New here and some questions
 

Hi there, I'm Mary. I found your group just researching one day.
I'll try and be as informative as I can.
I have been a horse trainer most of my life. I've had 4 concussions, 1 being a level 3 I was out a few minutes. That one was back in 2006.
MRI and CT scans didn't show anything major. I did have a pretty rough year of migraines, being unbalanced, bad memory, fuzzy vision and forgetting what I was saying mid-sentence... a LOT.
I had been under the "care" of a neurologist and did call when ever things got worse. They never really did suggest any form of medication, so I assumed it was one of those "takes time to heal" deals.
I've been under a lot of stress the last 2 years and have noticed a LOT of PCS symptoms again. You know, the ones where your friends say either you're being "flakey" or a hypochondriac.
Recent symptoms:
*More frequent headaches leaning toward migraines. 2 migraines in a month.
*Not sleeping well.
Sensitivity to light and sounds.
*Tingle feelings every so often in face. Varies from being around nose or mouth and some times eyes. I am guessing migraine?
*Total fatigue (lack of sleep not helping of course)
*Uncoordinated... balance off. I bumped in to more things yesterday than in a very long time.
*Dizzy at times, but only if I get overheated (Florida... here comes the heat!)
*Pretty much NO motivation.

I'm a VERY active woman. I'm 39 and lifted weights since 15 (seriously), and an active Equestrian. I ride Dressage which is a very mental and physical sport. I also care for 22 horses a day, clean 11 stalls, lift and carry 50lb bags of feed a few times a day and move around 60lb bales of hay. Fix fencing... blabla you get it, NEED to be NOT fatigued and need to be motivated.
No, I don't have help (yet).
Any suggestions on what is going on? I don't have insurance and can't just go run out, get new films and neurologist. Which they all want new films.

I have not hit my head on anything recently.
I am more Vegan than Vegetarian. Drink only water aside from 2 cups of coffee in the morning. Might have a Woodchuck cider or 2 a week. I do take ibuprofen for the aches and pains of other old injuries, but that's it.
Thank you!

~Mary
I do take Vegan Multi vitamins and Raw B-12.
Hopefully that is some info?

princess,

Welcome to NeuroTalk. I am sorry to hear of your struggles.

Your experience is not uncommon. Your vegan diet makes it a challenge to provide the best brain nutrition. Fish oil is important to nerve tissue health as are the various amino acids that come from meat.

It appears you have no way to reduce your stress load. This is an important part of recovery and function. At your age, the brain is starting on a down hill track.

The easiest thing for you to do is work on neck health. Learning to maintain good upper neck posture even though your work causes you to want to be very flexible and strenuous with the use of your neck. Often, concussions damage and weaken the soft tissue that supports the upper neck. This leads to muscle spasms that can cause head aches. The classic symptoms is sensitivity to touch behind the ears.

Learning to be disciplined with your strenuous work will go a long way to improving your condition. No lifting with jerking motions. No bending and twisting with a load. Turn at the shoulders rather than at the neck when you need to look around.

You could benefit from a vestibular analysis. Others will hopefully address this issue since I have never had vestibular issues.

My best to you.

Dear Mary,

Exercise 1:-

Draw a large spot on paper,
Stick it on the wall at eye level,
Sitting down,
Slowly turn your head side to side - while focusing on the spot.
Repeat this with your head up and down, slowly.

Start with 6 full turns 3 x/ day and gradually build to 60 full turns 3x/ day.

Exercise 2:-

Stand upright, looking straight ahead, with your feet heel to toe for a few seconds at a time.
Change feet around.
Each time you do this exercise try and stand still for longer.

These exercises reteach the brain to link the synapses lost between sight and balance. It is very common after an accident. I am nearly a year PC and have learnt these exercises from a neuro otologist in the UK. She saw me last week and said my recovery is 95%!

I hope this helps xx

I only have blurry vision and light sensitiity in one eye but my chiropractic neurologist asks me to do similar exercises too.

Mark- Actually, that is a common misconception about Veganism. We do get a LOT of amino acids in our diets. I actually had blood work done a couple years ago, and the Dr. was pretty floored how amazing it looked. Including iron.
I would love to reduce my stress load and thankfully, a couple students are on summer break, and I'm getting some! :D
Wow, I did NOT know that about the neck... that's interesting and makes sense for sure.
With a bad back, I am pretty careful on how I bend and have definitely figured out ways to avoid "the spin" when you move to fast... worse feeling their is! Being out of control of your body. I'm one of the many human barometers... head gets fuzzy and spinny days before a storm lands.
I will definitely look into the vestibular analysis. Thank you!

peacheysncream- Thank you! I will definitely try those!



Also, anyone else have one pupil that randomly gets a smidgen bigger than the other? Not often, and not often enough to wonder if I have a migraine or something else. I would say NO to the migraine because I was at Ihop last time it happened and one of my students pointed it out! I never want to eat with a migraine. I haven't had issues with those in a while other than the recent tropical Andrea deal that rolled across Florida.

Does anyone else have issues years after a concussion? Sometimes I feel like "its back" which I know isn't possible, but I still have days I walk around a bit drunk, memory issues(I DO have a lot to remember and do every day. When it worsens, I make sure to use a check list to lessen the stress of remembering. If that makes sense?)

Thank you all for the responses! I couldn't remember my login stuff (now stickied to side of computer) and I sort of gave up. Lol

Hope everyone is doing well and has a beautiful day!

~Mary

Can you please share with us how you recovered from your previous concussions and how long it took? How did the headaches subside? Im sorry i cant really answer your questions maybe someone else can.

princess,

"Actually, that is a common misconception about Veganism. " The research studies have shown otherwise. I rarely make comments or statements that are not based on peer reviewed publications and research. There are vegan ways to get the rest of the essential amino acids but the sources can be problematic.

I can not say for sure due to memory issues but I think the research I read was trying to support your statement but found the opposite.

There are multiple research studies that show a smaller brain mass in those with vegan diets. This holds true across all age ranges and other variables. They even considered lacto vegetarian and such and so the animal based diets were notably better for the needs of the brain. The nutritional value from a few whole eggs a week can make a big difference.