How do you define healing at the cellular level ?
 

So how do you define healing within the brain? I know that the healing occurs during REM sleep but what actually happens at the cellular level that causes the gradual improvement of symptoms overtime? Does the injured/bruised tissue ever heal and functions normally again?

that's a great question. I know creating new pathways to take up new responsibilities happens in certain parts of the brain
I'm more interested in why It didn't heal after my third injury.
I guess theres' too many cells lost to compensate.
It still ticks me off that such devastating symptoms don't even show up on an mri, although they are using a certain pet scan to see cte in the brain while the person is living. doing it at mount Sinai right over the bridge
I'm surprised I never read up on how the brain heals. I've read up on everything else :)
a quick perusal of google seems to indicate they are not exactly sure of the healing mechanism. but I am sure someone will come long with an answer or theory

I don't think the researchers really know what happens during healing. There is some thought that the myelin sheath that insulates axons is where much of the damage is. Myelin sheath is slow healing. The actual nerve tissue heals/grows faster but it will not heal/grow without a healthy myelin sheath.

The concept of neuro-regeneration is widely debated. The challenge of neuro-regeneration is the axons and dendrites connect in a haphazard way. If the connection is accepted, it is allowed to continue. It the connection is rejected, the axon is pushed away and it looks for a different axon/dendrite to attempt a connection to. Because of this haphazard connection, it takes a long time for these neural circuits to become functional.

Weak or damaged neural circuits also need to re-establish a proper flow of information. They can become lethargic. Once they are ready to function, they need gentle stimulation to start the flow of information. It is like restoring a memory. It does not take as much effort as the first time the information/process was established. Think of it as a mountain trail that has started to grow over. It takes a slow effort to find and follow the old trail and many repeat trips for that trail to become a well beaten path again.

The only thing we can do to assist this process is to maintain a healthy metabolic environment. This means low stress to prevent an overload that can result in a toxic condition. Researchers are trying to find compounds that help to reduce these toxic compounds from collecting in the brain. The research is just starting but appears to be subordinate to similar research neurological disorders with a greater public outcry, like MS, ALS, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

Mark, great answer. Do you have any theories as to why people with multiple injuries don't recover as well each time? My guess would be that more cells die that are not replaceable each time.

I saw that young good neuro again and he explained to me that during my two acquired injuries a cascade of chemicals that are safely stored in brain cells were released causing all kinds of havoc. That's my best interpretation of what he said :)

As you already know, recovered pretty well from first ABI and TBI, the second ABI not so much.

Thanks for sharing the knowledge MarkInIdaho. That was useful. When I consulted a renowned neuro in my town, he just told me its all due to chemical imbalances in the brain that is causing the symptoms. I didnt understand whether he meant that with regards to my anxiety or the actual symptoms, but he never mentioned anything about torn or weak connections in the brain. The only fact remains that we cant do anything about it as of now.

Markniel, I read somewhere that the brain never stops healing and there is never a time when the healing is complete. So please dont lose hope and know that even if the healing is painfully slow you will always continue to heal.

I found a link that may help with the recovery. It mostly aims on healthy eating .Although nothing has been scientifically proven to help heal brain faster, atleast it will make us feel a bit stable emotionally and maybe help with the anxiety and stress as MarkInIdaho says about vitamins and supplements.

http://www.brainline.org/content/201...-recovery.html

Thanks Galaxy, I would love to believe that were true. I wish you had the source. All the reading I do for long term sufferers gets me depressed. I would love to read a hopeful one.
I take all the supplements and vitamins but Turmeric is my biggy. Supposed to really protect further cell damage from happening, so I will still have a mind left if they ever find a treatment.

Galaxy..there's a bunch more supplements mentioned on that website than I already take. If I buy all of them I will be taking 42 supplements :)

I hate to be blunt, but at 7 years post injury, does anybody have any idea what is worth taking and what isn't.

I understand free radicals and plaques need to be fought at any stage, but what about the supplements that are for repairing damaged neurons? isn't it a little late (2 or 3 years post) in the game at some point for that?

and how many substances do we need to fight free radicals?
I'm taking b12, b complex, D, C, E, Omega 3, turmeric and maybe a few things I forgot to mention. Where does it end?

should I really add •Brain Vitale•Coenzyme Q10•Phosphatidyl serine•Acetyl L-carnitine and glycerophosphocholine as the website suggests? an ideas?

And are all these going to help Any of my symptoms that I have listed or is it just cognitive function that is aided?

Well, my docs say I need IVIg..

Do you mean Intravenous immunoglobulin ? I have never heard of it used for PCS/mTBI. How will it help.

Sorry Mark, I have something else. I was just reacting to someone saying they take 42 supplements for damaged neurons, which are most probably also my problem. I wish I could make it better with supplements, but the docs say otherwise.