Do things get better?
 

Hi I was in a bad car accident in January 2013, was rear ended while stopped on shoulder on freeway for accident up ahead. I hit head on drivers door and window. I had severe whiplash, and neck and back pain, I have since had memory issues, dizziness,lightheadedness, numbness in left arm. In april I started having the dizziness and lightheaded on daily basis. I have been doing chiropractic and massage and have had weekly and monthly followup with my doctor. I went and had an MRI in april and that was normal. I went to the neurologist in June for a followup on my MRI and was daignosed with Post concussion syndrome. The lightheadedness and dizziness and nauseous, no energy has continues daily. I have been trying to rest on the weekends and limit computer time and tv time and not going to concerts or being in places with bright lights or large crowds. I finally went on leave from my job (help desk) to get some rest and second opinions since i am in month number 8 now of dealing with this stuff. I feel like I am fighting my own body, and my body is winning.



Do things get better? Do the symptoms stop?

Golferguy, has your Neuro talked to you about depression/anxiety and possible medication for that? I was surprised to learn how prevalent both are with PCS patients. I take 10mg of Lexapro daily and it made a world of difference for my energy levels.

I am only at month 2 post accident, so I can't relate to your specific condition, but for me, reducing my anxiety has been a huge relief.

Owlin is absolutely right about anxiety. I am coming up to 10 months post head injury and am now through it and I am on no medication now.

Reducing anxiety is crucial, and when I was prescribed an antidepressant slowly but surely my symptoms gradually reduced.

The antidepressant also considerably helped reduced my headaches.

My neuropsychologist advised that the physiological symptoms of PCS are exacerbated by the psychological symptoms.

I didn't even realise at the time the levels of anxiety I was experiencing, including obsessing/worrying over symptoms and constantly looking for answers. This also made me an unpleasant person to live with.

Only now that I am better can I see how I was behaving.

Medication can break this cycle, and most certainly did for me!

Settling yourself down with medication can potentially settle down your symptoms and help one get better.

So to answer your question, yes things get better and symptoms do stop - PCS is temporary for the vast majority of people. Some people need the help of medication on a temporary basis to help recovery.

Good luck in getting better!

Yes, you can get better
 

Hi there!

There is a whole thread at the top in the stickie part about hope and PCS. Give it a look if you can stand screens for any time. I hope that lifts your spirits.

If your neck was hurt, that could be causing problems too. Somewhere here Mark in Idaho has put his protocol for icing the neck.

You had a lot of injuries in your accident. And no 2 brain injuries are alike and no 2 healings are just alike either.

Be gentle with yourself and keep asking questions here and even on facebook there are groups about PCS. Maybe no one doctor will have all the answers you seek. So keep looking and trying. I know I found some answers here for myself.

Hang in there!

pm

Golferguy,

It will get better, I am in the IT sector and had to take a year off to recover and did a 5 months easing into my work routine. I am now at 22 months, life is not the former normal but as many say I have a new normal. I can play with my kids, go to movies, drive to work everyday.

I echo the others comments. Also, take a look at the Vitamins and Supplements treads. It sounds like your doing many things correctly.

You may want to consider seeing a neuro opthamologist or behavioral optometrist (www.nora.cc), many of us required vision therapy and had significant improvement afterwards. Have you tried accupuncture or osteopathy? Some have found those therapies helpful, I am not sure where the other drivers insurance comes into play to support some of those therapies but they would be worth trying if you have coverage.

As for working on the computer, some quick tips for the time you do spend:

1. If your eyes are sensitive or strained, try a product called F.Lux, made it easier in my eyes.

2. Some tinted lenses may be helpful to reduce the glare, I wear pink tinted lenses from time to time in front of the computer.

3. Play with your lighting in your surroundings if you have that option, I had to remove all fluorescent lights from my home for a while. I use incadescent bulb lamps at work to wash out the commercial lighting now.

I myself have just seen my first specialist since my injury of November 2011 2 weeks ago and still diagnosed with persisting short term memory issues.

Good luck!

Thanks, everyone I am going to see specialists and am getting rest and trying to let my brain heal and also taking vitamins. My energy level is still up and down. I am still having some tingling and light headedness as well. I am limiting my time on the computer and have been trying to rest and sleep. I am also going to see specialists and taking it easy at home.

There's lots of good advice and hope here. I just wanted to add my two cents because it's all I have to offer.

To your thread question. Yes! It gets better.

Time is the best healer. Peace is a close second. Acceptance will lead to peace and time will do the rest. I really believe that.

I felt like life was over when pcs was its worst. It's far from over. It's beautiful but in new ways. Just breathe. :hug:

I am 4 years into this thing, 5 will be in February. I have had at the very least 3 but up to 14 concussions in that time.

No, for me it did not go away. It has gotten better, it has gotten worse, it has more or less balanced out. It doesn't necessarily get better, but you learn how to live with the new you.

Such as I dim the lights when I go into a room if possible or completely turn off the fluorescents. I have switched my computer and phone to inverted colors. I have a nice pair of dark sunglasses for driving. I try never to drive at night. I try to sleep a lot, or catch up on the weekends. I stay super organized to help with stress. I never sit in a perfectly dark room because that causes my eyes to strain. I do not exercise, which I know is not ideal, but any loss of breath or increase in heart rate gives him a worse headache. I do not read books, I listen to them. I try to stay out of really cold breezes or really hot temperatures. (Unfortunately my desk at work is right under the AC vent, so that is a constant source of pain right now.) I try to eat healthy food, and avoid soda, msg, and other pain triggers. I had nausea for about 6 months each time after 2 of my concussions, and then randomly for a couple months at a time at random intervals. Dizziness comes and goes as if on a whim. I also see stars at increasing intervals. I have constant but sometimes worse and sometimes less painful pain in my head. I have difficulty remembering things. I have difficulty speaking sometimes.

But, in answer to your question, though the help of my close friends, and family. I have been able to reach a place where I can live my daily life and I know exactly the consequences of each action. I will go to that concert, but it will take me 1 week to be able to function afterwards. I will go to the movie theater, but it will take me 3 days to recover. I will get up an hour early to help out a family member but that means I have to go to bed 2 hours early. ETC....

It does not end, it is not pleasant, but we learn to cope.

Good luck! Do NOT get a 2nd concussion!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
In Christ,
Margarite