Hey, my names Matthew and I just want to explain my story briefly.

I use to be involved with a lot of sports: football, soccer, hockey, boxing. I'd always get hit in the head with no problem at all but on April 8th 2014, I got a knee to the head in a hockey game and I could literally feel my brain shake in my head. I had a persisting headache, sensitivity to light and noise, I couldn't shake my head and I just wouldn't feel right. I was diagnosed with a mild concussion and I was out of school for 6 weeks and my overall academic average dropped 7%. My symptoms weren't as bad as some of the other people on this forum but it was still a pain.

By the beginning of May I felt perfectly fine, got back into soccer but then I header'd the ball in soccer and all my symptoms came back but only for about 10 days and then I was fine. Ever since then, whenever I get blows to the head that wouldn't have normally affected me before April 2014 (friendly slaps to the head, bumping my head on a cabinet, light elbows to the head in basketball just to name a couple...) I feel the concussion symptoms I previously had for roughly a week and a half. I'm 3 months away from graduating high school, I've already been accepted to university but I can't live the life I use to and I feel like a shell of my former self. I can't engage in the sports that I use to love playing, I can't even focus on bodybuilding or overall fitness because I can't go a month without getting in the head so I can't make consistent gains.

Why I'm here is because it's been 11 months and I've seen numerous doctors (Pediatricians, Physicians, Sports Medicine Specialists) but all they recommended to me was to rest up and avoid getting in the head. Obviously that is helpful but I've read numerous stories here with people with similar situations to me. How can I reduce this hyper-sensitivity to my head so I can live the life I use to be able to?

Matthew,

Welcome to NeuroTalk.

It sounds like your brain has taken quite a beating. You have been given poor counsel by your coach and trainer. Returning to play soccer so soon after a concussion was not wise. If you ever return to play soccer, you should never again head the ball. You need to carefully consider your long term future as you evaluate the risks of contact sports.

When I say long term future, I mean your ability to continue to live a normal life past your 40's. The cumulative traumas to the brain can seriously effect how you brain can function later in life, especially as one approaches middle age.

Some doctors believe that the brain has a trauma threshold. It is different for each individual. You likely have hit that threshold and you brain is now sensitive to minor impacts. You may improve but there is no way to know nor any way to help your brain regain tolerance for impacts or quick movements.

You are likely to hear many people comment about needing to find new activities to full you life. They are dead on.

You can help your brain with Omega 3 fish oil and vitamins and other supplements. They are not a quick fix but they do help. Check out the sticky at the top called Vitamins and Supplements. At the bottom of the first post is a link to the updated information at Post #101.

And, rest your brain or things will likely only get worse.

My best to you.

Well I'm pretty sure it is possible for me to get better considering what this guy had to say but I'm out of sports and I'm just trying my best to get rest. I was wondering if there was anything outside of Fish Oil, vitamens and Paleo diets that could help.

Yes, you can hopefully reduce this hypersensitivity. It is very questionable as to whether one can regain one's previous tolerance fully. For many of us, reducing the hyper sensitivity so we can ride in the car over a bump or make a modestly quick movement is the best we can achieve.

Learning new body movements to reduce the frequency of bumping into things is important for many of us. Slower movements can be a big help at avoiding head bumps. But, life happens. Bumps happen.

My best to you.