Hey guys,
1st time poster here. My name is Brian and about two months ago I hit my head on a door at my house. I was completely fine (I thought at least) afterwards. Did not get knocked out or anything. A couple days later I was standing at work talking with co-workers and I started feeling like I was going to black out. This past after 30 minutes or so. Over the next week this happened 2 or 3 more times but I was always fine after. The last time it happened (about a week after the injury occured) it never went away. Went to a PCP, cardiologist, neurologist,and then finally the ER. I was constantly dizzy, had weird and undescribable abnormal head sensations, disequilibrium, balence issues, perception issues, concentration issues, headaches, fatigue,Tinnitus, nastagmys, etc,etc,etc. Could not drive, watch TV, or really do anything. Turns out it is PCS. Ive learned a lot about the condition through research and doctor visits. Ive also learned a lot about how much frekin CT scans and MRIs cost! One of the worst symtoms that has come with my version of PCS is anxiety. The anxiety I get is crippling. A bug could fly past me and it freaks me out so much my PCS symptoms flare up like crazy. I would feel like I was on a boat rocking back and forth, or feel like I was watching the blair witch project in real life (just with the jittery camera). But a lot of this stuff would flare up by my perception of life. The perception I would never get better and all is gone. I would always think when I tried to walk around I was going to pass out. The anxiety I would get by these thoughts would make me actually believe I was going to pass out and there go the symptoms.
1-This has lead me to understand that a positive outlook on this situation is a HUGE key to recovery. A lot of this is so mental and emotional. When you expect symptoms to come, they will. Im not saying you can completely overcome PCS by mind over matter. But it can very much help your recovery. Positive thinking is so key here. You have to know that this WILL NOT last for ever and you will get better. You have to stay patient and take the good days when they come.
2nd- Do some vestibular restoration therapy. There are very simple exercises that help with the vertigo piece a lot. When I went to the neurologist, all I wanted to do was stop being dizzy. And he tells me to make myself dizzy. When I am feeling all vertigo-ey, do the exercises. Sit on your bed. lay to the side, then sit up. lay to the other side, then sit up. Lay back, then sit up. Do this 4 or 5 times, 2x a day when your feeling dizzy. What this is supposed to accompish is to reset your brain to receive the correct signals. With these inner ear, vestibular, miss-alligned crystals issues, your brain is getting a false signal from your balance center and relaying it to the rest of your body. You have to reset these. Throwing a ball up and down after this exercise helps as well.
3rd-Try to stay off anything that will change your brain activity. You need plenty of oxygen to your brain to properly heal. Altering your brainwaves seems (to me) to just prolong recovery. I am including meds in this topic because I am a natural healer and only take meds if extremely needed. I stayed off all meds, caffine, alcohol, etc. Clean mind.

Its been two months and I am finally seeing some relief. The chronic dizzyness and vertigo issues have subsided. I am left with just an overall foggy or weird feeling, but I can at least drive again and I am going to attempt a return to work next week, after two months off. So bottom line is, you will get better. Have hope, I do.

Good luck to all in your recovery!
Brian

Welcome to NT!

I'm glad that your recovery is going well.

The severity and nature of brain injury varies greatly from one individual to another. Accordingly, so does the duration and extent of recovery. It would also help a lot if every brain injured person had access to the cognitive therapies they need. We are a very under served community.

Cheers