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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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03-27-2013, 05:55 AM
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I mean concussion-related vision problems? I talked to my doctor on the phone yesterday and it really hit home how messed up my eyes are. As you can read in my siggy, there's a lot wrong with them, but on the phone, he really emphasized how severe my convergence problem is. I'm doing sensory integration vision therapy right now, and I have seen some pretty remarkable improvement. My depth perception has noticeably improved and I am less dizzy than when I started the program. However my light sensitivity is just horrible. I feel like a mole person! My doctor did say that therapy can cause a spike in photosensitivity, so I'm glad I called and asked about it. I was just curious if there was anyone else dealing with similar problems and if it's common to have this many eye-related problems after a concussion? I'm also just wondering the likelihood of my total recovery? I'm so happy to have gotten as far as I have, but I just really hope I don't have to live the rest of my life with this light sensitivity. It really has been affecting my daily life in such a way that I cannot do all the things I want to do. Same thing is true about the dizziness, although since I've already seen improvements in that area, I really am getting hopeful that eventually it will go away!
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I have recovered my cognitive function, and I've overcome severe vertigo through sensory integration therapy. Wellbutrin has helped me escape depression. I have recently had a few stress-related migraines, as well as headaches stemming from eye strain. I'm also dealing with tinnitus, lack of stamina, extreme light sensitivity, and eye pain. Diagnosed with 9 different vision issues: convergence insufficiency, pursuit eye movement deficit, egocentric visual midline shift, photophobia, visual information processing delays, accommodative insufficiency, saccadic eye movement deficit, lack of coordination, and central peripheral visual integration deficit. *First concussion: October 2010. I was pregnant and got rear ended. I associated my mild PCS symptoms with baby brain and blamed my light sensitivity on allergies and dry eyes. *Second concussion: December 2011. I hit my head on a wooden beam, saw stars but did not lose consciousness, and I had very disturbing PCS symptoms but didn't go to the doctor. *Third concussion: August 2012. I caused a car accident as a result of PCS symptoms. Thankfully no one was injured but me. My husband confronted me, and I finally sought help and took medical leave from work. My symptoms worsened, and I developed severe vertigo. *Fourth concussion: November 2012. I was riding in a car with a friend and we were hit head on by a driver who lost control of her car. I didn't have a big increase in PCS symptoms. |
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03-27-2013, 08:37 AM
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I do not have any eye diagnosis yet because I cannot get in to see a neuro ophthalmologist for a long time. I do have eye symptoms, dizziness, etc. I wanted to let you know that they can get better! My blurred vision is not better yet but the extreme dry eye and light sensitivity are much better. Not perfect but better.
one of the causes of light sensitivities is dry eye so I wanted to ask you.... are your eyes dry or sore or red? I use Blink gel eye drops twice a day and have noticed they help. Using them consistently twice a day was important. I know how frustrating eye issues can be. They lead to dizziness, headache, nausea, anxiety and of course eye pain! I hope you get some relief from your therapy and maybe the eye drops will help! Take care CC
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I'm a 39 year old, female, accountant. On July 2, 2012 I crashed my bike at the end of a 65KM road ride. I was fine that day but woke up the next morning to my current world. Ongoing symptoms include: dizziness, blurred vision, light and noise sensitivities, cognitive problems, uncontrollable emotions/depression/anxiety, headaches (but they're getting better), mental and physical fatigue, difficulty communicating and sleep disturbances. Currently seeing a fabulous Neuro Psychologist and vestibular physiotherapist and hoping to soon see a neuro ophthalmologist. I am currently doing 20 minute stationary bike rides daily, 20 minutes of meditating, 15 minutes of Lumosity and lots of resting. I have not been able to work or drive since the accident. The things that have helped me the most since the accident are vestibular therapy, gel eye drops (for blurred vision, sensitivity and dryness), amitriptyline (10mg), and meditating. I am finally starting to see some slight improvements and am hopeful! My brain WANTS to heal itself... I just have to let it and stop trying to get better! |
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| "Thanks for this!" says: | Brain patch (03-27-2013) |
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03-27-2013, 08:50 AM
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Oh yes,
Since my injury I have had blurred vision, light sensitivity and huge problems with balance and a lean forward and to one side. An assessment showed both eyes aren't working as a team and that I have very poor sense of distance - apparently this is why I subconsciously reach out with my hand along walls and pieces of furniture as I walk passed. I been given a set of lenses with a tint to help my eyes work together and reduce the light sensitivity. I have to wear them mainly indoors and definitely can't drive in them. This is probably due to the strange optical illusions that occur when I turn my head - vertical items look like they are leaning over to the right - so looking at a box if I turned my head it would look like a rhombus / trapezoid. Once I have got used to the lenses (3 months) I have to go for vision therapy and / or prisms. Honestly didn't realise how much my vision could be influenced by a head injury
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January 2012 tripped over a power cable and life has changed - memory, mood, balance and puzzled. Now how do I fix it ? |
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| "Thanks for this!" says: | Brain patch (03-27-2013) |
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03-27-2013, 09:39 AM
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Yes...very common in brain injuries unfortunately. I have improved, including the photosensitivity. I need sunglasses outside always, but not so much indoors anymore. Progress! Prisms helped a huge amount. I still have lots of pain and pulling behind the eyes if I use them too much (ipad, etc.). Many things can recover with the vision - one thing that rarely does is the vertical heterophoria (not converging up and down).
