Sensitivity & Multiple Impact Syndrome
 

Hello,

I have a question for those of you who experience that getting a concusssion or concusssion symptomes is very easy.

I was whiplashed Jan 2014 and had a concussion (I am a lawyer and 36 years old). My symptomes (big reading difficulties, light headaches, total lack of energy, dizziness etc) was gradually getting better, and I felt like 95% myself in Sep 2014.

Then I had a accident with my son who jumped right up in my face. After a month I felt pretty good again, but then I felt and hit my head on a door frame. I had a very big setback (new concussion I think).

Since then I have improved, but it takes longer to get better, and everytime I bumb my head just a little bit or are exposed to a loud noise close to my head, I suffer a relapse which usually takes 3-5 days to overcome.

I am also sensitive to road bumps, jolting my neck etc. I have had psysical therapy, vestibular therapy and vision therapy.

I have read that a lot of you experiance similar symptoms, but I have the following questions, that I hope that some of you, especially Mark in Idaho, will have time to answer or share your thoughts:

I fear that I will always be sensitive to bumps to my head, and that it will not require much force to give me a new concussion.

So, have you, or someone you heard about, regained their tolerance to hits to the head or is it incurable?

And theese relapse I experience when exposed to a small bump, is it psychological or? The reason I ask is, that I have always been suffering from OCD, anxiety and hypochondria, and I can see, that a lot of you (most I think) who have the same problems also had pre-injury problems with anxiety etc.

I dont doubt that I have had a concussion, but theese small bumps who gives me a relapse, are they somehow linked to obsessive thinking, rumination, extreme focus and anxiety or is it a distinct problem?

Some years ago I had severe hypochondria (about MS, cancer and several other issues), and I definitively had some real and weird symtoms who vanished as soon I got a MRI scan, which showed that I was healthy. This tells me, that the mind can make tricks.

I hope to hear frem you and I am sorry for my bad english, but I am Norwegian.

PS: A big thanks to Mark in Idaho - I have read a lot of your posts, and I think it is amazing that you help all those people who are desperate (like myself).

I think a large part of small bump sensitivity is anxiety and such. The bump may cause a real physiological reaction momentarily but this momentary reaction triggers the psychological reaction. I think the sustained reaction is due to the cascade of stress chemicals in the brain made worse by the anxiety.

I don't have anxiety about the bumps. I am very easily startled and this can cause symptoms but they usually only last a few hours. I used to have a reaction to bumps with a self comment, " I'm going to pay for that." Once said, I just moved ahead. Usually I did not 'pay for that.'

I think a large part of recovery is learning how to live with our symptoms without stressing out. This limits the psychologically caused cascade of chemicals. A rehab professional who spoke at our brain injury support group stressed that this is an important attitude. When we learn to live with our symptoms, we often end up minimizing them to the point they are ignorable.

My brain can easily get caught ruminating or persevering. I was on an SSRI for 14 years to reduce this. I am now off the SSRI and take 5-HTP (100 mgs), L-Theanine (200 mgs) and L-Tryptophan (100 mgs) to help my brain maintain the neurotransmitters that reduces this perseveration tendency.

I also know how to redirect my thoughts. The perseveration can become mentally exhausting and I know it MUST be avoided. So, I have replacement thoughts I can switch to. It is like my mind is a juke box with some records that are scratched and like to repeat. When they start playing, I switch to a different record. I often use Christian hymns as replacements. I also have a short prayer that I say in my mind.

For some, it may take an audible effort. Finding that song or such to sing without annoying others is tricky. But, the verbal expression can impact the brains thought patterns more strongly that just thinking the thought. When the ears hear the replacement thought, that thought seems to be processed more seriously.

I rarely wake up in a bad way. I am a very disciplined sleeper. For me, my neck can cause problems with sleep apnea so good sleeping posture is paramount.

All this to say that it takes personal discipline with thoughts to reduce the severity and frequency of these relapses. Proper brain nutrition also makes a difference so discipline with that is important.

We each need to find our own ways to be disciplined. It can be tough but it is worth it. Some may needs a therapist with expertise with CBT, Cognitive Behavior Therapy to help load the juke box with good replacement thoughts.

My best to you all. I know this is a struggle.

I suffered from this symptom throughout the year. I couldn't run or ride in cars for almost a year. Now I must say that it's 80% gone! I still have to be careful on very big bumps though but its mostly gone. I give all the credits to time time & time! It's either the neck problem or inflammation in the brain I think

Other things that helped is fishoil , turmeric & B12 I think

Galaxy i heard fish oil / omega 3 supplements cause prostate cancer is that true ?

Bobby here is one take on your question:

http://drhyman.com/blog/2013/07/26/c...ostate-cancer/

It seems that the study was flawed, according to this doc. Also he gives several reasons why it would be odd if it did cause prostrate cancer

Still I am curious now because I consume 5+ g of fish oil and 2 krill oil capsules a day. I have had some issues with the prostate and antihistamines.

Thats the only thing stopping me from taking that supplement. Thanks ill take a look.

There are millions of people taking fishoil daily. And fishoil is one of the most researched product ever and found to be safe and effective. There are many many studies out there based on fishoil benefits. I don't think it might cause prostate cancer. We would have known by now if that was the case and it would have been more in the news and internet compared to what we see now. Besides, we NEED fishoil at the moment to bring down the inflammation and help the brain heal. It's definitely worth the smallest risk if any in my opinion

Thank you for taking time to answer me.

I work with a CBT therapist, but I find it very difficult to just let the thoughts and emotions pass. I mean, I find it difficult to accept, that I maybe cant get my life back and I am only 36!:-(

@Mark in Idaho: What is the most important thing about Neck/head injury you would wish you had known, when you was 36?

And regarding startle response - how long does a startle response take to calm down? I think I had a lot of startle responses, which usually disappear, after 3-6 days. But do you have any suggestions how to distinguish a startle resonse from a upper neck?

Best regards

Startle response is a short term event. Something that might have been a "Oh, that was a surprise" reaction instead causes an adrenaline rush reaction with a tightening of muscles, especially in the chest. This adrenaline rush can be a bit overpowering and cause an increase in blood pressure and pulse. It should subside in a short time, a half hour or so. For some, it tends to be self perpetuating as the original anxiety that should have been over in just minutes causes new anxieties of "What did I do to myself ? Why do I feel this way ? Did I injure my head ? "

The important issue is to not let a simple startle morph into a major anxiety reaction. This requires us to identify the stimulation as the benign stimulation that it is. Going through a thought process of "Wow, that was a rush." "I'm glad that is OVER." etc. can allow us to put an end to the event. But consciously putting an end to the event, hopefully, we can prevent any ruminating to cause the short term anxiety from becoming a long term event.

We each have to find our own system for resolving these startles. Some deep breaths with a thought that settles our racing thoughts will help.

I get these startles frequently such as seeing a quick dramatic event on a TV show. My chest tightens and I get a tingling feeling. I recognize it and let it go.

My best tp you.