Hi everyone! It's been a little while since posting. I've been keeping busy with the kids now that summer vacation is here and to be honest, I've tried to keep my mind off pcs related things as best I can so that I don't obsess about every little symptom I experience. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

Just writing with a little update. I'm a little over 10 months since my injury. The neurologist is weaning me off the nortriptyline (I was only on 10mg) and moving me totally to topamax (50mg).

My sleep has gotten slightly better. I manage about 4-5 continuous hours now. My dreams have become more mellow - no more wacky, bizarre stuff. I still struggle with sound and some light sensitivity. Loud sounds can trigger bad headaches and some dizziness that can last for days.

My neuro says I have something like migraine variant pain now. It can be overcome he says. That's why he upped my topamax and he wants me to exercise more longer and more frequently! I was doing light cardio for about 20-30 min, 4x week - which I thought was okay. He suggests that to overcome this pain condition I have now, I should be exercising to the point of getting that runner's high. I was very surprised to hear him say that. It did however remind me of the article Eowyn linked a while back referring to substance P and the need to build BDNF through exercise. My dr. didn't say these terms specifically, but I'm wondering if this is his thought process. I might be simplifying things though.

Anyhow, just wanted to post a little update with the kind of surprising info the doctor gave me. Maybe I'm at the point in my recovery where my body will respond to this sort of therapy. Hopefully it doesn't make things worse! I am proceeding with caution.

I am glad to hear your symptoms are improving and that things are moving forward for you!
Good luck to you!!!

I am hoping to be able to return to exercise as well. When did you know when it was okay to do so? I obviously don't expect symptoms to happen when I begin to exercise again, but at the same time, I want to be cautious. How did you do it?
Thanks, and sending healing thoughts your way!

Just remember to be very careful when returning to normal exercise levels. Many people, including myself, experience relapses that can be quite severe if this is done too fast. I recommend buying a heart rate monitor and sticking to a constant pulse rate for a fixed amount of time.

By slowly increasing the heart rate over a period of a few month to normal exercise levels, the risk of a relapse is minimized. This is also known as the buffalo protocol and its one of the best ways to get back to normal exercise levels.

This is best carried out on a stationary exercise bike so as to minimize jolts to the brain.

-GlassHead

Thanks for the words of encouragement. I still have a long ways to go, but I am thankful for the small improvements.

I probably made a lot of mistakes in returning to exercise. There were times I exercised after only feeling ok for one day. Not good. There were times I worked out too vigorously and had set backs. I basically started over during months 4-5 and just rested as much as I could.

It probably wasn't until close to 6 months after my injury that I was able to exercise regularly. I waited until I had at least a week or two of consecutive good days. I started out doing only around 10 minutes on an elliptical or bike at a low speed/resistance and gradually added more time over the course of a few weeks. You have to be careful about not overdoing it though. As others have mentioned, it is probably wise to get a heart rate monitor or blood pressure monitor to help gauge how much exertion you can handle.

Yes, I think I will finally invest in a heart rate monitor. I've had several setbacks during my recovery, and I really don't care to have another. I'll admit I'm a little concerned about pushing myself harder, so I'm going to take this slowly. Ironically, I'm on day 2 of the increased topamax and I have a little bit of a headache, so the exercise is going to have to wait for another day!

I can't believe I forgot about the heart rate monitor/buffalo protocol! (considering I even had suggested a search using those keywords to someone a while ago). Ok....I guess i can believe I forgot... teehee.

But now I know how to go about it!

Thank you for your advice, Lagr and Glasshead...I will print out your responses so I don't forget!