Why do I get a concussion from a bump that is almost nothing? Monday I hit my head on the clothes dryer, it didn't even feel like a hit, more like a touch. Two hours later I felt neausea, I got a headache and now, two days later all the symptoms are back.
My husbund can hit his head very hard, nothing happens, so do all other people around me.

I am so afraid of hitting my head, but I think the more careful I am, the more I hit my head. I am so frustradet, laying in bed again in a dark room and doing nothing, I started crying, because I a afraid of loosing my job and life has changed so much in this past year, I don't know how to deal with it...

Sorry for my bad english, I am from Germany, but nobody here has ever heard of PCS, not even my doctors. They just lough at me when I tell them my problems.

Anja 70,

Welcome to NeuroTalk.

You have great English. Better than many who post with typos galore. I think you had three typos. At first, I thought you might have been an American at a German military base or something.

I'm going to stick my neck out and make a strong comment. I hope I am not offensive.

I think you may be having most of your struggle from the anxiety of bumping your head. Do you have or can you get a 'at home' blood pressure kit ? I bet these bumps are causing an increase in blood pressure and pulse. This can cause symptoms similar to a concussion, especially to someone with a history of brain trauma.

Being able to check your blood pressure can help you identify other issues that may need addressing. A blood pressure lowering med like propranolol may help. An anti-anxiety med may help.

I hope you can find the help you need to figure this out.

My best to you.

I know exactly what you are going through. It has been 6 years since my life changing head injury and I seem to spend more time recovering from the effect of minor (and I mean minor) head bumps that I just accept it as the reality of my life.

My usual cycle starts from either a direct tap to the head or a jolt to my body that suddenly changes my body's momentum (like striking my shoulder on the frame of a door). Within 30 minutes, I'll feel a head pressure and fogginess. Thankfully it never progresses to pain. However my cognitive stamina markedly decreases for a day or two. The harder the jolt, the longer the recovery time. As silly as it sounds, thinking too much (academic work) becomes quite uncomfortable. The other notable change during one of these cycles is the inability to tolerate a rise in heart rate/blood pressure with exercise or straining. Eventually things settle with time. The fastest recovery occurs when I COMPLETELY rest both physically and cognitively. However that's not always possible.

What I've come to respect and accept is that there are no shortcuts to recovering from these cycles. You really have to slow down and be patient.

Be reassured that you are not alone with your symptoms. Treat you periods of recovery as you would a friend: with patience and respect. Best of luck.

Mark,

thank you for your answer, it made me think a lot. Today is the first day I am feeling a little better, the worst thing is the hyperacusis. After the last three concussions it always went away within a few weeks.

So you mean not hitting my head, but my rising blood pressure after the bump can cause all these symptoms? But shouldn't the symptoms go away when the blood pressure is down again and not stay for days?
Normally my blood pressure is very low, sometimes to low, so I cannot take medicine to make it go down.

Canadoc,

thanks for your words, it's so good to hear that I am not the only one that feels this way.
How do you deal with the days that you spend recovering? Do you have a job? I have a good job, but sometimes I am afraid I will lose it, due to so many days off, because I'm not feeling good.

Hi Anja,

I feel your pain Since a car roll over accident in August 2011 I've had 4 more concussions, all of which took about 2 or 3 weeks to heal up. But this last one has taken 5.5 months and I'm still not healed up. I don't even have to hit my head that hard to reaggravate the concussion. We just have to be realllly careful.

Generally in PCS, ones tolerance to a rise in heart rate, and hence blood pressure, depends where they are in the healing process. If you've are well enough to tolerate moderate aerobic activity, you are unlikely going to surpass these limits with routine daily activities even if you are upset or worried about something.
However, once you've bumped your head again and cause a recurrence of concussive type symptoms (for some, like you and I, the force of that "bump" seems trivial compared to others), your tolerance to elevations of blood pressure will likely drop for a while. With time (this also can be quite variable amongst PCS patients), things gradually improve.
I use to always be push the limits during the recovery process in an act of defiance I guess. However it didn't take me long to figure out I was the the one that suffered longer in the end. I'm now more respective of the healing time after a "bump" and back off activities as much as I can (especially physical training).
I work as a family doctor and working less hours is often difficult. During a recovery cycle, I schedule more "cognitive rest periods" during the day. Being self-employed allows me to do this. Many of you work for an employer and do not have such luxuries. The only thing I could suggest is to educate your boss about the cognitive struggles you have after a relapse. I often write a letter for my patients in similar circumstances informing their employer about the necessary restrictions to allow proper recovery. Perhaps your primary care physician can help.
Hope this information helps.
Cheers, Canadoc

Hi, I have had this same problem since my third concussion which was back in 2012. I have these exact same aggravations. I get a minor bump to the head or jolt to the body and it sends me right back to PCS or at least that’s what it feels like it does. The symptoms all come back and last anywhere from weeks or even 6+ months sometimes depending on the severity of the bump. Small bumps such as my small child accidentally head butting me can set it off.
Once it all finally calms down I am able to jog and do some light exercise and that is ok. Nothing too strenuous though. I recently had a nice long streak of no issues, maybe even a whole year, and I was getting back into good physical shape and health again finally, and then this past week I got a hard bump from my child and my symptoms are back with full force. I’m so depressed and upset that I can’t stand it. Bad headaches, dizziness, pulsing pressure, strange electrical/tingling feelings that shoot through my scalp and neck, it’s just awful.

Is anyone from this thread still active on this forum? I would really love to talk to someone about it. I don’t personally know anyone that has this issue, so there’s no one I can talk to about it or get advice from. My doctors basically have no answers for me after years of tests. I feel like I’m at my tipping point. No one, not even my wife I don’t think, truly believes me concerning my problem. It is so frustrating. I feel like my boss doesn’t believe me. I feel like none of my friends believe me. Worst of all, I feel like my wife doesn’t even believe me, at least she certainly doesn’t understand the severity of this and just how difficult it makes my daily life. Please, if anyone reads this could we talk a little? Either replying here or email or WhatsApp or I would even talk to a stranger on the phone at this point. Thanks for reading.