One thing that my neuro-opth told me is that vision problems usually indicate a brain stem injury, which can require a much longer recovery time. Didn't want to believe it at first but I do now, especially since other parts of the injury are healing a bit better (headaches, etc. ). It takes quite a knock to get to the well-protected brain stem. Having said all that, if that is true, we are then among the very lucky, because it could have been so much worse. I try to focus on that good luck, and not the bad luck that put me here in the first place  Re Dizzyness....vestibular and vision are intimately connected ...as in the vstibular occular reflex, etc. They all converge at the same place. So vestibular therapy goes hand in hand wi vision therapy! Good luck...keep healing! You will feel better bit by bit, I am sure!
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What happened: Legs pulled forward by a parent's hockey stick while resting at the side of the rink at a family skate....sent me straight back. I hit the back of my head (with helmet) on the ice, bounced a few times, unconscious for a few minutes. September 11, 2011. Off work since then…I work part-time at home when I can. It has been hell but slowly feeling better (when I am alone☺). Current symptoms: Vision problems (but 20/20 in each eye alone!) – convergence insufficiency – horizontal and vertical (heterophoria), problems with tracking and saccades, peripheral vision problems, eyes see different colour tints; tinnitus 24/7 both ears; hyperacusis (noise filter gone!), labyrinthian (inner ear) concussion, vestibular dysfunction (dizzy, bedspins, need to look down when walking); partial loss of sense of smell; electric shocks through head when doing too much; headaches; emotional lability; memory blanks; difficulty concentrating. I still can’t go into busy, noisy places. Fatigue. Executive functioning was affected – multi-tasking, planning, motivation. Slight aphasia. Shooting pain up neck and limited mobility at neck. Otherwise lucky! Current treatments: Vestibular therapy, Vision therapy, amantadine (100 mg a day), acupuncture and physiotherapy for neck, slow return to exercise, magnesium, resveratrol, omega 3 fish oils, vitamins D, B and multi. Optimism and perserverance. Last edited by Mokey; 03-27-2013 at 09:40 AM. Reason: Typo |
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| "Thanks for this!" says: | Brain patch (03-27-2013) |
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03-27-2013, 11:12 AM
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My neuro optometrist didn't think I was a good candidate for prisms. I did try them out and it didn't really seem to help, so that's a huge bummer, but he's hoping the therapy will fix things. It does seem to be helping!
I should've said that my light sensitivity did improve, but then I set myself back about 5 months by being on the computer too much right before I began the vision therapy. On top of that, the vision therapy seems to be in causing increased light sensitivity. I'm really looking forward to stopping therapy, so that I can see if the sensitivity diminishes. I've never gotten to the point with my light sensitivity where I didn't need to wear my sunglasses inside most of the time, just to give you some perspective on how bad my photo sensitivity is. I did get to the point where I could spend about four hours straight on the computer if I was wearing special glasses with gray lenses, but then I pushed it too far and set myself back. At this point I can't go outside without a baseball hat and sunglasses, which is cramping my style. I've never been a baseball hat kind of gal--lol! I can go on the computer maybe once a day for an hour, though that's pushing it, but anything else I do on my phone and very minimally. Even though it the print on the screen is harder to see, the light source is smaller, so being on my phone doesn't bother me quite as much. But I would say that I try to limit it to about 15 minutes at a time before my eyes start feeling pretty strained. I know it would be better if I didn't look at screens at all, and some days I'm better at avoiding it, but I just find it so hard to disconnect!
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I have recovered my cognitive function, and I've overcome severe vertigo through sensory integration therapy. Wellbutrin has helped me escape depression. I have recently had a few stress-related migraines, as well as headaches stemming from eye strain. I'm also dealing with tinnitus, lack of stamina, extreme light sensitivity, and eye pain. Diagnosed with 9 different vision issues: convergence insufficiency, pursuit eye movement deficit, egocentric visual midline shift, photophobia, visual information processing delays, accommodative insufficiency, saccadic eye movement deficit, lack of coordination, and central peripheral visual integration deficit. *First concussion: October 2010. I was pregnant and got rear ended. I associated my mild PCS symptoms with baby brain and blamed my light sensitivity on allergies and dry eyes. *Second concussion: December 2011. I hit my head on a wooden beam, saw stars but did not lose consciousness, and I had very disturbing PCS symptoms but didn't go to the doctor. *Third concussion: August 2012. I caused a car accident as a result of PCS symptoms. Thankfully no one was injured but me. My husband confronted me, and I finally sought help and took medical leave from work. My symptoms worsened, and I developed severe vertigo. *Fourth concussion: November 2012. I was riding in a car with a friend and we were hit head on by a driver who lost control of her car. I didn't have a big increase in PCS symptoms. |
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03-27-2013, 11:19 AM
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Quote:
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January 2012 tripped over a power cable and life has changed - memory, mood, balance and puzzled. Now how do I fix it ? |
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03-27-2013, 01:42 PM
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I have problems with vision also. I need to get myself to a neuro opthomologist. Did not know this until I joined up with you guys. I will work on that next week. This week I have to finish up neuropsychological testing.
