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


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Fighting Post-Concussion Syndrome

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Old 05-03-2012, 10:05 AM #11
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Originally Posted by greenfrog View Post
"Getting out of bed and doing something else when you have insomnia is a good idea. ie: Don't lay in bed for hours when trying to go to sleep. ie: Try to fall asleep for 30 minutes and then go read (or sit) in your living room for a while if you have trouble falling asleep, and then go try to fall asleep again."

I know this last suggestion is common advice (and may be good advice for most people), but for some reason it hasn't worked well for me. My brain seems happier when I stay in bed and eventually (sometimes after quite a while) go back to sleep. Conversely, if I get up and read and then go back to bed after 30 or 60 or 90 mins, I tend to feel worse when I get up in the morning. It's almost as though my brain "knows" that my sleep has been disrupted and responds accordingly.

I now try to stay in bed throughout the night, even if I'm awake for a while here and there. Over time my insomnia has lessened and I'm now sleeping better (although this may be the result of my doing better generally as much as this habit).

Other things that I think have helped: a consistent sleep routine (in bed around 10:15 or 10:30 every night, same time as my partner), dark room, fairly cool temp, quiet (slight background noise from the fridge), comfortable bed.
Dr. Nedley encouraged us to stay in bed and stay still with our eyes closed. Even if you don't feel like you are asleep, you may in fact be able to get some stage 1 sleep in this state and perhaps drift off into deeper stages.

He also provided us with a light-blocking eye mask. I have been using that with earplugs and I do find it harder to tell if I'm awake or asleep in the middle of the night

Also, to help reset your circadian rhythm: get 20 minutes of bright blue light exposure between 5-7 AM (sunlight works or use a blue therapy light if you can't get sunlight). Go to bed between 8-10 PM. If you aren't sleepy by 9 PM after a week of this, add 20 minutes of blue light therapy between 2-4 PM.

Make sure you have adequate levels of vitamin D and calcium. Your brain needs these to produce melatonin.

Another thing that can help is not eating after 3 PM. That also helps your body produce melatonin better throughout the night.
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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 05-03-2012, 11:24 AM #12
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Originally Posted by Mark in Idaho View Post
What does YMMV mean?

Some of us are not texters so we do not know these terms.

Google can define some of these but not all.
Sorry for the confusion!

FWIW: (For What It's Worth) I gained most acronyms I use from online message boards and forums, like this one, not texting.

YYMV: Your Mileage May Vary: meaning, that what works for some might not exactly work for you... or to a lesser or greater extent
Last edited by EsthersDoll; 05-03-2012 at 12:19 PM.
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Old 05-24-2012, 08:19 PM #13
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Default I have to write a letter requesting reasonable accomodations
so ...in doing my research...here I am...back again

I was advised that I need to ask for reasonable accomodations, and that when they deny me...I can apply for retirement with a disability for the state....not that I will or will not get it...so I am looking at listing my needs...like peace and quiet, and time to keep relearning and recalling...my short term memory needs constant reminders...and that head buzzing and vertigo get in the way whenever I think I figure out what to do

I like that site...it is good for some parts

and then again, I need one where women who are over 60 ...after 7 months still in bad shape

too long a day today...I should have napped
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Old 05-28-2012, 07:45 PM #14
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Default just judy...
Your employer will not meet reasonable accomodations? Curious what your accomodations are - my employer wont at this point either. i thought ADA helps in situations like this but apparently not if the employer refuses to allow you to work. Then what?
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Multiple injuries - here for support of mtbi, chronic headache and cognitive deficits.
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Old 06-01-2012, 09:01 AM #15
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I find exercise really helps, if I can get up and go the gym it really will help with the day however if I'm still slobbing around chances are the headache will intensify and I can basically write the day off.

I've had the PCS for 18 months, has anyone had this for this long and come out the other side ?
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Old 07-01-2012, 07:22 AM #16
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Space cadet, I too am concerned sometimes when dealing with people\medical professionals, that I come off as too normal so how can there be a significant problem going on here? I have periods of rage\frustration that I try to vent in private. I have been told I have a good logical understanding of what I am facing and dealing with; however this comes off as normal to anyone who doesn’t know or doesn’t care to understand you have a brain injury. I sometimes fell like saying I suffered a brain injury but it didn’t make me stupid or I didn’t lose my common sense. I believed at first, the concussion I had was just that, and would resolve in a few weeks of the accident.
I cannot begin to express how much I can relate to everything you wrote. I am a college student and am expected to do well academically, be involved in campus activities, and have a lively social life as well. Since I seem "too normal" like you said, it is difficult for friends, classmates, and professors to understand the challenges I face every day. It's been 2 1/2 years since my initial head injury, and it's been an uphill battle, especially considering the lack of understanding and knowledge in most people about concussions and PCS. I don't really have any specific advice or encouragement at all, but sometimes it's better to know we're not alone in this.

Laura
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Old 07-02-2012, 11:49 PM #17
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Awesome link thank you so much. Just what I needed to encourage me in one of my most trying times with PCS
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Fell off a horse in late winter of 2009 blacked out for a couple seconds, had amnesia for 10 hours (still don't remember this time), had 2 CT scans, 2 MRI's, 1 MRA all negative. Since the first concussion I have continually knocked my head into different things purely by accident or from being stupid. These many concussions over a short period of time have caused
constant migraines, nausea, and dizziness/lack of balance.
Migraine triggers are:
light sensitivity (especially to florescent or bright lights)
sound sensitivity (especially to high pitched or loud sounds)
temperature sensitivity (especially to cold or extreme heat)
activity (especially if breathing increases or head is jostled)
pressure on head (sinuses, hats, headbands, sunglasses, pony-tails)
lacks or quality (food, sleep, water)
tension (stress, tight muscles, tired eyes, sickness)
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