Traumatic Brain Injury and Post Concussion Syndrome For traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post concussion syndrome (PCS).


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Old 02-24-2012, 06:12 AM #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rayna & Dean Suther View Post
I have seen a couple of threads where people talk about exercising... I was told not to exercise... is this a good plan? I was physically active before, and finding the stagnant life I now seem to lead had had negative side effects for me both physically and mentally... any suggestions?
The evidence suggests that exercise is initally bad for you and that you should rest as much as possible, but that after a long enough period of using this this rest to recover, exercise will become good for your brain and will speed up your recovery.

I have found this to be true for me - for a long time even too much walking would cause my symptoms to get worse, however in the last few months I have been doing a lot of exercise and have seen the quickest improvements of the 11 months since my injury.

I think at was at around 7 or 8 months post injury that I became able to tolerate and benefit from exercise. Your recovery will not be exactly the same as mine or anyone else's so you will have to test the waters carefully to see what you can tolerate. Remember that sometimes you will not see negative effects until a day or two after the activity which has caused them so take it easy.

Before I was able to exercise or do various other things a 'stagnant life' was exactly what my brain needed. For a time anything that was interesting was bad for my brain, since it stimulated it when it needed to rest. My life was extremely boring and depressing, but this was an important part of my recovery.

Best wishes
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mTBI March 2011, spent around a year recovering.

Since recovery I have achieved a Master's degree with distinction in Neurological Occupational Therapy

Last edited by Klaus; 02-24-2012 at 01:54 PM.
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Old 02-25-2012, 05:07 AM #12
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I would also echo whoever said to try to find a physiatrist. I have seen a variety of different types of doctors throughout my PCS experience, and the physiatrist is the only one who really had things I could do to move toward improvement.

Everybody else basically just evaluated me (yep, still not back to normal! - could have told you that myself!) and prescribed a few meds which may or may not have helped alleviate a few symptoms temporarily.

The physiatrist evaluated and then gave me suggestions for things I could do to actually improve and regain function over time.

I too am looking at modifying my career in response to my concussion. I am a teacher, and my most recent job was working in an urban high school with pretty challenging youth. I was quite good at it, but going back even part-time in a modified one-to-one setting this year proved too much for my brain to handle. I am looking now at ways that I can still stay connected to teaching and use my expertise but respect the limits of my brain and body. It's hard to give up a job that I love and was very good at, but there are lots of options out there.

Good luck. Keep us posted with your progress and what you learn.
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mTBI and PCS after sledding accident 1-17-2011

Was experiencing:
Persistent headaches, fatigue, slowed cognitive functions, depression
Symptoms exacerbated by being in a crowd, watching TV, driving, other miscellaneous stress & sensory overload
Sciatica/piriformis syndrome with numbness & loss of reflex


Largely recovered after participating in Nedley Depression Recovery Program March 2012:

.


Eowyn Rides Again: My Journey Back from Concussion

.
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Old 03-04-2012, 12:56 AM #13
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Default There's hope....

I suffered a concussion in September of 2011 after a deer ran into my car and I hit my head on the window. Similar symptoms to many - headaches, nausea, balance issues, etc. Extremely light sensitive, one eye was always red and swelling. Was getting no help from medical community - the answer they gave me was its a concussion just wait it out.

Got on the web and started reading about light sensitivity and prisms helping with symptom relief related to eyes and post concussion symptoms. After about a month and half of convincing a local optometrist who did binocular eye examinations to see me it was determined my horizontal and vertical eye movement was impaired. (Horizontal movement almost gone and each eye was doing something different for vertical movement. I was tipping my head to the right to adjust for balance).

Got the glasses with the prisms last Friday. My head felt about 200 lbs lighter (less pressure) within 3 hours of having the new lenses and the tilting of my head was gone.

Sunday evening (2 days later) first time I had no headache since September. It has gotten better as the week has gone on - not perfect, still have headaches but making progress, energy is up, and have more motivation again. All my neck pain has subsided - chiropractor can't believe the difference in a week.

