Head sensitivity
 

Hi guys, I don't know if any of you are still active since this is a old thread, but worth a crack. Did anyone find ways to overcome this sensitivity to jolts and vibrations? I've had it for about 5 months now and it's ruining my life! It's gotten better then it was in the sense that it seems to recover much quicker then before. For example, nowadays I can feel much better in a few hours to 1 day after a minor vibration/jolt. Where as before it was 2-3 after one jolt.

Any feedback would be much appreciated.

Cheers guys

Mitchel,

Welcome to NeuroTalk.

Most have to learn to reduce the risk of jolts during the recovery phase. Nobody seems to know what causes this sensitivity. It could be vestibular. It could be upper neck instability (it was for me). For some, it is brought on by an anxiety about any movement that could cause a concussion relapse or more brain damage.

Please tell us more about how it manifests for you. What are your concerns? Does it disable you with a return of symptoms? What symptoms return?

What have you done to help reduce this problem?

Hi Mark, what do you do for upper neck instability? How was it diagnosed? I'm starting to think it's the same issue for me. it's my last symptom of PCS and i keep getting set back from minor bumps.

The treatment is primarily a self treatment. Some very gentle PT or chiro or osteopathic therapy may help but the most important therapy is discipline with sleeping and resting posture. I also had to lower my computer monitor so I was not tipping my head back to use the bottom of my trifocal glasses.

Avoiding the vertical forces is also helpful. Shoulders and head forward when the road gets bumpy can help.

I also live with anti-inflammatory meds. Either aspirin (enteric form) or ibuprofen. Been taking it for more than a decade. Omega 3 fish oil and curcumin concentrate have anti-inflammatory value, too.

Wow people replied to this, I didn't get any notifications by email I'll have to start checking again. Witzode what symptoms have you got at the moment? I've been on a anti-inflammatory diet for 1 month now. I feel like I am very very slowly getting better but the head sensitivity is still ruining my life. It's so depressing that a bumpy car ride or a someone slamming the front door while I'm on my bed leaning my head on the wall, can make life hell for the next few days!!
I want to find answers about this. At the moment all I can find is the anti-inflammatory diet solution.

Hi mark, thanks for the reply.
I've been trying an anti inflammatory diet for 1 month now. The symptoms are less intense then 2 months ago but still there and very depressing. I feel like I have to tip toe around life or I will get these symptoms of brain fog, detached feeling, pulsating in head, anxiety, bad mood, etc

What is the chiropractor thing and the neck all about?

Thanks mate

The concept of leaning your head against the wall can be a problem in itself. If this means you have your head propped up and forward, this can put a strain on the joint between the neck and skull. The inflammation from the strain can cause symptoms. Add a startle from somebody slamming the door and the brain chemistry goes sideways.

The biggest point about the neck is avoiding these bad postures and sleeping or resting in a good straight head and neck posture, ALL THE TIME. Doing it most of the time does not help much because the bad times still cause the inflammation.

If a car ride is bumpy, lean forward with your shoulders and head. This adds curve to your back so you can absorb the vibrations better. When you shoulders are against the seat back, the vibrations are stronger.

I also take 975 mgs of enteric aspirin morning and night.

A chiro or PT or osteopath who has gentle neck techniques for getting the joints moving can also help. No chiro 'turn the head and pop the neck' for most of us. It is too aggressive.

So what are some of the don'ts? Is it ok to rest on my side on bed? Also I'm assuming using my phone from my stomach with my head supported by hand and elbow (if you know what I mean) is bad?

What would I say to the chiro proctor if I went to see one?

Thanks for your help.

The key head and neck issue is to not relax the neck in a posture that puts strain on the joint. If you lay on your side, your spine should be straight.

I usually sleep on my back with no lift from my pillow. It just supports the side of my head so my head does not roll to the side. It I sleep on my side, a bunch up my pillow so my head is supported so it does not drop to the side or be tilted up.

The laying on your side with your head supported by your hand and elbow sounds like it puts side tension on your neck. It does not sound good to me.

I learned this when I was having an EEG with a sleep session. I stayed up all night so I could sleep during the EEG. The tech rolled a towel and put it under my head to prop my head up with my chin toward my chest so the wires were not disturbed. After some tests, I was told to relax and go to sleep. As I tried that last bit of relaxing where I relax my breathing, I would get short of breath. A few cycles of this and I realized that when I relaxed, my diaphragm stopped pulling breaths. I could not sleep in this position because I would stop breathing and gasp.

I tried this posture at home and realized this head forward posture, after about 5 to 10 minutes, was interrupting my breathing triggering system. This is known as Central Apnea. If I tried to sleep with a thick pillow, I would do it at night. 16 times in one hour when my wife stayed up and watched. Even when my breathing was not interrupted, I would wake up feeling miserable after having a night of stressful dreams. It would be what we came to call a 'no driving day.' because I would be so foggy.

Once I learned to avoid these postures, my recovery progressed substantially. My neck is much more stable but I still need to be careful.

A PT and a chiro did gentle traction and mobilization to help the joints stay mobile. No pushing for range of motion.