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


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Old 04-11-2013, 08:28 PM #1
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Default Driving with PCS

Hey everyone, I sustained a concussion about six months ago, I fainted and hit my head. Right now I feel pretty much symptom free, except for a mild headaches. I was wondering if the lingering of these symptoms could be caused by the fact I am driving. I drive a small vehicle, so it is often quite bumpy, but I am not sure that this could be stressing my brain.


Thanks for any feedback.
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Old 04-11-2013, 11:19 PM #2
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Default Driving

I would get really bad anxiety/panic that my whole upper body would go in muscle spasms and tension headaches. It could also be the bumps or maybe cognitive headaches.I drive now because I got anxiety/panic under control. Did you have any neck injuries or other injuries with the concussion?

I wish you the best
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What Happened: In 2011 I was in a MVA
.


Symptoms: Physical: I am always cold in any season!!I cannot tolerate anything pressure on my head(sun glasses,hats)longer then a hour,Lock jaw/Displaced TMJ, Dropsey, Hands go numb, Arms go numb, back of head numb (when asleep),Muscle spasms in face & upper body,migraines, concentration headaches, dizziness, nausea, neck and back trauma (from accident), tinnitus, extreme light sensitivity, noise sensitivity, EXTREME fatigue, impaired vestibular system, balance off, Pupils NEVER equal, disrupted sleep cycles,speech problems.

Cognitive: Cognitive Behavior, Brain fog, impulsivity, speech problems, word finding problems, slowed processing speeds, impaired visual memory, impaired complex attention

Emotional: Unable to handle stress or overstimulation without getting extremely irritable or angry, easily overstimulated, MAJOR depression, major anxiety, Panic attacks

Treatment so far: Treatment for PCS,PTSD,Depression & panic,Vestibular therapy, Physical therapy, Vitamin Schedule,Walking,No Dairy, No eggs, No caffeine, No artificial coloring, Sleep with 2 pillows, Very little sugars consumed, Eat healthy,No alcohol, Medications, limit stress and overstimulation.

~*~Learn to treasure yourself and your Divinity. Be willing to accept yourself completely. Be yourself, be graceful, be kind, be wild, be weird ... be true to yourself~*~
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Old 04-11-2013, 11:37 PM #3
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Default

A bumpy ride can definitely cause symptoms. I have to be very careful about bumpy rides. It helps if you can roll your shoulders forward (slump or slouch) so your upper back can absorb some of the motions. There are seat cushions that should be able to help. Small cars tend to have stiff seats since they are trying to reduce weight to maximize mileage.

Good gas mileage is a trade off against ride comfort.
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Old 04-11-2013, 11:44 PM #4
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Default Next Car I Get

I am getting a SUV so no one can run over me but a semi!lol!Yep those bumps are treacherous!
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What Happened: In 2011 I was in a MVA
.


Symptoms: Physical: I am always cold in any season!!I cannot tolerate anything pressure on my head(sun glasses,hats)longer then a hour,Lock jaw/Displaced TMJ, Dropsey, Hands go numb, Arms go numb, back of head numb (when asleep),Muscle spasms in face & upper body,migraines, concentration headaches, dizziness, nausea, neck and back trauma (from accident), tinnitus, extreme light sensitivity, noise sensitivity, EXTREME fatigue, impaired vestibular system, balance off, Pupils NEVER equal, disrupted sleep cycles,speech problems.

Cognitive: Cognitive Behavior, Brain fog, impulsivity, speech problems, word finding problems, slowed processing speeds, impaired visual memory, impaired complex attention

Emotional: Unable to handle stress or overstimulation without getting extremely irritable or angry, easily overstimulated, MAJOR depression, major anxiety, Panic attacks

Treatment so far: Treatment for PCS,PTSD,Depression & panic,Vestibular therapy, Physical therapy, Vitamin Schedule,Walking,No Dairy, No eggs, No caffeine, No artificial coloring, Sleep with 2 pillows, Very little sugars consumed, Eat healthy,No alcohol, Medications, limit stress and overstimulation.

~*~Learn to treasure yourself and your Divinity. Be willing to accept yourself completely. Be yourself, be graceful, be kind, be wild, be weird ... be true to yourself~*~
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Old 04-12-2013, 12:09 AM #5
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Get the safest car you can afford MiaVita! I had a Honda CVR which was quite safe BUT had a very bumpy ride. Now I have a honda minivan which is quite protected and smooth.
No matter what the car, we rely on others to drive safely.
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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.
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Old 04-12-2013, 07:22 AM #6
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Default Car rides

Hi Mrs. Smith

The car rides were making me very dizzy. I am not even driving yet. Luckily I have a husband who can and will drive me to appts. etc.

Not sure what you can do about it, but Mark had some strategies.

For me, I have to close my eyes and not look at traffic or things around me if I feel that dizzy coming on. But that is not possible for you when you are driving.

Can you take a bus? Or any other public transportation?

Good luck in getting the car you need.

Poetrymom or JJ
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[SIZE="1"]What happened. I was in a car accident 2-23-2013, and got a mild concussion from it. I had some time off for brain rest, got somewhat better, but slipped into PCS in March 2013.

Symptoms I had: dizziness, light and sound sensitivity, fatigue, tinitis, occasional headaches and migraines,

Symptoms as of 5--2013: poor sleep, tinitis, some confusion /short term memory blanks, balance. The other symptoms are mostly gone, but flare up if I OVERdo something.

