8 months with post concussion sydrome
 

I'm not sure how this website works yet, so this was the only way I could find to make a post.
Back in July of 2019 I was at home moving a wooden frame futon from one room to another, and the part that clicks in place to make it a couch, fell with very much force on my head. I had a horrible head pain, and it lasted a few minutes and had went away, so I never thought to go to the doctor. About 2 months later I started to have a really tender head and I had such an intense headache that I had gone to the ER. On the way there in the car we had to stop 3 times on the highway because I was so sick and couldn't stop puking. They took a ct scan and said there was no bleeding or anything wrong, and they diagnosed it as post concussion sydrome. Fast forward it's been 8 months since than. I am 7 months pregnant, and here and there my symptoms get a lot worse, I experience pressure on the top of my head, headaches, neck pain, vertigo, nausea, ringing in my ears, a lot of fatigue, fogginess, trouble processing, sensitivity to light, It seems to be worse when the sun is out and its warm outside, I cant wear pony tails, pins, or sunglasses hats etc. Sometimes I feel like I might black out, I see stars, I cant look at phone screens or TV screens, headlights without getting an intense pain in my eye. Theres probably a lot more symptoms that are part of pics that I'm not aware. went to the therapist and was diagnosed with vestibular dysfunction. I didnt finish the therapy because I had a lot of personal things happening at the time, now with all this virus stuff going on I'm hesitant about reaching out to see a doctor as most nonessential appointments have been canceled. But my symptoms haven't gotten much better since September. Hoping someone could give me some advice and guidance who has struggled with pcs for almost a year, or longer. Thank you so much.

Hi there
I moved your post to it's own thread for you so more members would see it and hopefully respond.

Hi Awells0109,

I don't know a lot about post concussion syndrome but it is rare for it to go on for many months. I hope that your doctor has done appropriate tests in an effort to find out if something else is going on.

I think a case can be made for making an appointment to see a doctor. Given that you are pregnant, don't you need to check in with Ob/Gyn doctor regularly anyway? Maybe you could get a referral from the Ob/Gyn doctor to a neurologist if you haven't already seen one. Since you're far along in the pregnancy, of course you'd like to be in good health in time for the delivery, and it sounds as if you have some health issues that are really getting in your way.

You say you were diagnosed with vestibular dysfunction. That doesn't really say much except that something is wrong with your vestibular system. I think it would be a good idea to point out to the doctor that you'd like to know more about this if that is really the problem (or the whole problem) and what to do about it, and you might point out how long your symptoms have gone on.

Cognitive behavioral therapy often works well for post-concussion syndrome, I understand. If that is the kind of therapy you discontinued, it's possible that that will help to clear up your symptoms. But the length of time you've had them is a cause for concern.

Hello!

I will start by saying that I'm not a doctor, but it might be worth being seen (maybe virtually) at a headache clinic by a migraine specialist to see if that's part of what's causing some of your symptoms.

"pressure on the top of my head, headaches, neck pain, vertigo, nausea, ringing in my ears, a lot of fatigue, fogginess, trouble processing, sensitivity to light" <--those are all common migraine symptoms

"It seems to be worse when the sun is out and its warm outside" <--weather changes are a common migraine trigger

"I cant wear pony tails, pins, or sunglasses hats etc. Sometimes I feel like I might black out, I see stars, I cant look at phone screens or TV screens, headlights without getting an intense pain in my eye." <--Also sounds like it could be migraine

Again, I'm not a doctor, which is why I recommend seeing one to see if this is what you have going on, but I developed a migraine disorder after my concussion, which perpetuated a lot of my PCS symptoms. Took a long time to see good enough doctors to find out that was what was actually going on. Seeing migraine doctors has been a lot more helpful for me than seeing a general neurologist or a concussion specialist was. Just a thought!! Good luck!

By the way, migraine is not just a 48-hour bad headache. Symptoms can be acute or chronic and really vary wildly. They can even include vestibular symptoms (try googling "vestibular migraine") Seems plausible you could have been having a migraine attack the time you went to the ER and developed chronic symptoms after that.

Also along with the migraine suggestions, look online for information on trigger points and muscle spasms in the neck muscles.
There is self care suggestions for those things and how to assess yourself.
Trigger points can refer pain & symptoms to other areas.

Hi,

I am also pregnant and got my concussion one day after conception. I am 6 months pregnant and it has been the slowest process to feel better. Mixing concussion symptoms with morning sickness was my own personal hell. I still feel my symptoms coming back when I ride on a bumpy boat ride or something, but I can’t help but wonder if it’s anxiety causing my PCS or if my brain is really being damaged again? My anxiety while pregnant has also been insane. I’m curious to know if your symptoms continued after birth? I’m really hoping after birth I can start feeling more normal and get my anxiety under control.

Also I would suggest along with checking out migraines. Have an EEG and see if it might be aura's to either seizures or migraines. Honestly any of the thing you
Have felt and more can happen. I would definitely look for a migraine and vestibular doctor. You can work on both at the same time

Pcs
 

PCS can certainly last for months... or be permanent. It sounds from your symptoms that it is concussion related...at 8 months it’s hard to tell how your recovery will pan out... try to avoid strenuous activity and overstimulation and get enough rest...not much else u can really do...

re: 8 months with PCS
 

i hope things are going better now, both with the PCS and the new baby.

in terms of 'recovery timelines' -> don't listen to anyone who hasn't had one or treated someone who has! every person and every brain injury is unique, which includes both symptoms and recovery.

i just past my 19-month mark!!!! for me, most of the symptoms are still there. and i don't think they will go away, and have been told so by at least two of my specialist doctors.


if you are still having PCS symptoms, start looking at doctors. find a neurologist who is a headache specialist, a therapy/recovery specialist who has treated TBI/PCS patients before, and even look at a neuro-ophthalmologist! there are specialty glasses for people with extreme light sensitivity (called photophobia). plus check the 'blue-light' levels on your electronic devices.

most experts agree the brain can do unique things, especially when it appears as though most other things in the head are okay. some things they just came explain as to why it is happening.

feel free to message anytime. take care and best wishes