[Raili Simojoki]

Hi,

When I was recovering, I read a lot of posts on these forums and they really scared me. This did not help with my recovery. So I wanted to share something positive here, to give a bit of hope people who are taking longer than usual to recover from a mild brain injury.

I fell off my bike and hit my head. I wasn't even unconscious, but I was in a fog for about a week. Even after that, probably for the next two months, I felt constantly vague. I found it hard to get out of bed. Noises plagued me and lights were blinding. I had trouble structuring my thoughts, particularly in writing.

In the first two and a half months, I saw hardly any recovery. I kept feeling like I was getting better and then I would drop down again. I thought I might be gradually getting better but I couldn't really tell - maybe I was just getting better at managing my symptoms. Deep down, I thought maybe I was never going to recover, even after a neurologist assured me I would get back to 100 percent.

I can honestly say it was the worst time of my life (that said, I've had an easy life so far!).

There were some things going on in my external environment that impeded my ability to recover. I didn't have a permanent place to live, and there was some serious construction work going on at the place where I was living. When I finally moved into a place, we realised afterwards that there was construction work going on there too! So I was itinerant for about a month after that until I moved into a share house.

When I moved into the share house, I was only working four hours per week, and finding even this a struggle. I considered scaling back. But then I went and saw the doctor and she told me I should be scaling up, not back. She told me I had depression and anxiety. I've never had either of these things before. I'm not sure whether she is right but it's true that I felt incredibly low almost all the time. I don't remember feeling happy any of those first two and a half months.

Funnily enough, after scaling up at work, as well as in my social activities, I all of a sudden starting feeling much better. When I say all of a sudden, I don't really mean that. It was slow, but faster than before. I was still getting headaches and feeling tired easily, but things at work (and outside work) seemed to get easier and easier.

People here say don't exercise, but exercise really helped me, and the neurologist confirmed it was a good idea. The best thing was swimming; walking wasn't bad either. I wouldn't recommend running; if you're already feeling a bit woozy it can be a bit disorientating.

Right now I would say I'm back at about 90 percent, although I'm taking it easy a lot more than before too (I am usually an extraordinarily active person). Which is not to say that I'll get to 100 percent, or that things won't get worse if I push myself too hard. I don't think I'm going to drop that far down again though, because the improvement's been sustained for a while. In any event, I'm not as worried about it anymore, because I'm at a point where I'm basically well enough to do my job well and enjoy my life.

What I am trying to say is, even if your recovery takes longer than usual, and it feels like you'll never recover, you can still recover. Most people who have concussions recover completely, even if it takes them a bit longer.

Thank you so much for sharing your experience with us. Im so glad you got better.

Originally Posted by Raili Simojoki

Hi,

When I was recovering, I read a lot of posts on these forums and they really scared me. This did not help with my recovery. So I wanted to share something positive here, to give a bit of hope people who are taking longer than usual to recover from a mild brain injury.

I fell off my bike and hit my head. I wasn't even unconscious, but I was in a fog for about a week. Even after that, probably for the next two months, I felt constantly vague. I found it hard to get out of bed. Noises plagued me and lights were blinding. I had trouble structuring my thoughts, particularly in writing.

In the first two and a half months, I saw hardly any recovery. I kept feeling like I was getting better and then I would drop down again. I thought I might be gradually getting better but I couldn't really tell - maybe I was just getting better at managing my symptoms. Deep down, I thought maybe I was never going to recover, even after a neurologist assured me I would get back to 100 percent.

I can honestly say it was the worst time of my life (that said, I've had an easy life so far!).

There were some things going on in my external environment that impeded my ability to recover. I didn't have a permanent place to live, and there was some serious construction work going on at the place where I was living. When I finally moved into a place, we realised afterwards that there was construction work going on there too! So I was itinerant for about a month after that until I moved into a share house.

When I moved into the share house, I was only working four hours per week, and finding even this a struggle. I considered scaling back. But then I went and saw the doctor and she told me I should be scaling up, not back. She told me I had depression and anxiety. I've never had either of these things before. I'm not sure whether she is right but it's true that I felt incredibly low almost all the time. I don't remember feeling happy any of those first two and a half months.

Funnily enough, after scaling up at work, as well as in my social activities, I all of a sudden starting feeling much better. When I say all of a sudden, I don't really mean that. It was slow, but faster than before. I was still getting headaches and feeling tired easily, but things at work (and outside work) seemed to get easier and easier.

People here say don't exercise, but exercise really helped me, and the neurologist confirmed it was a good idea. The best thing was swimming; walking wasn't bad either. I wouldn't recommend running; if you're already feeling a bit woozy it can be a bit disorientating.

Right now I would say I'm back at about 90 percent, although I'm taking it easy a lot more than before too (I am usually an extraordinarily active person). Which is not to say that I'll get to 100 percent, or that things won't get worse if I push myself too hard. I don't think I'm going to drop that far down again though, because the improvement's been sustained for a while. In any event, I'm not as worried about it anymore, because I'm at a point where I'm basically well enough to do my job well and enjoy my life.

What I am trying to say is, even if your recovery takes longer than usual, and it feels like you'll never recover, you can still recover. Most people who have concussions recover completely, even if it takes them a bit longer.

[poetrymom]

Hi Raili,

It's good you are getting better.

Exercise is important, but it's gentle exercise that helps me. I walk every day too. I can go between 2 and 3 miles now.

The exercise that should be avoided for now -- is the really hard workouts that get the heart going really fast and blood pumping fast.

Yoga and stretching are good as well.

pm

[Mark in Idaho]

The low impact effect of swimming is great. It is often the hardest exercise form to find. Glad to hear it helped.

[mouse1]

I think PCS affects people differently, swimming in particular but other exercise also used to provoke symptoms more than anything for me. After/during exercise I used to get crushing headaches and chronic fatigue that would last for days.

I have to admit the exercise is helping me now, even if it gives me a headache for a few hours, but this is nothing like I used to experience thankfully.

Well done on your recovery, and I agree with your sentiments that people with concussions can make a 100% recovery!