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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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04-21-2013, 12:24 PM | #1 | ||
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Junior Member
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Hello everybody,
For about two weeks now I have not suffered from any headaches with the exception of one day (within those two weeks). Prior to these two weeks I have had headaches much more often. Yet I still have foggy thinking (spaced out feeling), dizziness, trouble concentrating, some anxiety, and sensitivity to light pretty much everyday. Is this normal? Has anyone else experienced concussion symptoms without the headaches? Does this mark a significant step in the recovery process? I believe much of my headaches in the past can be attributed to exercise. It was about two weeks ago that I decided to stop doing anything physical except for walking/light yoga. Any insights? I know headaches are one of the main concussion symptoms and for me not to have them for two weeks but still have other symptoms just has me wondering what the heck is going on.
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I was in a snowboarding accident on January 19, 2013. I caught an edge on my snowboard while carving down the mountain without a helmet. I smacked the back of my head hard on the ground. I was not knocked out and it took about a week for symptoms to come into full effect. Since my accident I have been in a cycle of feeling better and then relapsing. It has happened many times. Although I think the overall trend is slowly traveling up. My symptoms included headaches, anxiety, sensitivity to light and noise, dizziness, fatigue, confusion, trouble concentrating, brain fog, loss of social interest, irritability, and mood swings. Many symptoms have since resolved and I am left with slight dizziness, sensitivity to large crowds and busy environments, small amounts of anxiety, and brain fog off and on. I am currently under the care of a neuropsychologist at the UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Clinic. I am also undergoing balance/vestibular physical therapy to help with my remaining symptoms. |
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04-21-2013, 01:01 PM | #2 | ||
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Legendary
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Getting relief from head aches is a good sign. It may mean your brain is getting better at regulating intracranial blood pressure. Reducing your brains need to regulate pressure allows it to heal and get better at regulating pressure.
There are plenty of people who rarely have head aches yet deal with cognitive and memory issues on a daily basis. I went years without chronic head aches until 18 months ago when I banged my head. Now, they are almost a daily occurrence. Count this as a single improvement. Continue to moderate stress. In a month or so, you may try to increase your work-out load. If the head aches return, reduce your work-outs by 10% lower pulse or a similar effort metric than the pulse that causes the head aches to return. Then, slowly increase workout effort but stay under your head ache threshold. And, enjoy being head ache free. My best to you.
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Mark in Idaho "Be still and know that I am God" Psalm 46:10 |
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04-21-2013, 02:15 PM | #3 | ||
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My 24/7 headaches subsided as well, but I still have all ofmthe other complaints, and headaches still come but not as in the first year. I rejoice when I don't have a headache. Dealing with those on top of everything else is tough.
Had a bad one last week but I knew it would pass and it did (4 days later!) Hang in there.
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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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"Thanks for this!" says: | anon22217 (04-21-2013) |
04-21-2013, 02:28 PM | #4 | |||
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Member
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It looks like PCS affects everyone differently, and recovery is also different for all. Headaches are one of the last symptoms that I still experience, they are normally caused if I exercise or do too much in work. My neuropsychologist told me that when symptoms come and go or go away altogether that this is a sign that you are starting to get better. From my experience this is true!
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PCS following head injury November 2012. Experienced dizzyness, light and noise sensitivity, hypercusis, fatigue, insomnia, migraines, facial pain, problems concentrating, irritability, sensory overload, exercise intolerance. Symptoms mostly resolved, working full time and I am now mostly better. I wake 6am daily since my injury. Was experiencing daily Neuralgia which was controlled with Cymbalta 30mg, Lyrica 200mg daily. Now only on 30mg Cymbalta. |
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"Thanks for this!" says: | anon22217 (04-21-2013) |
04-21-2013, 07:44 PM | #5 | ||
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It's great you are not dealing with daily headaches. I was like that before my last car accident, so I can't give you an example of a natural progression from there, but after that accident, my headaches were due to a neck injury, but a week and a half after my neck injury was fixed by my physical therapist, my cognitive symptoms lifted. I think those headaches were impeding my cognitive function, but that that wasn't the only cause. I still have my struggles but my headaches lifting were definitely a sign that things were going to start getting better at a faster pace. Rest should be your number one priority but getting outside and going for walks could help lift your spirits! That's important for your recovery too!
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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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04-21-2013, 08:29 PM | #6 | ||
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Thanks everyone for the encouraging words. It's very comforting to hear that others too are having some symptoms without 24/7 headaches. I'm going to take it as a sign that I am getting better. I was just a little confused because I thought headaches were one of the last symptoms to go, so I was having that fear of maybe this is how I will be permanently (I hate when I think like that). But right now I feel at peace with the current situation and I accept it. Hopefully I continue to make progress and some of my other symptoms will begin to lift with rest and a low stress lifestyle.
__________________
I was in a snowboarding accident on January 19, 2013. I caught an edge on my snowboard while carving down the mountain without a helmet. I smacked the back of my head hard on the ground. I was not knocked out and it took about a week for symptoms to come into full effect. Since my accident I have been in a cycle of feeling better and then relapsing. It has happened many times. Although I think the overall trend is slowly traveling up. My symptoms included headaches, anxiety, sensitivity to light and noise, dizziness, fatigue, confusion, trouble concentrating, brain fog, loss of social interest, irritability, and mood swings. Many symptoms have since resolved and I am left with slight dizziness, sensitivity to large crowds and busy environments, small amounts of anxiety, and brain fog off and on. I am currently under the care of a neuropsychologist at the UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Clinic. I am also undergoing balance/vestibular physical therapy to help with my remaining symptoms. |
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04-21-2013, 09:05 PM | #7 | ||
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Legendary
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Tpont,
Where did you get the information that head aches are the last to go ? There is a lot of worthless info about concussions out on the internet. Even doctors often have this bad info.
__________________
Mark in Idaho "Be still and know that I am God" Psalm 46:10 |
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04-21-2013, 10:31 PM | #8 | ||
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Count your self blessed that you don't have daily headaches! But yes, PCS affects everyone differently. I am also wondering about if headaches are the last to go? For myself my only symptoms are light sensitivity and chronic painful headaches everyday But they seem to be improving the past week.
Good luck to you. Quote:
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