I will be working with the optometrist monthly going forward. Satisfied with results so far - its progress and I'll take it. She made no guarantees on the treatment plan and full recovery. Lenses may have to change monthly. I asked about eye therapy (similar to physiotherapy for the eyes) and she said I could not handle it right now, but may be down the road. I did not argue and could not have agreed more at the time. I was exhausted after the examination. Slept for 4 hours.

Don't give up, keep researching and push for answers - its not impossible.
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Old 03-04-2012, 03:27 AM #14
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GA2012,

Welcome to NeuroTalk. Glad to hear you found some worthwhile help with your eyes.

There is lots of good help here. Tell us about your other struggles and we can share our knowledge with you.

My best to you.
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Old 03-04-2012, 03:45 PM #15
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I am intrigued by the notion of vision therapy. Many of my problems get much worse when they entail focusing on text or objects. Can you provide any links to the treatment regimen you are undergoing?
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Old 03-04-2012, 03:50 PM #16
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Wakey,

I also had a lot of vision problems with reading, focusing on close work like crocheting, and also watching TV and driving. I had both a medical eye exam and vision efficiency evaluation. My medical eye exam was clear but my VEE showed problems with convergence and binocular function.

I did ten weeks of vision therapy and have been able to do visual tasks much better since then. I found my optometrist through this website: http://www.braininjuries.org/
__________________
mTBI and PCS after sledding accident 1-17-2011

Was experiencing:
Persistent headaches, fatigue, slowed cognitive functions, depression
Symptoms exacerbated by being in a crowd, watching TV, driving, other miscellaneous stress & sensory overload
Sciatica/piriformis syndrome with numbness & loss of reflex


Largely recovered after participating in Nedley Depression Recovery Program March 2012:

.


Eowyn Rides Again: My Journey Back from Concussion

.
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Old 03-04-2012, 10:58 PM #17
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Originally Posted by wakey View Post
I am intrigued by the notion of vision therapy. Many of my problems get much worse when they entail focusing on text or objects. Can you provide any links to the treatment regimen you are undergoing?
I contacted MerrillDBowanOD out of Pittsburg via e-mail. He was quite helpful in terms of supplying names of individuals in Canada. I haven't started any vision therapy yet because I can't. I still need some healing time. But once I get going on it, no problem forwarding information. Just not sure when that will be.
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Old 03-04-2012, 11:07 PM #18
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Originally Posted by Mark in Idaho View Post
GA2012,

Welcome to NeuroTalk. Glad to hear you found some worthwhile help with your eyes.

There is lots of good help here. Tell us about your other struggles and we can share our knowledge with you.

My best to you.
Thanks - my theory was if I fixed my eyes the rest of the symptoms would go away - seems to be working. After week 1 - I can't complain and I was complaining a lot 2 weeks ago. I wanted to share, as I was pretty frustrated with the medical community and their responses and I was not prepared to give up. Just had to get someone to listen. Once I achieved that things started to happen. Like I said don't give up - there are answers!!!!!!!
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Old 06-10-2012, 06:15 PM #19
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Hello, I am new here, but came across ur post. I was a police officer for many years. In 2009, I was riding in a van at work. We hit a large pot hole and I slammed my head on the ceiling. I was a little disoriented and it hurt, but I didn't think I was injured. Several days later I started having balance problems, headache, coordination was off, heard and felt buzzing in the back of my head. Long story short, I saw 12 docs and got all kinds of diagnosis over the next year.

I struggled through the symptoms at work because I was doing a job I loved. I finally had to raise the red flag at work and was put on desk duty. After a year of that and still no progress with symptoms, the department put me on a medical pension this past Oct. It has been devistating. I feel so lost. My wife said I am not the person I was. We seperated a couple months ago.

I am still searching for useful treatment and the Dept is finally paying. Have an appointment with a neuron in a few weeks.

I just wanted u to know there are other cops struggling with u and ur not alone. No one understands this, easpecially cop buddies.

I hope get well.

