concussion from a skateboard accident that was not too severe. I may have been knocked out for a second or two at the most, and seemed to recover fully within 3 weeks. Fast forward to 5.5 weeks ago, when a series of things happened.

Sunday, I went horseback riding for the first time. After about 1 hour of riding, I got off and felt dizzy and a sense of imbalance, but normal within several minutes.

The next day, I go to an amusement park and ride a few rides. None of the rides were particularly noted for their aggression, but I did get jerked around a little bit. I came off of these rides very disoriented (not confused, but a sense of derealization) and dizzy.

I felt a little bit better the very next day, which was when I took a 5 hour flight home. Within a couple of days, I felt a bit more dizzy, had balance issues, slight visual disturbances, and cognitive problems.

Today, I feel better than I did 5 weeks ago, but I'm still suffering from these symptoms. I went to an ENT (I thought it might be related to the vestibular system) and although they did not take any scans, they said they didn't think it was too related to the inner ear, but also that a concussion/minor stroke were unlikely. I'm going to go in for vestibular therapy soon, but do you guys think that this may be related to my previous concussion? Has anyone else had similar issues? Im trying to set an appointment with a neurologist, but it will take a bit since I don't have health insurance.

Any input or advice would be appreciated.

Jonathan

All those things that you were doing can give subconcussive impacts. Its very likely it reaggravated your previous concussion. And as im sure you have read here that the repeated impacts and more concussions you have, the worse it will get. Definetly see a neurologist. Good luck and hoping things get easier for you.

jonathan, I consider one of my many concussions to be a day I spent riding amusement park rides a year or so after a severe concussion. The Tilt-A-Whirl did me in. Shaky roller coasters (the wooden type are the worst) can also do me in.

As nightnurse said, the subconcussive impacts can aggravate your prior concussion. You are likely much more sensitive to any impact, concussive or sub-concussive, after your previous concussion.

FYI A sub-concussive impact is any impact to your brain that does not cause an immediate concussive state. Sub-concussive impacts tend to be cumulative since they do not cause the subject to remove themselves from further risk of another sub-concussive impact.

Football players have been studied to show they often suffer 700 to 900 sub-concussive impacts during a single season. The real damage does not often manifest until the athlete is in their late 30's or early 40's.