exercise...what is your experience since PCS
 

well I have been working my way up with walking outside (close to 3/4 possibly even a mile)..and this is up and down hills. I didn't notice any increase in headaches.

So, I just did the treadmill...20 mins at 3.2 (I'm tall...5'7" so it isn't a jog..just a nice pace walk.

I feel it in my legs...feels wonderful!! Love that tingling feeling.

Here's the question....I started to nice that my head felt heavy..so I stopped. I'm guessing if I don't get a major headache within an hour...then I'm ok to continue at this pace??..maybe adding a few mins every few days?

what do you guys do DAILY in the form of exercise??

thats awsome you did 20 min. on a treadmill

i havent been able to do anything. i tried 5 min. on an exercise bike and got dizzy within a couple hours

my physical therapist actually told me its best for brain injured people to not use treadmills but she didnt really explain why. hope it works out for you. i would love to be able to get back on the treadmill

a treadmill is actually what brought on my pcs. it felt like my brain was sloshing up and down when i was jogging, it was really weird

i would suggest maybe every week add a couple minutes or maybe up the intensity a little bit but just to a fast walk. jogging is probably too much movement for the brain

This is what I use when I feel like I can do it:

Stamina Magnetic Resistance Recumbent Bike
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Stamina-Ma...t-Bike/7680164

I have to watch my pulse rate closely to make sure it doesn't go up to much as that messes with my head.

Sometimes I can takes walks; sometimes not.

This is the extent of my exercise since PCS.

I have a lot of energy even w/low exercise- thankfully.

But I'm conservative w/overdoing it w/straining the brain & causing pain. So-

Stretching, and short walks (sometimes w/groceries since I don't have a car).

Up & down the stairs every day (sometimes w/laundry).

Washing dishes by hand.

10lb weights on occassion.

IT seems that my brain is more effected by visual/mental/sound stimulation than anything. TV, computer, driving are the worst for me.

I'm attempting the gym today....possibly. I figure I will wait until 11am see how I feel this way its less crowded.

Kids started school today and I need to occupy 6 hours without overstimulating myself into a headache by the time they get home.

I noticed that when i get that heavy feeling after or during exercise, it means i'm riding the line of what is good and bad to do. If I go right up to that line, I continue to progress. Heck, I progress either way but when i go over that line and make my head hurt, I find I am just emotional and weirded out for a few days but I still make progress physically.

I'm glad you are exercising. This is good progress!!! I believe this will make you feel better.

Walking, walking, more walking
 

I'm almost at the four-month mark post-concussion. I've been walking more and more, and am now doing short daily walks of 15 mins each (still going at a slow pace). Later this week I'm going to try for 20 mins per day. And so on. This has been a *very* gradual process for me. This is in addition to pottering around the house (doing some modest cooking, washing dishes, organizing, etc).

Early on, walking could be treacherous - at times it seemed to trigger (or at least contribute) to fairly substantial setbacks. I seem to be gradually tolerating more and more, and haven't had a major setback since mid-July (I've taken things slowly - excruciatingly so, at times - during the last month and a half). I still get symptomatic, and the symptoms can be constraining and unsettling, but they aren't nearly as severe or long-lasting as they were.

My goal is simply to keep building endurance and stamina. Once I can handle more walking, and go at a more normal pace, I would like to add other types of exercise, such as stationary cycling, gentle swimming, and very light forms of resistance training.

For what it's worth, my concussion specialist (who has an outstanding reputation) told me that running should probably be the last form of exercise to add to the mix. I said, you mean because it's jarring and could trigger symptoms? He said yes.

is running out of the question forever? iv been curious about this for a while

in 5 years from now when everything is 100% cleared up would it be safe to run or should we never run again in our lifes?

also roller coasters. i went on one at disney world over the summer. very big mistake. i was dizzy for weeks. im scared to ever go on one ever again in my life

Worked out at the gym today 15 mins on the elliptical (figured treadmill was more jarring to my neck). I feel like crap ....but I also did a little more -- talked on the phone, stopped at a friend's house for 20 mins. (nothing too much trust me--- prior to the concussion...this is what I would do in an hour not 6 hrs!)

I've been walking more or less every day since February (my injury was in January). I do walk if I have symptoms like a headache, but I avoid making the headache worse. If my head hurts I usually end up going a bit slower and/or shorter distance. My neurologist seemed to think this was one of the best things I could do.