Whiplash / Jarring head injury from gym??
 

Hi,

I've previously recovered from PCS in 2015, though I've always been panicky / high anxiety prone if I accidentally bump my head since then.

I was in the gym last weekend and basically felt a judder / shockwave effect from the weights (2
x 30kg) as I partially held/dropped them onto the floor. I've been experiencing PCS-like symptoms ever since, especially balance/procioception, memory issues and generally not feeling right (anxiety / depression).

I'm horrified that I may have done this to myself although Headway UK mentioned it could be more psychological, while the hospital mentioned trauma activation of the original concussion incident.

Either way, it feels very real and frightening right now and I suppose I'm looking for some balanced perspective from yourselves.

Headway sounds right. As you said, you have anxiety issues. The memory issues it the tell take. It would take quite an impact to cause memory issues physiologically. But, it does not take much anxiety or even poor sleep to cause memory issues.

I suggest you find something besides weights until you are over you current anxiety. Anxiety can cause a lack of coordination/proprioception which can put you at risk of getting hurt.

The hospital may be making a comment related to how the mind can remember symptoms and play them back in a very real experience. This is a PTSD like flashback event. No trauma is needed.

Seeking medical care after dropping 30 kg weights on the floor is even more evidence that this is anxiety/memorized symptoms related.

It is important that you not check for symptoms. If you stop and say, "Am I feeling dizzy?" I guarantee you will have some dizzy sensation. The mere suggestion will cause the symptom to a person with anxiety. Try to remember than when you are experiencing anxiety, a sensation of 1 on a 10 scale will appear to be a 6 to 8 out of 10. Anxiety magnifies the sensation.

Thanks for your help Mark,

Sorry if this is just my anxiety questioning your valuable input

I just wanted to clarify that although I did drop the weights to the floor, I didnt fully let go, so some of the force was transferred back up through my arms and neck, so I felt the sensation in my brain/head area and whether this shockwave or whiplash was enough to jar/jolt my brain and cause an actual concussion?

I've been off work since Wednesday and balance/procioception was more noticeable yesterday while driving and in crowds - although I admit both of which cause me anxiety.

I also started taking sertraline last Monday.

No, there is not a shock wave through your arms to your head that can do any damage.

Sertraline has a known side-effect of feeling unsteady and loss of coordination.

You should talk to your doctor's office or to your pharmacist.

What is the reason for taking the sertraline?

Thanks for your persistence Mark

The GP presribed Sertraline because of my high anxiety - I was loathed to take it until last week. In 2017 I've had to move house, attend the funeral of an abusive father, start a new job (at a firm of bullies) - fired from same job, experience 4mths of unemployment while contending with another troublesome family member.

I've recently got another temporary job and I'm now off sick from due to low mood/depression and high anxiety over my balance, memory and coordination symptoms - which I have been associating with the weight-lifting (dropping) 'incident'.

This episode feels very similar to the symptoms I had after my last martial arts sparring session in 2015, however, maybe that was largely driven by mental health issues too. I am basically no longer able to pinpoint what is causing me to feel this way, which is why I start to fear the worst.

My medication is being reviewed next week by a pyschiatrist.

I've also been taking Propranolol as and when

This sounds more OCD/anxiety than injury.

The first couple weeks of an SSRI can be quite strange, even miserable.

Do you do any vitamin or other supplements?

I take 5-HTP instead of an SSRI. It is much better for me.

I take a high quality B multivitamin, omega-3, niacin, B5, turmeric, selenium, beta glucans, gingko biloba, vitamin D, phosphatidylserine. I was taking BCAAs but apparently they can reduce serotonin concentration.

I'm feeling a little better today and starting to accept the possibility it could be psychological, but the "what if?" part of my brain is still picking up on things like sleep apnea, poor memory and drop in libido as evidence of "brain damage", while I also realise these can be symptoms of depression and medication side effects.

My brain is thinking the "medication may be helping and it wasnt an injury just a trigger" and also/or "I did have a concussion and symptoms are starting to heal".

All I know is its turned my life completely upside down the last 10 days

You are still in the early stage of SSRI use. For some, the start up side effects of an SSRI can last a few weeks longer.

Why do you take selenium? It is likely already in the multi-vitamin. Or is the multi-vitamin just Bs? How much B-12 do you take?

I was taking Selenium through the summer as I was low on energy.

The multivitamin is B-complex only and has 50ug of B12

I still can't stop worrying about having another concussion/brain injury from the jarring effect of the weights, its making me very low, like true clinical depression and suicidal ideation. I so wish I hadnt dropped them on the floor or even gone to the gym

50 ug or mcgs of B-12 is not therapeutic. It is only enough to prevent B-12 malnutrition. Add 1000 ug of methylcobalamin B-12 to your daily regimen.