I got my first concussion back in the beginning of 2012 after getting jabbed in the temple. I experienced debilitating symptoms (constant dizziness, fogginess, inability to concentrate) for about a month, and minor symptoms (icepick headaches, migraine headaches, pain when thinking too hard) for about a year. It was the worst experience of my life, but I managed to heal, or at least heal mostly. I was never quite sure if I was completely the same afterwards, but I seemed to be close enough. I've had minor bumps to the head since then, and I will usually experience a resurgence of symptoms for a day or two afterwards, but that is it.

A little over a month ago, I got hit in the head hard, multiple times (long story). I felt fine for the first few days, but then I started to experience debilitating dizziness and, what's worse, difficulty reading. It's not that I can't make sense of the words. It's just that if I have to read anything longer than a paragraph, I find it difficult to concentrate, and I become extremely dizzy. The dizzy spells usually last for hours or even days afterward. At almost 7 weeks in, none of my symptoms seem to be subsiding. I had to take a medical leave of absence from my work, and I was hoping that I would be able to go back soon, but it's not looking likely. I lived a pretty hand-to-mouth existence before, so after being off work for this long, I am almost entirely out of money. I have no health insurance, and no one to turn to.

I don't know how long it will take me to heal, and I'm scared. I don't know if I will fully heal, and I'm terrified. The question that haunts me more than any other is this: even if I do fully recover this time, how long will it be before the next concussion? There is no way I could have prevented what happened to me this time. So how can I possibly prevent concussions in the future? I feel like I am doomed to keep reliving the worst experience of my life over and over again, except at greater length and with more symptoms. I don't want to watch my cognitive abilities and my personality diminish further and further each time, until what's left is not recognizable. I feel like I'm watching myself slowly die, and there's nothing I or anyone else can do.

I have no hope for the future - only fear. I don't see any way out of this. What is the answer? How on earth do I cope?

I feel exactly the same. The thought of being more susceptible to the next concussion haunts me day and night. Its like I will have to live in a constant fear of hitting my head again throughout my life. I am so sick of all this I just want to get out of it and move on and live a normal life. I don't want my life to revolve around concussions and symptoms. I hate the feeling of having limitations. Sorry I can't offer any help but be assured that you are not alone. Almost all of us have or are going through this

My question is, are we ever able to reach a point where these minor bumps don't bring back the symptoms ? Can brain ever heal itself enough to be not affected by minor bumps and jolts after the first concussion ?

Welcome Brandenburg5.

Brandenburg5,

Welcome to NeuroTalk.

Your anxieties are common to PCS. They are also very counterproductive. The stress to the brain they cause makes symptoms worse and delays healing.

It would be helpful to at least know the mechanism of your injury. Were you assaulted with hits to the head ? What areas suffered the impacts ?

What diagnostics and treatments have you received ?

What self-treatments are you doing ?

It would be helpful if you read the sticky at the top called Vitamins. I updated the first post with information others have provided on Nov 8, 2014 in post number 101. It's worth looking at the last few posts to find it.

I have had a diagnosis of major depressive disorder for the last 15 years, and my mental state has worsened considerably since my concussion. I'm sure that the depression and anxiety I am experiencing are not helpful to my healing, but I can't seem to get rid of them.

I was assaulted and sustained somewhere between 5-7 closed-fist hits to my head, mostly on the right side. My former injury was on the left side. My right temple is still swollen.

I went to a neurologist and had a 3T MRI done, with no abnormalities detected.

I have been taking a multivitamin, turmeric pills, and fish oil. I live in a country without access to top-quality vitamins, and I've wondered lately whether I can trust the purity of what I'm taking.

I ice my head twice a day, and I sleep about 10 hours a night. I avoid reading (which used to be my favorite activity), and instead spend my awake time watching movies or listening to podcasts. I know that I'm supposed to be keeping mental stimulation at a minimum, but after 7 weeks, it is very hard to lie in the dark doing absolutely nothing all day.

Aside from this, I am not doing anything for my head injury. My neurologist had no advice except to rest.

I will look up the thread on vitamins.

Also, I am avoiding all sugar (at least to the extent that is possible, as sugar is added to many foods) - no desserts, fruits, or even savory foods (pizza) that I know to contain sugar.

I would not be overly concerned about sugar in normal foods. Just reduce the highly sweetened foods such as desserts. Small servings of sugary foods, 150 to 200 calories max should not be a big problem, especially if you combine them with more complex foods, protein, etc.

I suggest you find some B-12, and D3 at a minimum to add to your regimen. The top brands are not much better than most brands so I would not get too concerned about needing top quality brands.

If you tolerate the movies without causing fatigue, that stimulation may be OK. I need to use head phones for the audio or I will strain to understand the dialogue. Head phones greatly reduce the energy needed to watch TV for me.

You should find someone to check out your neck for a subtle neck injury. It does not take much neck inflammation to increase concussion symptoms. You may not feel any neck stiffness but still have a subtle neck injury causing problems. Good head and neck posture during rest and sleep is also important.

My best to you.

Thank you for the advice. I will definitely follow it.

Does anyone have any advice for how to deal with the questions in my original post? I see that I'm not alone in feeling this way, but it's killing me. I don't know how to keep going on like this. What do all of you do to cope?