[roralea]

Does anyone else have a feeling of motion sickness after screen time, especially smart phones? Computers have been hard for me since the concussion, but a few days ago, I started to feel increasingly sick from using my smart phone. I ignored it, and after a few days it suddenly reached a point where I had severe nausea and a headache, as if I'd been reading in a moving car for hours. The severity of it lasted two days, even when not using the phone. If I pick the phone up again it comes back again much worse within a minute or two. I have had it ever since, and if I use the phone my body will feel frustrated, as if Im forcing it to do something it doesn't want to do.

I haven't had much nausea since the first few months after the concussion, and it has become easier for me to use the computer again too, on and off, until now. I can tolerate the TV longer than computers and smart phones, and the desktop computer longer than the smart phone. I always keep my brightness way down, and changed the setting that is recommended to reduce feeling sick on iPhones. I have eased off the smart phone because of this, but I just wonder why now, a year and a half later, has this issue come back, possibly even worse than it was in the beginning? Thanks.

[MomWriterStudent]

I'm about 13 months into my concussion, and this symptom recently returned for me as well. I was actually stopping by the forum to post about the same issue. I work from a computer, and I can barely get anything done. I'm falling behind on bills, and it's making me nervous. I need this to go away ASAP.

I also keep the screens very dim, and I changed that setting on my iPhone that you're referring to. I am frustrated that this symptom has returned.

[Lara]

The screen on a phone is heaps smaller than on a laptop or computer. It's perhaps causing the extra strain because of the size and the format.

Phone screens tend to swing. It might sound strange but I have problems with waiting at the lights and having the traffic swoosh past me from right to left and left to right. I don't even need to move my head. It's a visual thing. (But then I have vertigo a lot of the time anyway)

Do either of you have a history of migraine at all?

Edited to add: roralea, I just noticed your signature and you have Meniere's. I take it this feeling of motion sickness you posted about feels differently from that type of dizziness?

[roralea]

Originally Posted by MomWriterStudent

I'm about 13 months into my concussion, and this symptom recently returned for me as well. I was actually stopping by the forum to post about the same issue. I work from a computer, and I can barely get anything done. I'm falling behind on bills, and it's making me nervous. I need this to go away ASAP.

I also keep the screens very dim, and I changed that setting on my iPhone that you're referring to. I am frustrated that this symptom has returned.

MomWriterStudent:

I'm sorry you're experiencing this as well, and that it's making it hard for you to work. I had to resign from my job which was all computers, and very technical. I also had a long commute and long hours and they wouldn't offer me part time. It is tough! I hope you have some improvement soon, and family or friends to lean on, or some social programs in your area for this time of need.

[roralea]

Originally Posted by Lara

The screen on a phone is heaps smaller than on a laptop or computer. It's perhaps causing the extra strain because of the size and the format.

Phone screens tend to swing. It might sound strange but I have problems with waiting at the lights and having the traffic swoosh past me from right to left and left to right. I don't even need to move my head. It's a visual thing. (But then I have vertigo a lot of the time anyway)

Do either of you have a history of migraine at all?

Edited to add: roralea, I just noticed your signature and you have Meniere's. I take it this feeling of motion sickness you posted about feels differently from that type of dizziness?

Lara:

Yes I have the same problems as you in traffic. I avoid the freeway as much as possible since the injury.

I don't have a history of migraine.

Yes the feeling I've been getting from electronics is different from the way it was before. I felt sick almost everyday before, but I was able to go to work and work through the symptoms, even though it was uncomfortable. Now it's like severe motion sickness and some kind of physical and mental block, like my body won't allow me to do certain things because they're so uncomfortable.

Is your vertigo all from the head injury?

[Lara]

Hello roralea,

Yes, my vertigo is really the only remaining problem I have been left with since a head injury some years ago. It's just never left completely although up until this week (hit my head again and it's bad vertigo time again) it had gradually become much better but it changed my life totally regarding mobility and independence. I took medication for it years ago but I didn't like the side-effects and it didn't really seem to help that much.

I wonder if I may have some type of eye tracking problem as well that affects my balance but didn't ever have any visual or vestibular therapy unfortunately. When all this first happened I was a busy single mum with 2 teens and with one of them needing fulltime care and supervision my priorities were in a different place.

There are lots of older posts in the stickies and on the forums regarding visual therapy and vestibular therapy and most of the members here know more about these things than I do as I've not done the therapies.

Eowyn posted these ones for vision problems a while ago and there is a lot of information on the sites. You could also read some of her posts. They may be helpful.

http://www.braininjuries.org/
About Vision Problems Associated with Brain Injuries

https://nora.cc/
The Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association

someone else posted this one
http://vestibular.org/node/2
Causes of Dizziness, Vertigo, Disequilibrium

I also have migraines which tends to complicate the balance issue and that's why i asked whether you had migraine or not.

Here is some info regarding Vestibular Migraine from that last site above.
http://vestibular.org/migraine-associated-vertigo-mav

You may have done this already but if you're looking for particular information you could use the Forum Search Feature and just type in keywords e.g. vestibular or vision or vertigo etc.

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/search.php

In fact there is so much good and helpful information in past posts on this forum that I think it's quite astounding. The problem sometimes is sorting through it all, especially if you're having problems with screen time. I know!

[GJ1978]

Hi Roralea,

I would suggest getting your neck checked out. There's new research showing that sometimes when a head injury doesn't get better after a long while, it could be something off in your neck. Especially since you have neck pain. The University of Buffalo has been studying exercise for concussion recovery. And the ones that don't get better and pass the treadmill test, which is basically going to exhaustion without your symptoms increasing, had neck injuries.

[Bud]

Roralea,

We are N. Ca. neighbors.

Bud

[Lara]

I was looking for more info about what GJ1978 posted.

I found it interesting in that the treatments for neck injury are usually more active and physical and the treatment for concussions is more about rest and a slower return to physical activity and basically that some doctors don't look further than the concussion symptoms.

UB Researchers Find Overlaps Between Concussion, Neck Injury
University at Buffalo
Published August 26, 2014

Abstract Only - Brain or Strain - Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine
Brain or Strain? Symptoms Alone Do Not Distinguish Physiologic Concussion From Cervical/Vestibular Injury.
Leddy, John J. MD; Baker, John G. PhD; Merchant, Asim MD; Picano, John BS; Gaile, Daniel PhD; Matuszak, Jason MD; Willer, Barry PhD

[roralea]

HI Bud!

Thanks Lara and GJ1978. I had my neck checked out by a physical therapist a few months ago after some severe muscle spasms left me unable to move for 3 days. All I did to trigger it was bend over. He thought my neck was fine and that it was an isolated incident.

This was the only thing my GP suggested for me to do, and no one will acknowledge that the neck could be related to the concussion, or any of my symptoms, for that matter.

Do you have suggestions for who I should ask to see? I'm Kaiser Nor Cal.