I'm trying to understand what's happening
 

On December 8'th, 2011, I had a major collision playing ice hockey. This resulted in light headedness, headaches and irritability. The symptoms lasted for almost exactly 2 weeks and then went away 100%. I took some more time off over the holidays and played ice hockey again on January 11'th, 2012. I played a very careful game and took no hits or even bumps. However, the light headed feeling returned by the late third period and has not gone away since.

I've seen a neurologist, had XRAYS and an MRI. No issues found. I've been checked for hypoglycemia. My blood sugar is great. I took a stress test today on my heart. Nothing. I'm in flawless health.

Over the last week I've been feeling quite a bit better. But after today's stress test ... which is the most vigorous activity I've had since January 11'th, I feel light headed again... pretty bad.

What is going on? Why does physical exertion cause this? Is this normal with concussions? I'm not having another concussion each time I exercise am I?

One other consideration. In late November... before the concussion... I had a sudden and scary dizzy spell. Room spinning, had to hold myself up from falling dizzy. I went and saw my PCP for this and he said it might be a slight inner ear fluid imbalance and it should go away in 24 hours. It did go away. I never thought about it again. In hindsight now.... I wonder if it's somehow related. Probably not, but thought it would be worth mentioning.

Thanks,
Todd

Todd,

Welcome to NeuroTalk.

Dizziness can be caused by the crystals in the inner ear getting dislodged and ending up in the wrong part of the ear. There is a therapy called the Epley Maneuver that can be helpful.

Your return of symptoms could be from your own quick movements of your head. This could further disrupt these crystals or it could be a series of sub-concussive impacts that are cumulatively traumatizing your brain.

Unfortunately, the only way to determine which is by process of elimination. If the Epley Maneuver works, it would appear to be the crystals issue. If it does not help after a few attempts, it is something else.

If it is more pronounced when you get up and change the orientation of your head as in going from lying down to standing or sitting up-right, the crystals may be the issue.

There are a few diagnostic techniques that can be used, such as a tilt table.

You may want to try moving slowly and limiting how fast you turn your head and see if it helps. Again, process of elimination.

It could go away spontaneously, too. Then you will be left wondering what it was and if it will happen again.

Having these kinds of episodes is a good way to find out the health of the rest of your body.

Did they do a two position EKG by checking your heart rate and pulse laying down then sitting up on the side of the bed?

Just don't stress out about this. In time, it will either go away or they will/may figure out what is happening. The various things that happen when the head is jerked around can be very confusing.

Just beware that the brain can be challenged by quick movements, especially if it has had a number of body checks that have caused a movement sensitivity.

My best to you.

I'm sorry to hear about how you are feeling. I think it's pretty common to feel that way from what I've read. Symptoms can come and go. My son had what they called a mild concussion 8 weeks ago playing soccer but it's been not a mild experience at all. My son has been suffering with severe headaches ever since. It seemed like they got worse as time went on. He had a CAT scan that was normal. He is a healthy young boy with no issues otherwise. Our specialist says every concussion is different and where you get hit affects how you feel. He was hit in the back of his head so he is more dizzy and has the headaches, but no cognitive issues. Our specialist says it can take a very long time to heal fully, even up to 5 or 6 months. I just keep hoping my son will wake up and feel good one morning. Rest is the biggest thing my son does right now. I wish you the best and hope you feel better soon! You take care.

I used to be very active before I sustained a concussion in an auto accident. That was 20 months ago. I experienced a serious complication from the concussion called increased intracranial pressure, iicp, which forced me to be on about 6 months of bed rest. The bed rest caused most of my muscles to atrophy.

Ever since the iicp was relieved with a spinal tap in Jan '11, I have been trying to increase my strength and stamina.

When I physically exert myself, sometimes doing the most banal things, like unloading the dishwasher, my cognitive functioning, speech and grammar will all degrade. I can also feel a little dizzy and/or lightheaded as well.

I included my history to just let you know that what's happening to me might not be related to what's happening to you, because my case might be considered more medically complex... but it's some of the same symptoms regardless.

I've tried to figure out what's going on and some of the research I've done has indicated that brains that are recovering from a concussion must work harder to think and therefore take more energy to do the same tasks as before... everything takes more energy. And that lightheadedness and dizziness can be caused by fatigue that is caused by the concussion. So perhaps you and I are both experiencing these symptoms for the same reason after all.