I have no depth perception. Can't drive anymore as I hit mailboxes, garbage cans etc. sometimes when it gets real bad it seems like the ground is slanted. Just have such a hard time trying to get to all these different doctors. Have a hard time knowing who to go to and who will take Medicaid etc. just calling and getting an appointment is challenging. Will keep trying. Brain
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Brain patch. . Had MVA in 2006 resulting in post concussive syndrome manifested by cognitive impairment, chronic pain/ fatigue. Chronic pain of head, neck, back, left leg. Other problems include REM sleep behavior disorder, nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy, chronic migraines associated with nausea/vertigo, episodes of passing out, hypoglycemia, liver dysfunction (had accidental overdose of acetaminophen in 2009) had liver and kidney failure, hernia, degenerative disc disease with compression of nerve root, PTSD, and other problems associated with functioning problems from traumatic brain injury (light, sound sensitive, easily overloaded, easily distracted, cannot focus, anxiety problems etc.) |
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03-27-2013, 02:56 PM
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I am also struggling with prisms and vision therapy. (As well as vertigo/dizziness vestibular issues).
The therapy triggers such intense headaches that sometimes flare into migraines that I often avoid it. The prisms have made reading and using computer easier. Then I do the vision therapy, which reveals how much my brain is suppressing, and the cycle continues. I know we are trying to rebuild our neuro-pathways associated with vision/brain, but I have not pushed the therapy because it is too intense. I am hoping over time it will get easier to do. |
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03-27-2013, 05:01 PM
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Brain patch....the lack of depth perception is a huge clue! It happened to me as well...now I know that what it means is you are seeing in 2D rather than 3D because your brain is so overwhelmed with your eyes sending different images to it (on the back of the retina...convergence insufficiency) that the brain decides to shut down the messages from one of your eyes. You need to be tested for this. I was shocked when the tests showed my left side was shut down..apart from the 2d effect I could not tell my left eye was not being used.
So amazing! But important to get addressed because it can become permanent. And make you fel awfuL!
__________________
What happened: Legs pulled forward by a parent's hockey stick while resting at the side of the rink at a family skate....sent me straight back. I hit the back of my head (with helmet) on the ice, bounced a few times, unconscious for a few minutes. September 11, 2011. Off work since then…I work part-time at home when I can. It has been hell but slowly feeling better (when I am alone☺). Current symptoms: Vision problems (but 20/20 in each eye alone!) – convergence insufficiency – horizontal and vertical (heterophoria), problems with tracking and saccades, peripheral vision problems, eyes see different colour tints; tinnitus 24/7 both ears; hyperacusis (noise filter gone!), labyrinthian (inner ear) concussion, vestibular dysfunction (dizzy, bedspins, need to look down when walking); partial loss of sense of smell; electric shocks through head when doing too much; headaches; emotional lability; memory blanks; difficulty concentrating. I still can’t go into busy, noisy places. Fatigue. Executive functioning was affected – multi-tasking, planning, motivation. Slight aphasia. Shooting pain up neck and limited mobility at neck. Otherwise lucky! Current treatments: Vestibular therapy, Vision therapy, amantadine (100 mg a day), acupuncture and physiotherapy for neck, slow return to exercise, magnesium, resveratrol, omega 3 fish oils, vitamins D, B and multi. Optimism and perserverance. |
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| "Thanks for this!" says: | Brain patch (03-27-2013) |
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03-27-2013, 05:41 PM
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Mokey,
Thanks! What did they do to fix this? I need to go to a neuro-opthomologist right? I hope it is not permanent. I have not seen an eye doctor in years. I did not even know about this until I started talking with you guys. It would make sense that I am injured in the brain stem because all the hits to my head have been from behind. I think I need to get to an ortho doctor as well to look at my neck and back. Maybe there is help for me with my eyes and chronic pain. I just have not been to the correct doctors. I would be so happy if I could drive again. Now that I have seizures don't know if that is possible but maybe if I can go without one for 6 months and get my vision fixed. Yeah! Thanks, you have given me hope. Brain
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Brain patch. . Had MVA in 2006 resulting in post concussive syndrome manifested by cognitive impairment, chronic pain/ fatigue. Chronic pain of head, neck, back, left leg. Other problems include REM sleep behavior disorder, nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy, chronic migraines associated with nausea/vertigo, episodes of passing out, hypoglycemia, liver dysfunction (had accidental overdose of acetaminophen in 2009) had liver and kidney failure, hernia, degenerative disc disease with compression of nerve root, PTSD, and other problems associated with functioning problems from traumatic brain injury (light, sound sensitive, easily overloaded, easily distracted, cannot focus, anxiety problems etc.) |
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| "Thanks for this!" says: | DFayesMom (03-27-2013) |
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Anyone else have really bad vision problems?
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