A few questions for fellow PCS sufferers
 

I was first diagnosed with PCS during the beginning of my grade 11 year, when I was around sixteen. I had wiped out and hit my head on the pavement. I still suffer from chronic tinnitus, headaches, a bit of dizziness. I took a full year off school, and then continued with a reduced course load.

Next year I plan to go into university (petroleum engineering), and am scared that I cannot handle it. I have already contacted the university and they will allow me to take a reduced course load. I take frequent breaks during my studies, I am cognitively fine even after my injury, but I am afraid that I will still not be able to handle it.

I am on a vitamin regimen quite similar to mark in idaho's, and I get plenty of rest, but I still have shown no improvement in almost three years time. I am reluctant to try to increase my exercise because I feel that right now I am at point where my symptoms are manageable, and I am afraid that exercise may induce symptoms that I will not be able to manage.

With that said I am wondering a few things:

1. Could a slowly increasing exercise regimen possibly help me recover?
2. Is there any advice that anyone who is currently enrolled in or has attended a secondary institution while suffering from PCS has for me?
3. How careful should I be? (this is a big one)

I have had neurologists tell me to go running and head a few soccer balls, I have had other neurologists tell me to take it easy and be sure not to hit my head, I have been lurking on this forum and I see some people developing symptoms from things as simple as flinching. My understanding is that is generally takes quite a hard impact to cause a concussion. And that many sub-concussive impacts over a prolonged period of time can cause similar symptoms. Things like turning my head side to side while driving should be completely fine, right?



Sorry for the word wall and lack of logic in my text, sometimes I have trouble piecing my ideas together coherently.

I'd like to thank you for any responses in advance.

:)

PostConcussionMan,

Welcome to NeuroTalk.

First, never trust the neuros who said "I have had neurologists tell me to go running and head a few soccer balls." He is completely clueless. When I was 15, I suffered subconcussive impacts from heading a soccer ball and developed a seizure disorder and serious cognitive struggles such that I dropped an entire grade point.

Nobody can predict how you will tolerate university. I suggest you start slow and be sure you understand how you learn under those stresses.

You should also start exercising slowly and increase your heart rate every two weeks or so. If the exercise causes head aches, reduce your heart rate target the next time. The goal is to exercise at a heart rate that is 10% below the heart rate that causes symptoms.

You don't say what symptoms you are having that will interfere with your success in school ? Can you help us understand your concerns ?

Yeah, I didn't go back to see that neuro. My headaches are often coupled with fatigue. Sometimes I just hit a mental block and feel like I am unable to think. I used to think this was correlated with the amount of cognitive stresses I was experiencing, but it is really quite random. This makes studying quite difficult sometimes.

It is also not even mostly about the coursework though. I missed almost all of my high school experiences, and I really want to try to enjoy university. I don't want to wake up with headaches, go to sleep with headaches, and isolate myself for four years. I feel like I have completely plateaued with my recovery and I no longer know what steps to take.

I don't want to be able to go drink and party hard and stuff, I just want to be able to enjoy the simple pleasures. Go to a movie, go out for dinner, those types of things. I want to be able to go to social events without worrying when someone bumps into me that I will have prolonged my recovery.

Mark, I find it quite difficult to gauge what activities are too risky and when I am being too protective with myself. This is partly because of the difference in my physicians opinions. How careful do you think I should be? Should I be avoiding things as simple as hugs and driving?


Thanks for the response!

When you hit those mental walls, what do you do ? I find I need to completely change course and even take a short nap. Closing my eyes for a few minutes helps.

Driving can be stressful, especially if you have rough roads. I can see how a hug would cause enough quick movement to cause symptoms.

You need to learn your triggers and how to moderate them. Many of us use ear plugs to reduce auditory stimulation. I like the yellow foam ones. I al ways have them available. I use them in restaurants unless I can find a quiet both.

For me, the intense sounds at movie theaters can be a problem. Ear plugs again and being selective about what movies.

Your physicians opinions are worthless. You have to discover your tolerances. Nobody knows how your brain and body reacts but you. Keep in mind that is not uncommon for a delay before symptoms return. You can have a great day and feel great at bed time then wake up and have a miserable day the next day. Plus, quality of sleep can predicate the quality of day. Cognitive stresses one day can show up as fatigue the next day.

Have you noticed your triggers ?

If I'm at home I will usually nap, or just lay down in a quiet place and relax.

My main trigger is definitely auditory stimulation, loud music, busy restaurants, that type of stuff. Visual stimulation bothers me sometimes, as well as cognitive strain. Often I can handle these different types of stimuli individually, but it is when I start doing more at once when I develop headaches. Like reading a book while listening to music would definitely irritate me.

I don't understand how something like a hug could invoke symptoms though, by my definition it would be a stretch to even consider that a sub-concussive impact? Something like hugging my girlfriend I am more than willing to suffer possible increased symptoms, but not a more damage brain (which I don't think a simple hug could cause?) Or should even simple things like this be avoided?

Have you ever heard of anyone improving even after almost three years? Because to be quite frank, I don't want to suffer lifelong symptoms from one accidental head injury when I was 16.

I am not discounting your symptoms. A lot of people hear can relate to what you are experiencing. However, it is also possible that you are experiencing some anxiety. Anxiety can often make your symptoms much worse. If you think you might be experiencing anxiety in some situations, try to relax and take a breath.

Oh, I was talking about what things SHOULD I try to be avoiding.

I have never actually experienced symptoms from hugging - but I do avoid it sometimes. My physicians have just been very unclear and inconsistent and I have no idea what types of activities I should be avoiding.

Finding it hard to find a balance between being too careful, and not careful enough.

I made a typo. I meant to say. I can't see how a hug would cause enough quick movement to cause symptoms.

I don't have the edit function available so I don't often reread my posts after posting them. When I reread them in the Post window, I often miss my typos.

As I said, your physicians are clueless about what you should be avoiding. They do not live inside your head. Every time you have a relapse of symptoms, try to think back to your activities of the past 12 to 24 hours. Over time, you will start to see a pattern.

Avoid the obvious, soccer balls, contact sports, drinking alcohol or consuming other intoxicants, loud environments, and such stressors. Some keep a journal to try to see a pattern of triggers.

Very sorry to hear about your accident.

Curious if you had hearing loss tied with your tinnitus? sometimes head injuries cause hearing loss.

I have similar symptoms to you, minus the headaches.

i don't think hugging should flare up symptoms. Some of this could be anxiety induced. How is your sleep?