This particular neurologist I saw specilizes in brain injury, and epidemiology.


This visit very much changed my view on PCS. I was told that it is in fact a myth that the brain is only more sensitive for a few days after the impact, and then the brain returns to normal.

Recently I have not been exercising very much, in an attempt to completely get rid of the rest of my symptoms (ear ringing, noise sensitivity), and was told that this is very wrong, and exercise is very important for recovery.

I also asked if my symptoms increase when I am exercising, does that mean I shouldn't be doing that activity? The answer was a simple no, symptoms returning does not mean anything.

I am at 1 year post concussion right now, and for the first 6 months the only symptom I had are headaches. I then dropped out of all my classes, and isolated myself at home - the symptoms got worse. When I went to the neurologist, he mentioned that it has to do with, "gait." If you are not exposed to sound, your gait will go down, and you will be more sensitive to it. Same with exercise. This statement really connected all of my symptoms.

Just food for thought.

This neuro appears to be in the camp of "push the brain to help it recover." There are other neuros who believe in the 'rest the brain with just mild non-stressful activity' to stimulate recovery.

Many of us here on NT can tell you that after trying the 'life as normal' the brain did not recover. When the brain was provided quiet rest, recover began.

As the saying goes, different strokes for different folks.

Yes, I have had that experience. Though all physicians that I have seen say that non-intense exercise can promote recovery.

At the beginning I lived pretty normally for the first 6 months, just no running, I recovered quite slowly, I stayed at home with hardly any activity for the other 6 months.

Now I am trying to be in the middle.

I think a successful TBI recovery plan is to a large extent dependent on the nature of the injury and how the symptoms present. My rehab MD had me pretty active with physical, occupational, and speech therapy daily right after I moved from ICU to the neuro-rehab unit of the hospital, about 4 weeks after the injury.

As an outpatient I continued with a similar regimen; I continued to get better with this therapy and was able to return to driving about 5 months post accident, and was able to return to work a month after that.

Hopefully this return to activity helps your recovery as well.

Best to you.