Therapy I had: vestibular

3 months in: I could drive more and for longer distances. I felt like a younger, happier version of myself and I feel so blessed to have this feeling.

9 months in and I am working full time. I do get tired, and some sound and light sensitivity from time to time, but mostly I am over most of my symptoms.
I pray every day and I m praying for your recovery.

Over a year in: I can multi task (limited) and have humor in my life. But when I am tired, I am very tired.
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Old 04-12-2013, 08:08 AM #7
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Default Could be the driving

I get headaches from driving because of my vision problems (see siggy). All of the visual information overloads me, so I haven't driven more than 45 minutes at a time. Even then, I got a headache. If it's just around town, 15 minutes here, 15 minutes there, I'm okay.

I agree that if you can afford to buy a bigger, safer car, it's worth the money for the extra comfort and safety. I think I would've fared a lot worse in my accidents if I hadn't been riding in some really safe vehicles--one Subaru, one Honda Accord (totalled--sniff, sniff--I miss that car!) and my friend's Toyota Camry (not big, but pretty safe). If I could afford a Volvo, I'd have one! As it is now, I drive a Subaru outback and feel pretty safe in it.

Is there any way you'd be able to do an experiment and not drive for week? Or any amount of time? That way, you could tell if that was the cause of your headaches or not.
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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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Old 04-12-2013, 09:45 AM #8
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My current condition wasn't caused by an MVA, however I do have a history of multiple injuries from MVA's - subluxed C5/6 and varied resultant degenerative disc and neurodegenerative changes in the neck and lumbar spine from that and other injuries . A total of 6 MVA's throughout my life from my teens.

I drive a Nitro. I like it because its economical. Its not a large SUV, but its high enough to watch for trouble . Its not as bumpy a ride as many little vehicles Ihave ridden in. And IMO its safe.

I drive in a sitting position as if sitting at a computer - back erect, sitting forward, head up, both hands on the steering wheel- I do not lounge back against the back of the seat, I do not lay back against the head rest as I see many people driving - I do not believe driving is meant to be a relaxing activity - you are supposed to be aware and alert while directing a 4000 + pound machine around at high speed greater than 20 miles an hour.

I find that sitting forward, and in control this way minimizes the shocks, keeps me more aware, and alert to those other people jutting in and out of traffic like there is no tomorrow - which some find out rather sadly there isn't.

Best Wishes...........
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.
Current: Changes of more insomnia, new reviews with findings of more Depression, tremors, vertigo, tinnitus, loss of focus, fatigue; SSDI - accepted on Depression, Cognitive Deficits; Seizures ruled out, mTBI changes including cognitive slowing/lapses.
Medication update: Topamax 200mg twice daily it seems to minimize daily headaches to a 1-2/10 quality(I still know they are there); and acute headaches erupt without warnings.
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Old 04-12-2013, 10:06 AM #9
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Default I have a back brace

I have L5 that is very close to herniation. My physiatrist fitted me for a back brace and I have to wear that when I drive for longer than 30min or just sitting around.Well I do not have to wear it but it feels good to me. But now it is getting warmer out and I cannot throw a big coat on to cover it, and it gets very hot.

I used to not drive or ride for awhile in the "unknown"diagnosis time because I would get the visual blur, bright lights, MAJOR ANXIETY, and it was WAY TO MUCH STIMULATION for the vertigo etc.

Now I still get a little disturbed if I am in front passenger side with certain driver's that I will get sick!The back seat is better for me lol. The driver seat is the best for me.

I would just like a Toyota Land Cruiser lol! I cannot have a Fiat I would have a panic attack in that. I need a lot of room for a trunk and a motor and sit high, with heated seats for my back (ok I am dreaming lol)so I can feel comfortable.
__________________
What Happened: In 2011 I was in a MVA
.


Symptoms: Physical: I am always cold in any season!!I cannot tolerate anything pressure on my head(sun glasses,hats)longer then a hour,Lock jaw/Displaced TMJ, Dropsey, Hands go numb, Arms go numb, back of head numb (when asleep),Muscle spasms in face & upper body,migraines, concentration headaches, dizziness, nausea, neck and back trauma (from accident), tinnitus, extreme light sensitivity, noise sensitivity, EXTREME fatigue, impaired vestibular system, balance off, Pupils NEVER equal, disrupted sleep cycles,speech problems.

Cognitive: Cognitive Behavior, Brain fog, impulsivity, speech problems, word finding problems, slowed processing speeds, impaired visual memory, impaired complex attention

Emotional: Unable to handle stress or overstimulation without getting extremely irritable or angry, easily overstimulated, MAJOR depression, major anxiety, Panic attacks

Treatment so far: Treatment for PCS,PTSD,Depression & panic,Vestibular therapy, Physical therapy, Vitamin Schedule,Walking,No Dairy, No eggs, No caffeine, No artificial coloring, Sleep with 2 pillows, Very little sugars consumed, Eat healthy,No alcohol, Medications, limit stress and overstimulation.

~*~Learn to treasure yourself and your Divinity. Be willing to accept yourself completely. Be yourself, be graceful, be kind, be wild, be weird ... be true to yourself~*~
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Old 04-12-2013, 04:53 PM #10
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Thanks for all they great replies. I also have been going to physiotherapy (had whiplash). My physiotherapist said I would get pretty bad headaches after the sessions, but does that mean it is causing more damage?

Basically I lay down on a bed and do a few exercises, involving slow repetitive movement of my head, which I assume is causing the increase in symptoms. But will this be detrimental in the long run? Im just not sure whether to continue with the physio.
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