Bryan


Quote:
Originally Posted by Rayna & Dean Suther View Post
Greetings,

I am new to NeuroTalk and am hoping for some advice and someone who understands what's happening to me. Here's my story:

I am a female in my early 30's who works in the field of law enforcement. Since the age of 9 I have had approximately 10 concussions, ranging from mild to severe. My first concussion "with complications" occurred about 4 years ago as a result of a car accident. I was sent via ambulance to the hospital about 3 weeks after the incident for a CT scan... apparently nothing unusual was found as I never heard back. For this and all past concussions the remedy was take tylenol for the headaches and suck it up princess, get back to work. Since that I have had 3 more. Doesn't take much.

In September of this past year I was playing hockey and fell backwards, striking the back of my head on the lip of the boards. I went down like a tonne of bricks and couldn't get up. It hadn't seemed like a big fall, but I couldn't get up and I couldn't make my body move... despite being able to feel everything... my limbs just wouldn't respond. After the initial trip to the hospital and Xrays I was told I wasn't concussed and to take tylenol and come back if I got worse. 4 days later I was in extreme pain and sick to my stomach and dizzy and just generally out of it. A CT scan was ordered but apparently was normal. I have been unable to function since. To make matters more interesting, I was in a minor car accident in January, my symptoms not only got worse, but more of them. They are as follows:

-Headache: since September I have had a headache almost constantly. I cannot remember a day without that pain except with use of Tylenol 3

- Head pain: I feel a constant pressure inside my head, like my brain is trying to push out and I have a vice squeezing my skull and it's sensitive to touch, like it's bruised it's uncomfortable to lay down

- Jaw pain: my jaw doesn't open right and it hurts - all the time, I find it hard to sleep

- Insomnia: I have trouble sleeping, and even with prescribed sleep aids I have trouble staying asleep

- Sensitivity to light and sound: too much noise or background "hustle" like in a public place or some music or too many people talking makes me want to crawl out of my skin and makes my head hurt. Bright and flashing lights makes my head and eyes hurt horribly and a bit sick to my stomach

- The Shakes: this is a relatively new issue. When I am placed in a new or stressfull situation I start to shake and feel again, like I want to crawl out of my skin and run screaming or curl up into the fetal position.

- Stuttering: also new, happens in that same situations as the shakes, I can't find words and can't speak them and become extremely frustrated. Sometimes Even outside of those situations I am finding myself without words to express.

- Temperature issues: I can't seem to regulate my internal temperature, I'm always too hot or too cold. I wear layers and take them on and off throughout the day

- Double vision/focus: I have more trouble focussing and have to work much harder to maintain focus, my eyes hurt constantly. I am taking breaks writing this...

- Fatigue: I am always tired and worn out... I was running and playing hockey before this... now I can't walk 500 meters at a slow pace without my head getting heavy and hurting.

- Dizziness: I fall over to the right when the doc does my balance tests weekly. If i turn too fast I get the vertigo sensations and sometimes even laying in bed or seeing too many colours or patterns. I still can't drive

- Patterns: They hurt my eyes and head, especially if they are busy and intricate.

- Obsessive: I suffer from obsessive thoughts... constantly, dissecting and reliving or creating the worst memories and scenarios my mind can torture me with and I can't stop them. I am now on anti depressants

- Anxiety: I am constantly nervous, afraid, I have anxiety attacks at the thought of returning to work or going to a public function or place I am not already familiar with.

- Poor decision making: I can't make decisions. It upsets me. It paralyses me. Deciding what to make for dinner already makes my heart race... then I get really irritable and want to crawl out of my skin.

- Irritable: I am far more short tempered than I used to be... people have actually remarked on it.

Even in the quiet, I feel sometimes like I want to crawl out of my skin and run and run and run...

My family, is supportive, but even then I see them losing patience. My mother (who helps me look after my daughter) asked if I thought I was "not letting myself get better". My work is constantly asking when I'm coming back, will I come back, can I still do my job?

Can I? Can I return to a job where the reality is that I WILL be placed in the position of wrestling with a violent offender - responsible for my safety, the public's safety and that of my coworkers? Can I get hit in the head again? I have a family and a quality of life... or am I simply being a wimp?

Could this be in my head? ( I was asked that too... could the symptoms just be in my head?)

Thank you kindly for your time.

Cheers,

Rayna
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