I have had multiple concussions. The first diagnosed one was Feb. 2012 and then the two more recent ones were Sept. 2013 and Dec. 2013. I went on leave from my teaching job after the September one. My neurologist approved me to return to work Feb. 2014. I taught and attended meetings for only 2 days, and had to stop work again. The puzzling thing is that my condition 7 weeks after I stopped work is the worst it has ever been. I am homebound - in bed most of the day due to headaches whenever I walk or even talk. I take Gabapentin and Nortriptylene and Temazapam. Does anyone have any suggestions for what I can do at this point? I have become very weak from staying in bed all the time, although my feeling is that staying in bed is probably the best thing. Any ideas, experiences, or suggestions are welcomed. Thank you![/B][/B]

Joe,

Welcome to NeuroTalk. Sorry to hear you are struggling so.

I suggest you try to spend more time upright. You may need to give your brain a chance to regain blood flow control. Plus, bed is a lousy place for trying to maintain good neck and head posture. You need to get quiet rest meaning gentle activities in a quiet atmosphere. Playing solitaire with a deck of cards can be a good activity. It supports just enough blood flow to help your brain heal.

Other than head aches, what symptoms are you experiencing ?

Thanks for the quick response, Mark. I am trying to sit in a chair to listen to audio on headphones instead of lie in bed after your suggestion. I now have a deck of cards on hand too to try your solitaire suggestion. Your suggestions are the only practical ones I have received.

As far as my other symptoms, I am light and sound sensitive, and have memory problems. I cannot read or use the computer (my mother is typing my input for now and reading me what others are saying). This week has been the toughest in my two-year concussion history. Everything makes the headache worse - talking, thinking, walking the few steps from my bedroom to the kitchen.

Sorry you are going through this...

The same thing happened to me when I went back the first time... it was like I went back to the beginning... and it has taken me twice as long to get back to a place where I feel like I could entertain the idea of going back... I sleep in a recliner a lot... I take a nap everyday and sleep 3-5 nights a week in this chair... I would suggest a osteopath as well...

Sarah, what would the osteopath do?

Joe,

Osteopaths have a variety of skills beyond what an MD would do. They usually use Cranial Sacral Therapy techniques. CST is controversial. Some will try to manipulate your skull bones. Others will just work on your neck and spine. Some are grounded in medical science. Others can get very 'out there' in their beliefs (energy work, etc).

An MD specialist in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation known as a Physiatrist may be helpful.

Hi Joe,

I read through the thread and didn't see what is causing the issue with walking to see if I have any help to offer. At first my dr's thought it was vestibular, but the therapies didn't help. My walking issues were based on proprioception and bodywork helped.

Proprioception defined - is the process by which the body can vary muscle contraction in immediate response to incoming information regarding external forces, by utilizing stretch receptors in the muscles to keep track of the joint position in the body. Layman terms it means the body's ability to know where it is in space.

While I'm near 7 years post injury I still experience situations that compromise my ability to walk and talk - usually overstimulation. Example: my 1st and last attempt at attending a concert, attending my nephews Chuck E Cheese bday party, any noisy and/or visually stimulating atmosphere - all cause loss of balance, visual problems, horrible headache.

I'm still working on controlling my headaches. The neuro's say it's migraine because I had them pre injury, but this is a constant debilitating headache. Gabapentin helped me, but there are other meds if it isn't working. The trial and errors are difficult to endure, but once you find something that works it's like going from a black and white world into technicolor and well worth the struggle.

Hearing intolerance. I was diagnosed with hyperacusis which is a change in your tolerance to sounds and better described here - http://www.hyperacusis.org/ also plays a role in my ability to walk and talk, as well as emotional lability. I was prescribed musician quality ear filters that I hope to get this month.

At my worst these activities help me:

swimming - I didn't need balance to swim and the exercise feels good. If you get tired you can just float or tread water.

Art - discovered I could draw post injury where I needed a ruler pre injury. See if anything calls to you - it doesn't matter what it is aside from being creative. I even created a dream board from magazine clippings glued to canvas to visualize what I wanted in my future. It helps hand eye coordination and has a meditative quality that allows thinking to flow vs feeling like a chore.

Bodywork - Ex. Swedish massage, Shiatsu (amazingly beneficial), sports massage. I had my car accident while going to massage school and would not have made the progress I did had it not been for the bodywork I received. If you do go make sure you tell them of the brain injury and headaches. You will need more foot work and little work on the head as it can be too stimulating. Energy work is also helpful. I suggest finding an individual locally thru here - http://www.amtamassage.org/findamass...searchcat=famt

Start a Journal - At this point I've forgotten more than I remember. While my family and friends help me remember my progress, reading my own words about my journey is empowering. If you can't write yourself, ask your mom or someone to help. I forget just how much progress I've made over the years until I read my journal. There are times I still get frustrated, upset, angry, etc. feeling I'm stuck. My son reminds me. My journals are a testament to my journey of trials, tribulations, and triumphs. I track how med's make me feel to some pretty dark poetry when at the depths of depression. My one warning - I would forget where I put my journal and start a new one so I have a ton of them all dated, but each one with random dates. I suppose I don't think or experience time linearly anymore so it's a good representation of my rewired brain. :-)

I also found playing Tetris like games or even the children's game Memory either electronic or the original card game beneficial - they help add tactile and kinesthetic memory to augment visual memory.

What I've learned over 7 years - 5 steps forward, 11 steps back is part of the healing process. As the brain rewires itself you'll find you may improve vastly in some areas and take steps back in others. It's okay. Hang in there. It gets better.

I hope some of this was helpful. I wish you the best on your journey.

Kristy

Thanks so much for this detailed and informative answer, Kristy. It was a very kind response. My issue with walking is that I get a headache after even a walk around my apartment. I stop walking when I feel a headache starting to prevent it from getting worse. I know from experience that walking longer distances, like around the block, will cause a severe, debilitating headache which sets my recovery back by weeks. I am weaning off prednisone now, which seems to have made my headaches come on faster and to additional stimuli, such as listening to podcasts for more than 15 minutes. I will check out the link you provided on this - this is new information to me.
Thanks again,
Joe

Joe,

Have you had your ears checked yet? Part of my problem comes from an inner ear problem they found. But it took a while to find them. I saw a neurologist that is also an ear specialist. Who did some testing that I wont lie, made me VERY ill. But it did prove there is damage in my left ear. If you have been researching the folks that worked on Sidney look at Dr. Furman and what he does. He is who I saw. I hope you start to feel better soon, heck I hope we all do!

Laura