JohnZ: my boxing concussion symptoms lasted about 8 months. I was completely fine afterwards (except for my neck stiffness, tension headaches, etc) until my hockey concussion. The hockey concussion was very minor, the symptoms subsided in a few days. After that, everything was fine until I started running a few months ago. Then these new symptoms emerged.

With my original two concussions I had all the typical symptoms. Nausea, dizziness, tiredness, vision issues, etc. But these new symptoms from running were/are very different. Its very hard to describe...its a mix between anxiety, the super crappy feeling you get before you're about to get sick, and muscle weakness. But I was never tired. That's what messed me up so much. I started thinking I was depressed or had anxiety or just down in the dumps. I couldnt even take my dog for a walk. I just wanted to go home. I was sooooo irritable.

Symptoms are much better since the neck treatment. I feel that things are returning to normal, and any symptoms I feel now are my body just adjusting to the change in blood flow to my brain. I tried 1 set of pushups the other day and felt really dizzy all night, but not in a way that worried me. I felt fine in the morning. I emailed my therapist and he said that is my body just trying to figure things back out. Tried 1 set of pushups again tonight, so far so good.

handsup: thats unfortunate, I hope that nothing serious comes of it. I still love watching boxing, but I have to tell you that maybe you need to re-assess whether or not its worth it to box. I would obviously never have boxed if I knew it would affect my life in such an impactful and negative way for over two years. I was contemplating going on disability at work at one point a few weeks ago. I was in a really dark place.

rob: Do you have this weird feeling of weakness/malaise/anxiety? I can't find ANYTHING online about anyone else having those symptoms post concussion. I found one post from 2006 on a forum where someone described having these symptoms when he started running a few years post concussion. That is it. I really wish I could describe what this feels like better, but I struggle to put it into words.

The gentleman I see (Drew) is not a doctor, but an Athletic Therapist. I've never seen that designation until now. He really seems to be a leader in the field, so I very much doubt that all Athletic Therapists would know what he knows.

The first treatment was to put my C1 back into proper position. He called it something like "muscle energy" technique; i.e. using my own muscles to move the C1. Chiropractors can adjust this manually, but he told me there are over 170 reported cases of tragic outcomes (patients going blind, severing nerves, severing arteries, etc) from this sort of manipulation. I would be VERY cautious about letting any chiro touch your neck.

The only way I can describe it is that he held my head at a certain position and told me to focus my eyes all the way to the left. We did this a few times, and I immediately had proper mobility in my neck afterwards.

In the second visit we really just did a lot of massage on my neck. I felt drunk again afterwards, but I am feeling better since. To be honest, I had the same feeling when I went for a massage and told the MT to focus on my neck. Maybe give that a try?

I'm guessing you are not in the Toronto area? I would look into athletic therapists in the area or try massage first and see how that works. But the problem is that I think that is a temporary fix. You might need your vertebrae adjusted, which might mean seeing a chiro. I haven't yet, but if you have time maybe google the techniques I described, maybe there are people in your area that know them.

I hope this helps. Let me know if it makes sense to you...

Take care,

Bas

bas,

We often discuss Upper Cervical Chiro benefits. These are not run of the mill chiros. They are specially trained and use gentle techniques. Your ST is over-selling the scare about chiros. In the US, MD doctors' mistakes KILL over 180,000 patients per year. The risk for chiros is very small. The low premiums of their malpractice insurance is a good example.

But, I always recommend caution about letting a chiro twist and pop your neck, especially after a concussion.

I would be more concerned about an aggressive massage therapist working on my neck.

Osteopaths also have some techniques that use the patient's own muscle force to treat the neck.

Your therapist sounds like a classically trained sports trainer / kinesiologist who likely took a weekend course on treating C-1.

You commented "Do you have this weird feeling of weakness/malaise/anxiety?" This is a very common symptom of PCS. Tell us more about your struggles and what you are doing daily. Brain fatigue is a common cause of malaise.

Bas. While I cannot wait to get back to some kind of fitness regime; pugilistic sports are now out of the question. I'll get back into grappling when the time is right, and remain a combat sports fan.

handsup: That's a good plan. Would like to know about your progress and recovery. I've tried a few times to get back to pushups and my body just isnt reacting well. Im going for walks and used the stationary bike a few times and so far so good. All the best to you.

Mark: Nice to hear from you again, hope your move went well. What makes you say this about my therapist? Is some of the information he provided me wrong?
I know he is very involved in concussion research and frequently attends conferences and information seminars. He is involved with the ThinkFirst initiative in Canada as well, regarding concussions and sports.

The last time I went back to him and he massaged my neck I felt terrible for a few days. He is telling me that this is part of the process. On one hand I feel he is right, as my neck remains very stiff. On the other hand, I cant imagine that being out of commission for a few days after a neck massage is a good thing for me. Im also very wary of going for massage now. I dont want any further damage to my neck.

Regarding my progress and daily activities, I am now starting to feel like myself again. I last saw him on the 16th, and it took about 5 days to get over feeling crappy. This past weekend and this week are the first string of days where Ive actually felt normal. He told me to start trying to get back into my fitness routine, but slowly. Like I said I tried a set of 8 pushups, which is very easy for me, and Ive not reacted well to it, so Ive stopped. I go for walks and just started using a stationary bike a few days ago and I seem to be ok with both. I feel like its the increased pressure of lifting weights (even light weights) or doing pushups that my body cant handle at the moment. I am going to work everyday, and when have my crappy days, Im not very productive at all. When I feel fine like I do now, things are completely normal at work. FYI I am a business analyst, and my job involves me sitting in front of the computer all day and crunching numbers. It is a pretty technical job and can be very stressful and taxing at times.

I want to stick with the bike and walking for now, but I would love to get back into pushups and some light weight lifting. Not sure I can though at the moment. I suppose the thing to do is try it again in a week or so. I've been physically active my whole life, so this has been a very frustrating time for me.

I also wanted to add that I've figured out a better way to describe this malaise/weakness/irritable feeling I've been dealing with. If you think of the feeling where you hold your breath for a long time, the feeling right before you start breathing again is how I feel....constantly. It's as if my body is not using the oxygen im breathing in. Imagine someone trying to talk to you when youve held your breath for over a minute. Thats why I feel very irritable. Even if I slow my breathing and take deep breaths, the feeling wont go away until Ive rested for a few days and the symptoms subside.

Just wondering if anyone has felt anything like that before or heard or someone who has.

I count my blessings that things arent worse, from reading this forum there are a lot of people with a lot worse problems than I have due to their concussions. I just want to get back to my normal life, that's all.