It has been almost 6 months since I forcefully walked into a tree. I didn't lose consciousness, but post concussion symptoms appeared about 7 days after. I continued to exercise about 4 times a week before the symptoms began, and about twice week afterwards. I was suffering from strong tension headaches, mild nausea, and trouble remembering only one thing - the name of the last show or movie I watched before going to sleep.
The nausea is now gone, and the symptoms have never worsened, but only improved. I use to exercise 4 times a week, down to once a week, and now only once every 2 weeks for the past 3 months. However, the symptoms still only appear after I exercise. The insomnia always and only begins the night after I exercise, and headaches last for about a week. Then I feel good, so I exercise a week later, and although they are not as strong as they once were, I'm still having these symptoms and it has been almost 6 months!!!
I know that blood pressure and heart rate should be closely monitored, but can you give me any useful advice or insight to my condition?
Thank you
Owen 2116

Stop exercising until all your symptoms have gone!

Owen1,

Welcome to NeuroTalk. Mouse is dead on. Stop exercising. If you are going to exercise, you need to find an intensity that does not cause symptoms.

Read the Vitamins stick at the top. It discusses nutrition and the things to avoid. Exercise, especially muscle straining exercise cause toxins to flood your system. You sensitive brain can not tolerate this.

The exercise you do should be limited to increasing your heart rate just above that of a quick walk. This is to increase cerebral blood flow. Cardio is too much. Strength training is too much.

btw, You said <I didn't lose consciousness, but post concussion symptoms appeared about 7 days after. > The proper statement is "Concussion" symptoms appeared about 7 days. Post concussion is when those symptoms do not resolve within 6 to 8 weeks or so. Yes, now you have Post Concussion Syndrome.

Delayed concussion symptoms are very common as the brain goes on as usual until it finally realizes it needs to slow down. It lets injured parts die or go dormant to rest to recover. Your brain is telling you it still needs this rest.

What are your day to day activities and diet like ? These all make a big difference in recovery.

My best to you.

Mark,

Thanks for the informative reply. I had a very active life before my injury. Since my symptoms only ever appeared after a cardio workout, I should have lightened up, and stopped sooner. I may have felt "OK" after two weeks to run, but my brain needed more recovery time, and the fast running was far to intense. The last time I ran I kept my heart rate at about 115, and although the symptoms were quite mild, it was still "too much" for my brain.
I'm also a kindergarten teacher, so the level of daily stress is evident. I'm going to wait two weeks and then exercise at a pace of "fast walk". I hope things change and I can get back to my normal past lifestyle.
Owen 2116

My daily diet is consistent and well kept. Low in fats and sugars. I work as a teacher, so the level of daily stress is going to be evident. Mouse said to stop exercising until the symptoms are gone. I've only exercised every 2 weeks when I felt "100%", but I would find out that my brain was not the same. How can I "stop" until the symptoms are gone, when I they've appeared to have done so, I exercise, but with success? How long should do you think it will take, and I just continue with a fast walk?

Change your exercise routine to walking or swimming, and other things that don't bring on symptoms. The gym is high intensity, so I would skip this. Better to swim and walk three or four times a week, than a gym session every fortnight.

You need to stay at a level that doesn't bring on symptoms - this is the key! Build up stamina very slowly.

If walking or swimming bring symptoms on, then your probably not ready to exercise.

From the sounds of your symtptoms there may also be a metabolic component ( which we often find) in relation to your post concussion syndrome.
We can say " rest" until the brain heals but sometimes it just doesnt happen. Get some basic bloodwork, as a start and then go from there. The Brain needs only 3 things to be healthy: 1. oxygen 2. glucose 3. activation
If for example we see decreased red blood cells we would need to boost that in order to deliver proper oxygen to the brain. Cheers