freezer,

Keep in mind that most medications that act on the brain cells have limited know mechanisms of action. That is why so many doctors use a "try this and report back to me" system of treatment. The hypothetical reasons are just that. As the saying goes. "Your mileage may vary."

Research suggests that there is a component of brain injury that is due to a suicide mission message being sent out. The damaged cells trigger this message in tRNA (transmitting RNA) to create a clean margin of healthy cells by destroying questionable cells. This is a difficult process with diffuse axonal injury as is the most common injury from concussion.

There is no such thing as neuronal or axonal scar tissue. The damaged tissue breaks down and is absorbed. Blood flow will determine how well the damaged tissue remnants will be removed. Also, proper chemical balance is needed to gather all of the waste products of this cellular deterioration. Thus the need for healthy nutrition.

With the significant increase in how i'm feeling, my guess is, either i'm termporarily not producing the right hormones in my own brain and the prednisone is supplying them, or i simply needed to get rid of the inflammation to feel better. What that does to the toxins in my brain - I don't know. They will go away eventaully.

My diet is nearly perfect and pact full of antioxidants, protein, and omegas.

I will wait it out and see how it plays out. Right now I feel like I could go for a run. Don't worry - I won't. : )

I'd really like to know why some people get PCS and others don't. Maybe we should all take inventory on what we have in common.

The myriad of factors that lead to PCS is beyond research. There is often a complete absence of information about prior concussions, sub-concussions, toxic exposures to the brain, other brain stressors, etc. Ability to process B-12 and other B vitamins can be a factor. Fatty acid levels also is an issue. Low fat diets can leave the brain susceptible to injury. Add to these issues the unknown impact of processed foods and additives and the matrix of complications is huge.

A concussion during a bout with depression will manifest different than a concussion absent any depression. Different hormone levels/balances also impact the damage left by a concussion especially in women. Blood glucose levels at time of concussion may also effect the symptom levels.

The research is all over the map.

Trying to compare notes is a futile effort. It only causes anxiety. Understanding the brain's intolerance to impact trauma is still grossly ignored. Maybe when a celebrity with the right connections suffers from PCS, there will be a openness to the issues. Gary Busy is ridiculed for his behavior when in reality, he has done extremely well despite his brain injury. Nobody cares to understand the underlying reason for some of his behaviors. Meatloaf gets applauded for his brain damaged antics that result from his drug abuse. Go figure.......

Freezer,

Could you share your diet with us?

Thanks.

I'm not sure how to share my diet. I eat so many foods and i"ve never been on a "diet". I'm a vegetarian and eat a lot of whole grains, soy, egg, beans, and dairy proteins - occasional fish but that's the only meat I eat. I eat a lot of fruits. For a typical lunch I'll have a bean or cheese or tofu protein food with a salad that is like a spinach salad, boiled egg, carrots, etc.

I am a chocoholic. probably my main inflammitory vice.

what in particular are you asking?

With this prednisone I'm reaching feeling about 90% myself today. Even if it's short lived, it's the best.

mark - I have to say after experiencing this, I have a new appreciation for those who suffer a brain injury. It's really hard to comprehend the nature of it if you have not been affected. It should be so obvious that damaging the organ that governs higher thinking would cause all sorts of irrational changes but it's hard to really get it to sink in unless you've walked a mile. Hopefully medical research will change all of that soon in that there will be better therapeutic devices/drugs and then who cares what people think, science will force it.

Soy proteins and their derivatives contain processed free glutamic acid. Soy should be avoided due to this problem.

Even though your diet looks good, the available B vitamins is likely lacking. In my experience, I need 10 times to 50 times the RDA of B's. This is hard to get from normal foods. Supplements are needed. A whole egg or two on a regular basis can help with these brain needs. The yolk has important nutrition in it. Also good for cholesterol.

Hey,

I just wanted to know what you considered a "perfect diet" for your PCS. It sounds similar to mine though I am not a vegetarian. Thanks.

I think a PCS nutrition thread would be very useful for many members. For a lot of people nutrition isn't as easy as it sounds.

sorry - i guess i spoke too loosely. I wasn't thinking if I said it was perfect for PCS. I just think that i eat very well. I try to get a mix of everything and have never had health issues to date.

FreezerDoor, time to get a new neurologist. Corticosteroids don't cross the blood brain barrier so they won't help at all. The anti-inflammatory benefits from these corticosteroids are to inhibit the release of arachidonic acid from the cell membrane. Arachidonic acid is the building block of inflammatory hormones, prostaglandins and leukotrienes. This is fine but they also inhibit the release of the omega 3 EPA which is anti-inflammatory. All is pointless because the brain can't use utilize the benefit. This is why you can't use them long term in any circumstance because by inhibiting the release of fatty acids from the cell membrane, essentially you are cutting off your innate immune system all together. The only thing that has shown significant benefit is HIGH doses of omega 3's, primarily EPA, because it will reduce the effects of arachidonic acid and reduce neuro-inflammation. You do need DHA as well! Arachidonic acid is an omega 6 fatty acid you can only obtain in the diet and therefore, get them out of your diet. Vegetable oils, egg yolks, meat are all sources of omega 6's. Insulin helps to convert the omega 6, linoleic acid to arachidonic acid so try to cut back on high glycemic carbs. Here is a study that explains!

Paul