Do the majority of PCS sufferers heal?
 

Hello everybody,

This is my second post on this wonderful forum and I come bearing another question. I first have to apologize to everyone if I came off as sounding somewhat arrogant, in my first post. During the time period I posted it I was just beginning to come to terms with my PCS.

Like the title says, do the majority of people suffering pcs heal with time? It's been nine months since my last concussion, and I've changed and grew more in these last nine months than I have in the whole 16 years of my life previous. I've learned a whole hell of a lot about myself and I'll forever be grateful for this fact.

For treatment I've begun to see a chiropractor for my frequent muscle spasms and an acupuncturist on a regular basis for everything. Acupuncture is absolutely amazing and I genuinely recommend it for everyone, post concussion syndrome, or not.

I'm slowly, key word slowly, beginning to exercise on a regular basis. I believe the benefits of regular exercise are so essential in terms of the healing of many ailments, especially Post Concussion Syndrome.

I have hope that this will all resolve with time and even more hope. If there's anything I've learned it's that the brain is such an amazing thing, and I really think we've only begun to scratch the surface of our understanding of it.

I have hope I'll heal with time and until that time I'm just going to ride out what life throws at me.

Keep living, keep moving, keep loving and keep learning.
-Will

Your question is difficult to answer. The vast majority of those who suffer a concussion heal spontaneously. Of those who have prolonged symptoms that last long enough to be termed PCS, the long term prognosis is mixed.

The important thing is to not try to compare. It is not helpful. Every case of PCS is different.

You state this is you last concussion. How many concussions have you had ? How many head bumps have you had that you do not consider concussions ?

Please be careful with the chiro. Some are too aggressive with both treatment force and frequency. The upper neck is very critical.

Recovery
 

Hello!

I've been journaling and writing about that word and it's a slippery one with brain injuries.

No 2 injuries are just alike and so no 2 healings can really compare. That said, we can learn from one another and especially about the meds that may help us.

The things that have helped me most live in recovery are rest, the vitamins and supplements, and stress reduction in my life.

I am on the lucky end of healing in that at the 7 month mark and I mostly all back to normal, and I got to return to work. It is not lost on me how blessed I am.

But even so, I don't feel comfortable saying I am 100 percent back or that my life is just the same. Some things have changed, but my personality is as it was, my humor, my likes and the joy of life is back.

There is still so much they don't know about the brain and its healing and who can say what will happen down the line with age. Will PCS have bearing on other mental disorders when I am elderly? It could.

So, I don't know if I have answered your question, but if you can learn to listen to your body and learn to link the good days together gently and with patience, you may heal. No one can say for sure or how long it takes.

Take care and be well.

poetrymom

I've had 3 concussions that I know of for sure. My third only occurred 5 months after my previous.

Over the past five months I've had the normal bumps and jerks of the head that you simply cannot avoid through going to school and living life. I'm obviously no longer playing football, in which I received two of my concussions.

Just yesterday I left (on good terms) my stressful and physically demanding job of the past year.

I do share your concerns over the chiropractor. He was rough and at one point tested my neck by banging his hand against my head.

The main symptoms I'm experiencing now are word retrieval, heightened sensitivity when I walk on hard surfaces, not nearly as mentally sharp, anxiety, depression and muscle spasms.

We think the muscle spasms are caused by a curvature in my cervical spine from my third concussion.

Has anyone had success with the use of a chiropractor before for symptoms like this?

I'll list the supplements I'm currently taking: DHA specific fish oil, Regular fish oil and a co-enzyme B complex vitamin.

Thanks for the responses.

If you played enough football to receive 3 concussions, you very likely have a long accumulation of Sub Concussive Impacts. These can be worse than an actual concussion since they are usually just ignored and the player continues without giving the brain a break.

See if you can find an upper cervical chiropractor. www.NUCCA.org and www.atlasorthagonal.org are good places to look for a referral. They use very specialized techniques to diagnose and treat the upper neck.

I suggest you try using foam ear plugs to practice a smoother walking gait. They cause your foot plant to resonate in your ears. With this, you can practice a softer foot plant. It should help.

I actually only received two concussions playing football and it wasn't until I received my third (from falling of my bike) that I began to notice serious changes.

Thanks for the advice on the chiropractor. I'll be looking into it for sure.