Jogging With Post Concussion Syndrome
 

I want to start jogging again and am wondering if that is a good idea. Has anybody else been able to return to jogging or running again?

Here is some background info:

I hit my head in December 2013. I am too tired to calculate how many months ago that was.

I started out walking very slowly, for short distances. 5 months ago, it took me 40 or 50 minutes to walk half a mile. Now I can walk a full mile in less than 20 minutes when I'm alone. It takes me 24 minutes if I am pushing my toddlers (they weigh 80 lbs together, and it's very exhausting for me to bring them on walks).

I am able to comfortably walk 2 miles at a slow, steady pace now without experiencing any symptoms. I have done as many as 4 miles in one day.

The main PCS symptoms that I still have (whether I exercise or not) are:

- Aphasia

- Short term memory problems

- Jaw pain/tightness

- Neck pain

- Anger and depression

- Dizziness only when I lay on my right side (That's the side I fell on, if it matters)

My goal is to jog a 5K in 2015. I am trying to figure out if I am able to safely prepare for that. My doctors think it's fine, but they don't always know much about PCS.

I am not a doctor
 

My doctors told me to wait for 6 months before slowly returning to running. I have worked myself back up to 5 miles. I would think you would would talk with your doctor, it's hard to be depressed when you are running for an hour.

I've built up my walking over the last 4 months and done a little jogging. I would walk for about 4.5Km in total, after 1Km I'd jog for about 100m then walk another Km and repeat it. I'd use an objects as markers. Basically eased myself into it. I think my general fitness level stopped me doing too much, I was so out of breath, but I'm going to have another go at it soon. Why not jog the home stretch of your walk to start with.

I can't jog anymore due to some gait difficulties following the pelvic fracture and some residual vertigo from the TBI.

With your symptoms that include neck pain and dizziness I'd start slow and be very careful and mindful of any worsening symptoms.

I have found an exercise bike or elliptical training provide the cardio benefit without the impacts inherent in jogging, you might want to consider those as an alternate.

a doctor should be informed when you start anything new