light physical exercise
 

Hi all,
One more question I'd like to pose to you. I came across the studies by the Buffalo concussion clinic about graduated exercise potentially helping with recovery, but the studies really weren't big enough or well designed to prove their point.

About a month ago I started walking a few hundred yards, now I'm up to probably 1.5-2hrs of light walking or slow stationary bike. I haven't had a ton of dizziness or balance issues which makes this possible, just headaches, depression, fatigue, headpounding, ringing in my ears (one-woman band!).

So I guess the light exercise hasn't hurt, I think it has helped with depression and recent anxiety (I think due to a med switcharoo + breakup in the same couple days). Just curious about others' thoughts? Seems to be the one thing that makes me happy and is contributing to emotional stability but it doesn't follow the "don't increase your activity until your symptoms go away" rule.

If you are going to do all that walking, I suggest you get some foam ear plus. Try walking with them in so you can feel the pounding from your foot plant. Then, try to change your gait to reduce this impact. You may need some better shoes. Or, land with a rolling foot action, usually on the outsider of the foot.

When I had a concussion, I was told to stay in a darkroom with no stimuli(no tv, computer) in order for my brain to heal by an ER doctor. With a long-term PCS, this approach does not work. I think keeping your spirit/mood up is very important. Western medicine only looks at the injured part/symptoms, and fails to approach an illness/condition from a holistic perspective. However, our body is very inter-connected and your mood will definitely have an effect on your recovery. Walking boosts your immune system up so I try to get some walking in no matter how dizzy/weird I feel. Obviously, you should not push yourself. As Mark said somewhere, you need to recognize your limit and do things in moderation.

Good point Mark--noise bothers me, and I was walking on an uneven surface yesterday, sorta landed with a straight knee and i think i'm feeling it today...or maybe i just did too much yesterday. thanks for the advice, and for being the patron saint of neurotalk pcs.

I tried to ask my neurologist how much of a jolt was too much (ie. sneezing), she sorta laughed it off, but there seems to be some truth in minor jolts producing setbacks, no? I was consoling myself by telling myself i'd kiteboard in midaugust, but there are so many minor jolts i'm now thinking it would be foolish. So looking for other reasons to live :)

My point about the impact of foot plants is that the cumulative effect can be problematic. If you have cervical inflammation, those hundreds of jarring foot plants can make the inflammation worse. They can also make head aches worse.

In the first month, I could do nothing but curl up and sleep in order to recover.

But gradually, I needed to get out and do some light walking for my sanity and recovery. It was really important to be out in nature. It helped my mood and was so central to my brain and body to work in concert.

I think we need to push ourselves to our threshold mentally and physically. It's hard to know what that threshold is, however. It's dynamic.

And there is nothing as powerful as nature-the sounds, smell and healing power of it all.

Thanks all. How do i know if i have cervical inflamation? Seeing a chiro on monday...mostly for my jaw. I grind my teeth which doesnt help any of this

Be very careful with the chiro. Avoid the 'twist the head and pop the neck' adjustments. They are too aggressive for the subtle upper neck injuries common to concussions.

How will the chiro treat your jaw and clinching ? I used to clinch my teeth during sleep but the gabapentin I take has helped me stop the jaw clinching.

Is the jaw clenching from the neck injury? I have been wondering!!

Interesting with the jaw clenching as I also do that and it cracks too.

As Mark says, no twist the head and pop the neck adjustments, after my chiro knowing all my problems including cervical he proceeded to twist and crack my neck, just awful wanted to shoot myself in the head the next day.

Yep, the walking can make the neck inflammation worse and headache, every step...pounding...I also wear earplugs as noise sends me insane.

On a happier note, getting out in to nature is relaxing.