[Job]

Hi everybody , I'm a tow truck driver full time and a strongman/ powerlifter on the side. On may 23 2013 i was pulling a van off a retaining wall when the hook attached to the van let go and struck me in the head hard. Im currently on wsib and have seen a neurologist and nuropsycoligist and am currently undergoing physio , which seems to make it worse - my symptoms are lightheadedness dizzyness nausea , feeling like I'm moving when sitting still .

Ive been told recovery is 3 to 6 months and up to a year . I have had previous cuncussions before . My question is about going back to work , i drive about 12 hours a day and doing calls , a fair amout of physical labour. Driving makes me sick after about 20 min on the highway , city driving is worse.

Bending down and standing up and lifting from the ground makes me sick and if i overdo it I'm sick for the following day. Im wondering if ill ever go back to this job and if i should consider retraining to do something less physical . I haven't been able to train at all since the accident. Just sit around and wait to get better because if i do any sort of work i get sick after.

[Jomar]

I'm surprised you aren't restricted from driving due to your symptoms, for work at least.

That is a huge safety risk for the business. And possibly for the doctors that leave you active for driving?
But if an accident happens it may be on you in the end as we are all responsible if we drive while impaired in any way..
I suggest you go to the dr and make sure they know of all symptoms..and that they know what your job is..

I don't know if they have anything "modified duty " that you could do in the office or ?

Good luck and be safe

Maybe your c1 c2 got misaligned with the hit.
some info here- www.upcspine.com

[NormaW]

I had one doctor say was ok to drive as long as I did not drive long distances or in traffic and provided I was feeling ok.

I always have a headache and feel dizzy and confused so I decided not to drive as it did not seem safe.

I was later told by the neuro optometrist that my scores for one test was in the 9 per cent and this test reflect my ability for visual reaction. She nor I thought it was good enough to drive. I am hopeful with vision therapy and the post concussion syndrome getting better that I will be able to drive one day.

Every head injury is different and no one really knows who is going to recover and to what extent but I would say for the time being it does not seem really safe for you to be driving.

I know how difficult it is to get places when you can't drive but you do not want another accident. It can set your recovery back as you can see from others that have re hit their heads after the initial accident.

There should be some experts out there that can assess what you should be able to do safely. Time will only tell how far the recovery will go. There is still every hope that you will totally recover, you are still in the early phases.

Take care of yourself, it is in your best interest.

[Job]

Im actually not working right now , the 12 hours a day is when i was . Since the accident the only driving is to the store , about 10 min away and to the doctor. Im generally ok for short drives.

[Mark in Idaho]

Job,

What kind of physio are you doing ? It may be pushing you too hard and too fast. The injured brain is usually slow to recover if it does not recover spontaneously. Work injuries are tough because the goal to get the worker back to work as quickly as possible. This is often counter to the needs of the head injured person.

Whether you can return to your job is not the only question. You need to consider if it is safe for you to return to your job. Your brain has already demonstrated its inability to tolerate an injury. Find a new job and seeking job retraining is likely a wise choice. Just don't push yourself cognitively just now. You still need to heal.

My best to you.

[Job]

Mark the pysio is nuro- ,moving my head back and forth while watching a nose ,tracking a pencil ,very hard on the eyes . That was the second visit that left me sick the next day. Im thinking along the same lines about retraining because i feel like this healing process is going to take a while if at all ,but for now ill have to follow wsibs program . I defiantly wont go back to work if i feel im not healed and back to what i was before the accident.

[ReWiredKris]

Gosh. To be honest, I know now (6 yrs post injury) that I started driving again way too soon. At the time I thought I was fine, but self awareness is part of many (my) tbi/pcs deficits. About 2 years post injury I reflected on how far I'd come in recovery realizing to my horror that I put lives at risk by driving before I was truly ready. I discovered a problem with night driving vision so I avoided that, but continued daytime driving. However, nobody told me I could or could not drive after 3 months. My suggestion would be to train for a new job when you're ready, but only you can make that decision.

I was a webmaster and am now disability retired because I couldn't do my job anymore. We're all different. In my case memory issues are a stumbling block to learning a new career. It takes time to know what you can or might not YET be able to do. Change is the constant.

Regarding the dizziness - the first 6 months I was dizzy even laying down with my eyes closed. So miserable. Nausea meds helped. Later on the doc determined mine was/is not vestibular - it was due to proprioception, motion and the visual center in my brain. Just know there are other causes for dizziness with different treatments so there are other options if one doesn't seem to be working. Also, determining if you feel off balance vs you or the room spinning helps diagnose the cause.

I wish you all the best.

Kristy

[Job]

Yes, my memory is a problem also ,short term,and ability to remember things while distracted.Multi tasking is impossible . Someone asked me for directions today for to go somewhere that I know well and its like I'd never gone there before. It takes not much thinking to make my brain just stop and I cant force it to think any more. MY physio today consisted of throwing a ball against a wall looking at shapes and colours and naming them and biking for 7 min . and of course wsib is trying to schedule a "back to work meeting .Good thing im on elavil or more stuff would be destroyed around the house.

[Mark in Idaho]

Job,

It sounds like WSIB is pushing too hard. Their efforts will likely backfire. Your neck needs less activity, not more. You need cognitive rest, not cognitive challenge. Go through the motions and express when you feel fatigued or overwhelmed. Maybe they will get the message.

The physio is just doing what she/he gets paid to do. They will continue as long as WSIB is willing to keep paying.

Try to keep your stress levels low.

My best to you.