So I did my testing Monday and it lasted most of the day. From 9am to 3pm. First were questions about what's been happening and the cause for the concussion. Then the testing began. It was very scientific and it tests several things from cognition, to recognition, memory, language, wordfinding, deduction, problem solving and concentration. Then there's a personality/mood questionnaire at the end. Of course, I was exhausted by the end. The environment was extremely controlled and much quieter than my work environment.

I won't get my results until a month later, but there was something interesting I noted the day after the testing - I was starting to feel better.

I don't know what it is. Maybe it's the anxiety of the taking the test that's finally gone, or that I actually had more rest in the weekend, but the past couple of days, my headache isn't as bad and I get glimpses of clarity. It's like being awake after a long slumber. Maybe it's also that I accessed parts of my brain I hadn't accessed in a while since the injury and that connections were made as a byproduct of the testing.

Today is the first day I'm actually starting to feel like myself again, even though it's only a fraction of the time.

Good for you. I haven't had a neuropsychological exam yet, I haven't even seen a neuropsychologist. I'm going to ask to be referred to one because of some mental and cognitive problems I've been having that the neurologist can't seem to help me with.

Very interesting to hear about your improvement in clarity. I feel slightly better clarity wise but still have the pounding headache. I just did my exam today and it was only 3 hours long. I thought I did poorly but they said the test they graded I did ok in. I felt very strained during the exam and felt that I would've been able to answer these questions easily prior to my concussion.

It seems like it might be hard to judge the results without a previous baseline before the concussion. The Dr. suggested that my worry and tension in my neck is causing my headaches and think pain management/relaxation techniques will help.

I'm sure stress doesn't help headaches but I know it's not all in my head. I think it's more the headache is causing the worry because I wake up every day and I'm not myself.

They said had I had a neurologist from the beginning, I wouldn't have gone back to work as fast as I did, even though it was half-days.

A way to relax your shoulder is to raise your shoulders up while standing, then letting them drop. Do this a few times and the tension goes away. I know this by learning Tai Chi. It's a warmup exercise.