Tomorrow will be exact 5 months since I hit my head hard on a concrete wall and diagnosed with pcs...my main symptoms are tinnitus and sensitivity to bumps and jolts. Although I think I feel a small notch of improvement very month and it's slow as hell, over all I feel like that's it, my condition will remain like this forever more or less. I have constant on and off chirping in my left ear which is less bothersome and volatile than it was before, but distracting when it's at his peak. It's completely gone in my right ear touchwood.

I can't go out because I dread potholes and bumps. I am on xanax and feel like a zombie not knowing where life is taking me and whats happening with me. Can I expect more improvements after 5 months ? It feels ages since that incident and I should be fine by now I feel, although I know many people are struggling since many months or years. Can a long term anti-inflammatory diet help?

Hang in there. I know it can be really hard to stay optimistic. Im at 10 months now from my concussion/ whiplash from being hit by a car while crossing the street. I hit my head hard on the windshield and pavement.

I dont have tinnitus as bad as you do, but i can relate to the sensitivity to bumps and jolts. Being a passenger in a car is really difficult for me. Im also very sensitive to light and sound. And suffer from headaches and neck pain.

But the good news is when i look back in my daily journals (where i write my pain and symptoms) i notice a significant difference in pain and activity levels from now to 5 months ago. And a HUGE difference from now since my accident 10 months ago. So there is hope. But everyday is different, i just have to be gentle with myself. And patient. Dont be hard on yourself, remember it is a slow progress.

As I'm writing this I'm also speaking to myself here, its always something i have to remind myself! My old self was a huge go-getter and type A so its hard for me to be patient and let myself heal

Big hugs!

Many have not seen the real improvements until the second year. I know it is a long time but that means you still have lots of time to improve.

Hi Galaxy-

Have you tried putting yourself in a hyperbaric chamber during early onset of your Tinnitus?

Your Tinnitus is likely permanent however the good news is your brain will adjust to the sounds as time passes.

Also don't worry too much about wearing ear plugs unless you have hearing loss that was damaged. A good way to test your hearing would be an Otoacoustic test that marks Absent or present outer hair cells.

Yes!!! Hang in there. Hour by hour!!!!
Courage.

Hey

5 months in with the dreaded pcs is a small amount of time, and just saying. But you can expect to heal. The brain can heal. Yes, it does heal, but we never can say when or how or why. No 2 healing are the same.

Live each day as it comes. I did get some sudden uplifts and you might too. Read up about this. The book Brain Lashed by Gail Denton helped me a lot. You can likely get this from your public library.

Do everything you can via diet, extra vitamins and supplements, and calming yourself to reduce stress in you life. These things are your roads to healing.

My tinnitis is mostly gone or I can't hear it unless very tired.

Take care!!

poetrymom

I know how you're feeling, I'm at 7 months with what feels like no improvement and feeling pretty low about life. It's hard to be optimistic, I know, but I'm dealing with it by trying not to think too much about the future, keeping busy and at the same time accepting (I've only just started to come to terms with this) I have cognitive limitations and I may need treatment top improve them.

I've found this very difficult to accept, I'd just hoped I could sit back, get on with life and gradually they'd get better on their own.

Now I'm (still) seeking a diagnosis and hoping that through that I'll be able to start some treatment.

Hey I am exactly 5 months tooooo!!!
I feel EXACTLY like you , I feel like 5 months is long and if I was meant to heal , I should have but I've spoken to people that saw great improvement at 1 year so I guess 5 months is nothing , as for the ringing in the ears , mine went away completely.

Right now I'm dealing with concentration issues , chronic headaches , mood issues and just overly not feeling my self , I just feel "stuck" and can't imagine living this way for ever so I have faith it will get better

Wow I just found this forum and it makes me feel so much better that other people are toughing out the difficulties and trying to stay positive. I love how you guys are supporting each other, it's honestly really uplifting.

1. First, my complaining:
Hey, the day after tomorrow is 5 months for me! I also have neck tension, headaches, issues concentrating, and low mood (i.e. often feeling anxious, depressed, lonely, angry, irritable, etc. fo not particular reason). I also have some oracular-vestibular stuff (i.e. dizziness and vertigo). I often feel like I'm in a fog, and I become confused and disoriented easily, which makes it hard to carry a conversation with friends and really connect. Earlier today I had difficulties adding the tip to the bill-- which is insane, I was a math major and just graduated last year. It's frustrating feeling so stupid.

Sometimes I'm on the verge of tears over nothing, and sometimes I just start crying randomly. One time I was going to the bathroom and literally broke into tears while I was peeing and then broke into laughter (along with the tears) at the utter absurdity of my life. Sometimes I am afraid to share with my friends how much suffering I am in, because I am afraid if I am always complaining and depressed they will think less of me or want to avoid me (which is totally irrational).

I can't work yet and I have a dysfunctional family, and I quickly lost all my money and couldn't pay rent in my own place so I had nowhere to go. Eventually I was able to move in with my grandfather which isn't terrible but it also isn't great. I sleep on an old couch.
\End rant

2. Now, how I try to stay strong:

I keep telling myself things will get better, and remind myself that things could be so much worse and I am thankful that I am not homeless, that I am not hungry, and that I will probably get better. I try to enjoy each new thing I am allowed to do (eg. stationary biking for 15 minutes at %50 heart rate! Normally that would be so boring but it's better than nothing haha). I keep a diary to write down what I ultimately believe in. This helps clear my mind of hopeless and depressing thoughts.

I try to avoid unhelpful counterfactual thinking (eg. What would have happened if I didn't get this concussion? What would have happened if I took better care of myself right after the concussion?). I remind myself of all of the difficult things I have endured before-- This makes me feel strong and gives me confidence that some day this period of my life will just be another memory add to that list.

Not to say any of this works all the time, or even most of the time. It really sucks. But we got this. We have been through difficult things before, and once we conquer this, we will look back proudly at our perseverance.

Best of luck to everybody! Stay strong friends!

basketballhead,

Welcome to NeuroTalk.

What have you been doing to help with your recovery ?

Have you read the sticky about Vitamins etc. ?