PCSLearner,

You may need to slowly infer to you daughter that she may have occasional symptoms for quite some time. You may try by asking her questions, like:

What can you do if this does not go away completely?

Can you accept that if you overdo it, that you might have these occasional relapses for some time?

Have you thought of what you can do to lessen the chances of these relapses?

I'm sure that with your understanding of your daughter, you can find some offhand ways of causing her to think about this as a possible part of her future.

If she can learn to think: "I had a bad concussion when I was fifteen and these things happen from time to time" and she just accepts the reality, she can adjust to it and go on living her life. It can be somewhat like those women who struggle with bad days with their cycle, learn to accept it and go on.

I have had a head ache all day and just have to rest and not get upset. Usually, Tylenol will help but this time I just need to endure it.

My best to you and your daughter.

This is exactly what we do. I tell her that this injury is similar to the broken ankle she sustained a few years ago in the respect that it hurts under certain circumstances. I think she has accepted the fact that she might always be more susceptible to headaches than she was before and that she is definately more suceptible to concussion.

We try to keep our focus on how much better things have gotten and we focus on healthy behaviors (nutrition, rest, stress reduction, exercise). All the things that make for a health human being otherwise are now paramount to preventing headaches.

I think it's exceptionally scary when one of the bad headaches (with all of it's accompanying symptoms) comes back. It must feel like a total relapse. The more scared she gets the worse her symptoms become. We just give her a quiet environment and try to reassure her "this is not an emergency, you are going to be fine, it's part of the healing process."

Later, when she's not in pain, we talk about situations that might have brought it on and how to avoid that. Most of the time there are at least three variables that might have contributed (time of monthly cycle, sinus infection, too little sleep, etc.) We also talk about how even if it never stops completely that this is still not the worst thing in the world.

I wish I could know for certain what she'll be dealing with in the future (cognitive issues? triggers for decompensation?). And even though I think we have exhausted all venues (neuro opthamologist, TMJ assessment, etc.) I wish I could know for certain that there isn't some secondary symptom that, once addressed, would help her. As Vinni has eloquently stated, we know much more about just about everything in the universe than we do about our BRAINS. Crazy.

PCSLearner,
It sounds like the only think left for your daughter to learn is that head aches are inevitable, just like her cycle. As she learns the self discipline to deal with these head aches without needing your direction, she will become able to endure them with less anxiety. Anxiety is the worst thing for a PCS head ache.

If she gets to the pint of saying, " I feel a head ache coming on. I need to stop doing this and take a break," she will have crossed a major hurdle. Her school should provide her access to a lounge where she can get a quiet break when she needs one. This self-regulation will free her from much of the anxiety.

We (my wife and I) have learned that there is rarely anything happening that is so important that I cannot take a break.

Others have talked about neuro-feedback but simple bio-feedback where she learns to lower her pulse and blood pressure might be helpful. She can even try this on her own. All she would need is a blood pressure monitor.

They cost about $30 or a bit more. Some will fit on your wrist and can be worn throughout the day. She would just need to activate it when she feels like she is getting overstimulated and then focus on relaxing her body.

Sounds like you are doing a lot of things right. Most of PCS recovery is common sense. The younger ones just need some reinforcement of good discipline.

Hi, are you taking LYRICA? regard chiron

No, is Lyrica supposed to help with these types of symptoms?

No BeccaP, the symtoms you describing are the side effects of Lyrica and there are scary.It is really an anti-depressant but used for nerve pain. i was on it and i was spaced out on it and i know others who do not like it.But then again,each one to their own.I would not advise anyone to go off it without their dr.s say-so. regards