[pcshealer]

Hi,

I just found out about this group through a google search on post concussion syndrome and am looking for hope that my symptoms will resolve soon. It has been almost a year since I fell and hit my head and although I'm seeing some improvement, I'm wondering if my symptoms will ever completely resolve. What would really help me a lot is to hear some success stories from people who have recovered after having prolonged symptoms for several months or longer. Does anyone out there have any stories they can share?

My early symptoms of extreme fatigue, brain fog, tingling in my hands and feet, and a burning sensation on my skin (arms and feet) have gone away. However, I still suffer from a lack of energy and strength, feelings of irritability, eyes sensitive to light, and numbness in my hands each morning. I also have recurring dull headaches that correspond with the times when I'm having the worst symptoms. Also, I am not able to exercise on a regular basis like I did before the fall and usually have symptoms if I try to do too much.

I've also noticed that my symptoms seem to be induced when I sleep longer than normal. For example, on the weekends I sleep later and usually have headaches and a low energy level. Has anyone else noticed a variation in symptoms based on sleep patterns?

Because of these many symptoms, I have not been myself over the past year and have lost a lot of my joy in life. The longer this continues, the more I worry if they'll ever go away. If I can find other people who have recovered after a year, that will really help me stay positive. Anyone out there like that?

I appreciate any encouragement that you may be able to send my way!

Thanks for listening!

Don

[Mark in Idaho]

Don,

Have you been seen by any doctors? It sounds like you may have an unresolved neck injury. Neck injuries are common in concussion patients.

A chiropractor or physical therapist may be able to help you.

[ewizabeth]

Hi Don, welcome to NeuroTalk! I don't have any advice but I'm glad you found us and I hope your symptoms will improve soon.

[Hockey]

Hi Don and welcome to NT!

Knowing when, or if, one's PCS will resolve is the $64,000 question - and I wish I had an answer for you. The extent of recovery can be influenced by many factors including age, number of injuries, whether or not you lost conciousness, etc...

During the healing process, it's important not to do anything that might hinder your progress. Rest and good diet are essential. It's also important to stay away from alcohol. I have no doubt that members more knowledgeable than I will chime in with good advice on supplements and treatment options.

Understanding PCS is an important step in recovering from it. Some excellent sources for further reading include: the Brain Injury Association of America www.biausa.org; www.tbiguide.com and our own TBI forum here on NT http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum92.html If reading gives you headaches, there are a number of excellent TBI videos on You Tube. (Who knew it wasn’t just idiots surfing on cars?)

People have made incredible recoveries from brain injury. For example, a woman who got a serious TBI from a fall in her teens is now a neurologist in Canada. Never give up!

Cheers

[pcshealer]

Hi Mark,

Yes, I've been seen by three neurologists and several other doctors and they can't find any problems. I thought it could be a neck injury as well, but the MRI showed everything is structurally fine. After I fell, I had a lot of neck pain for about 3 weeks.

I haven't been to a chiro since the fall because I was afraid it might make it worse. I had a neck injury from an auto accident several years ago, and had chiro treatments at that time. But, all I had back then was occasional soreness.

I was hoping to hear some PCS recovery stories, but I guess nobody out there has any to share. I saw a former NFL football player (Merril Hoge) on ESPN last week who said it took him more than two years to recover from PCS.

Thanks.

Don

Originally Posted by Mark in Idaho

Don,

Have you been seen by any doctors? It sounds like you may have an unresolved neck injury. Neck injuries are common in concussion patients.

A chiropractor or physical therapist may be able to help you.

[Hockey]

Here's a link to a great brain injury (stroke) recovery story:
To read more, click on the link provided below; http://m.theglobeandmail.com/news/natio ... ice=mobile

[pcshealer]

Hi Hockey,

I tried the link, but I think part of it was chopped off, so I couldn't connect to the article.

Don

[Dmom3005]

Hi Don
I' m Donna, and I wont ever be totally recovered. But it isn't because of
having just one PCS were not sure how many I've had.

I also have a balance and vertigo issue that makes my problems show at
times.

But my experiences with the PCS that were really severe are much better
now. One of the things that really helped me was physical therapy.

Donna

Hi,

Your story sounds all too familiar. Like you, I went to many different neurologists after my head injuries and they all couldn't understand what was wrong with me. And on top of that, they had no idea how to help me rehab my brain injury aside from pumping me full of useless medication.

It actually wasn't until I discovered neurofeedback that I started to get better. Nothing currently out there has shown as much effectiveness at resolving symptoms from a head injury as neurofeedback. It is usually done in a therapists or medical doctors office. Just google search "neurofeedback" and "your city/town" and you should be able to find a few in your area. Make sure they have experience treating head injuries. If there is someone in your area who does LENS neurofeedback or Z score training (or both) I would highly recommend going to them. Good luck.

[pcshealer]

Thanks for that info, mhr4. I am planning on trying the neurofeedback and am hoping that will help me deal with the symptoms on the bad days.

Just as you said, I have been encouraged to take useless medications and so far, I haven't found anything that really helps. In fact, the side effects are worse than any benefits they might have. If I'm going to feel lousy anyway, I'd rather not be any meds at all. But, I also have some good days free of symptoms to give me hope that I'm getting better. It's just taking a long time.

Originally Posted by mhr4

Hi,

Your story sounds all too familiar. Like you, I went to many different neurologists after my head injuries and they all couldn't understand what was wrong with me. And on top of that, they had no idea how to help me rehab my brain injury aside from pumping me full of useless medication.

It actually wasn't until I discovered neurofeedback that I started to get better. Nothing currently out there has shown as much effectiveness at resolving symptoms from a head injury as neurofeedback. It is usually done in a therapists or medical doctors office. Just google search "neurofeedback" and "your city/town" and you should be able to find a few in your area. Make sure they have experience treating head injuries. If there is someone in your area who does LENS neurofeedback or Z score training (or both) I would highly recommend going to them. Good luck.