Feeling as if brain is moving within head
 

Hello all,

For the past week or so i have been having a persistent issue, that when walking if i step down harder than normal i sometimes feel as though my brain is moving/bumping inside my head, this is sometimes accompanied by an instant of pain in my head. I wonder if it is due a neck issue, as my neck has felt very weak/sore lately. I also suffer from intense OCD like anxiety which could perhaps be causing/contributing to this feeling.

This feeling has caused me to be scared of walking for fear i might step down too hard again. I am scared the impact of walking maybe causing additional damage to my vulnerable brain, although i did not have this problem before and was walking around fine.

I am wondering if anyone has experience with this symptom and what might be causing it.

Thanks in advance,

Teo

Stepping or walking will not damage your brain. Something mild like walking or turning/shaking your head that causes a return of symptoms is not causing damage. If you smash your thumb, while it is healing, it will still feel tender to the touch, even a very light touch that could never cause any damage. It is the same with your brain.

A neck issue can easily be the trigger.

I think you are correct at pointing toward your intense OCD/anxiety. That can make a symptom that would normally be a 1 out on a 10 scale appear to be a 8 out on 10 scale.

What are you doing for your OCD? OCD makes PCS miserable.

If your neck is weak & sore ( maybe some whiplash/neck strain??) , focus on good & proper treatment for that first - skilled PT and/or skilled chiropractor.. find good ones..

Thanks for the response Mark/Jomar

I am seeing a psychologist to help with my OCD like thoughts, she suggested writing down the things that make me feel anxious so that afterwards i can look back and see that they did not cause further damage. I did not suffer from OCD/anxiety before the injury and so it still feels so new and difficult to deal with.

I am going to see a physio for my neck issues that have got a lot worse recently and are probably the cause of this feeling as if my brain is moving within my head/other symptoms.

Teo,

I have a theory, I'm much more aware of aches and pains post accident.

My theory is they were always there but I don't filter out the common everyday owies that aren't life threatening or life altering such as I did pre accident.

Learn to ignore that which doesn't require immediate attention.

Not a medical person and I don't know if I'm even close to correct but this has been my conclusion to feeling odd things in my body, like you stating you feel your brain is moving.

I hope this makes sense to you.

Bud

Teo
I know exactly the sensation you are talking about. I still have this sensation, though it has diminished quite a bit over time. Some will try to tell you it is anxiety, but I know that it is not. Your anxiety can be very real, and this physical feeling of your brain moving around in your head can be very real too. But it is not a phantom feeling that is "caused" by anxiety; at least not for me.

I don't know what causes this physical sensation, but I believe it is some combination of a neck injury, changes in blood flow to the brain, vestibular damage, and an oversensitive PCS brain that notices everything a lot more.

What helped me was a good neck PT that helped heal the soft tissues in my neck, A great vestibular therapy team, time, patience, more patience, light to moderate exercise that didn't aggregate my neck, good sleep, etc... You also have to try not to obsess about these sensations (I know, easier said than done). Try to focus on what you can do without aggravating symptoms, and focus on trying to find good PT providers. Get help from your family.

I can't go for 5 mile runs of play hours of basketball like I used to, but I can fast walk, play a bit of basketball, and go for some light bike rides. I have to accept that as enough and carry on with my life.

Hope this helps.