PHYSICAL EXERTION and PCS
 

I have been progressing pretty well. I think in some ways I could be 90% recovered YAH! Here's my question. I looked at the Buffalo study and not entirely clear how to apply..

Been working with a trainer. I went to the gym 4 weeks ago -totally overwhelmed. Came home and slept for 3 hours.

Didn't go following week. I went last week and did mainly machines seemed ok; however, when it felt like the weight was too heavy I got that pressure feeling in my head.

A few days ago I felt like I had made some big improvement. I drove yesterday and today. Not far and not during any traffic. Definitely had to pay more attention - not automatic so to speak. This morning I drove to the gym. I worked with my trainer. He had me do some stationary lunge type exercises etc. After about 30 min I was sitting doing a lat pull down and I don't know what happened. I definitely felt I was breathing hard by this time. I was quite surprised to feel so out of breath given my past. Anyway I just sat there; I don't really know what happened I was just sitting there and then the tears just started to flow down my cheeks. I don't know why. It was almost like I had a temporary regression. I had a bit of trouble with finding words. I just sat still for a while and after a while I felt better but I a bit off. I waited, had some tea and sat and felt better before I drove home. When I got here my husband could tell from my face I guess that I struggled.
I am back to resting now except writing this.

Last week when I walked up and down our driveway for some exercise which is steep and my heart rate went up same kind of thing happened. I get a disorienting feeling and a pressure like someone pressing on my head esp when I went inside and it was hot. Don't know if this sounds strange but almost like my brain was swelling/taking up more space in my head. I went outside and cooled down and felt better but then needed to rest. Is this "normal"? Ideas best way to progress?

Thank you.

Louise,

From what I understand about the Buffalo protocol and such, a trainer can be a big problem. Trainers usually focus on helping you push harder. That is counter to what you need. If anything, the trainer should be monitoring your heart rate and keeping you 10% below your symptoms threshold. Then every 2 weeks or so, try increasing your heart rate by 5% to see if you can remain symptom free.

Plus, he could help you work on body/muscle awareness. The goal is to isolate the muscle group you are working on so you do not engage other muscles. This is a challenge for people with PCS because the brain wants to tense up other muscles. We just had a neuro-rehab PT speak at our TBI Support Group tonight and he explained the need to watch for this.

He told us how Moshe Feldenkrais explained how the nervous system wants to misfire in this area and how it takes effort to overcome this propensity to use more muscles that the task requires. This can be more of a problem with the upper body as the neck tenses up and causes a myriad of neurological symptoms.

Maybe your trainer needs to read up on the Buffalo protocol and see if he can direct you according to it.

Thank you so much Mark. My husband is going to take me to the gym and I am going to use hid Polar watch and we will do the protocol. Sounds a lot like a treadmill test our Dr gave us to establish threshold, target & maximum HR just at a greater intensity. My next venture/focus. Grateful.

Mark,

Interesting about the tensing up, I have had to work real hard during exercise to stay relaxed, especially the neck which sets off a number of symptoms. It appears possibly I am not imagining have a bit of a time isolating my biceps, things haven't felt the same as before during bicep exercises. Hmmm.

Louise,

I finally took the step to return to the gym after a 20 month hiatus. I needed a heated pool, I took to swimming since my head still doesn't care for running and it eventually turned to using the weights as well.

It has been a totally different experience than ever before. I have had to learn to moderate some activities and to take days off from the gym when necessary. Sometimes I can't go to the gym for a couple of days prior to a family activity or travel but I am very happy with the progress.

Thus far I have found it best to separate the cardio and weight days...in the past I could run and hit the weights. Now I swim one day and the next is weights. Friday's I do both cuz I have the weekend to recover from an overload if one happens. Wednesday and weekends are off days.

Last winter and well into the spring I could not walk more than a quarter mile without major symptoms starting during the walk, requiring hours to recover. That was well into a year post injury. I kept trying to do more and realized it was detrimental and quit until October a full 1.5 yrs post injury.

Last week I went to pick up my new prism glasses and they weren't an immediate cure, things around 10 foot away were slightly distorted appearing and I started balling in the office. I went next door to the eye neuro to do my therapy and broke down again. I'm a 56 year old man crying over glasses and little eye exercises! You aren't alone.