Extreme head sensitivity
 

Hi all! So here I am again. I've been struggling with extreme head sensitivity duo to concussions since 2008. However, the last year everything has been much worse!

I've just had 3-4 weeks with absolutely NO symptoms, but now they have returned again. The reason was that my sister accidentally bumped into my chair (I have a spinal cord injury, so I use a manual wheelchair most of the time - the spinal cord injury occurred in 2000 duo to an infection in my spinal cord and has nothing to do with my pcs). She did not bump very hard, but it made so much movement in the chair that I almost immediately felt it had affected my head (she did not bump near my head), but on the side.

How in the world is it possible to get all symptoms returning from such a mild impact? Am I crazy? Now I am afraid I will have to use another several months to get over this again. Seriously, I would rather die. I'm so sick of this, and I feel so horrible.

Now I've been in bed most of the time for a week, but the symptoms only worsen. Is lying in bed bad for recovery? However, I certainly don't feel well when I'm up either.

Did the bump jar your neck ? Upper neck inflammation could be the cause of your symptoms. Laying in bed could be making your upper neck worse.

Thanks for your help Mark! I am not sure whether my neck jarred especially. I just felt that my whole body got a small chock/jar, although it was not very powerful, but I could feel it affecting my head. This is the same that happens when I take jerking elevators - I can immediately feel something is wrong with my head. Symptoms often get worse over several days.

My problems might stem from my upper neck, as you suggest, but I am very uncertain. Is there a way to find out where the problem lies? I am not especially sensitive behind my ears, but very little on the left side.

I seldom feel better when lying in bed. However, my symptoms are typical pcs symptoms - inside of my skull feel extremely sore, right now at the top of my head and on the side of my head, and my head feels worse when I move it from side to side. Also, I feel a bit dizzy, I have light sensitivity, ringing in my ears and extreme "ecco" in my ears when I speak and hear other noises.

The strange thing is that I can have all these horrible symptoms for months, and then they suddenly or gradually disappear. However, they return after the slightest bump. I can't believe that I can get an actual concussion from all these small impacts.

If it is upper neck inflammation - what should I do to treat it? And how can a possible upper neck inflammation cause all the typical pcs symptoms?

Upper neck inflammation effect blood flow, muscle spasms and nerve conduction. It is a complex interconnection.

other than finding a therapist who can help you mobilize your upper neck, you can use ice and be very careful to maintain straight neck posture. Careful slow movements when turning from side to side. Good posture when resting or sleeping, too.

Thanks again, Mark! I will try to find a therapist to help me, although it scares me. The last time I tried a gentle neck massage (about a year ago), I got so bad pcs symptoms that I was unable to do anything for six months. That is how sensitive I am.

I will try your tips. However, one question: I have absolutely no pain in my neck, only my head. I don't even have pain where the neck connects with my head. Can this be a neck issue anyway?

The fact that a massage cause PCS symptoms makes me highly suspect a neck issue. You do not want a massage therapist. You want to find someone who has special skills with neck injuries, whiplash, etc. You don't need to have pain for there to be a problem.

Finding the right therapist can be a challenge.