Hello I'm new to this site and in England. A brief history of what brought me here. I've worked for over 30 years with children with severe learning and behavioural difficulties, a job I loved. Over the years I have had so many punches and head butts it's difficult to count. Usually an OUCH! A hug and a paracetamol was all I needed to mend my head.

However, 3 years ago a pupil threw a rock at my head and to cut a long story short I was diagnosed by a Consultant Neurologist with Post Concussion Syndrome. I returned to school on a phased return 5 months later. Unfortunately I was punched in the same right temple area by another pupil which made my symptoms much worse.
After a years abscence I was still too ill to return to work and was heart broken when I was dismissed on I'll health capabilities grounds.

I'm 60 years old and reluctantly beginning to enjoy my forced early retirement, doing things I never had time to do when I worked full time. I've also just become a Granny in training to the adorable Katie Woo Hoo!

Please take comfort if you are beginning this PCS journey that it does usually improve. I've learned to live with PCS and the most important lesson I've learned is not to fight my symptoms. I listen to my body and rest when I need to and on the days I feel I could climb a hill I only go up half way. The view is still incredible

The thing I would love some advice on is how to deal with the involuntary movement I have developed about a year ago. When I lay my head down to sleep and my brain begins to switch off I begin to have body jerks or in neurologist speak 'functional neurological movements' la de dah . Has anyone else experienced this?

Keep smiling. Life is a gift.

Granny Aggie X

Grannie Aggie,

Welcome to NeuroTalk.

I had jerk movements like yours early on. I also had ballistic movements. Any small movement became exaggerated. Just rolling over could result in my arm flying or my knee would jerk into my wife's thigh. At first, I took clonazepam but switched to gabapentin after a year or so. The gabapentin does the trick for me and has no noticeable side-effects. Originally, I needed 900 to 1200 mgs an hour before bed. I am down to 600 mgs now.

These jerks would happen most just as I was transitioning to sleep. The Exploding Head Syndrome events happen during the same transition. They could be related.

My best to you.

Thank you for your reply Mike.
I was taking clonazepam which didn't help I felt spaced out and still jerked. My GP then prescribed Sodium Valporate which made my jerks much more violent. I really hate taking any medication so I weaned myself off them to see how my body would react without any medication. I jerked even more! I returned to my GP and have just started to take Gabapentin Actavis 300 mg three times a day. Let's hope this is the magic wand I need to get a nights sleep.

Best wishes to you.

Granny Aggie x

Oops did I call you Mike instead of Mark? Sorry Sorry Sorry. Welcome to my world!

As I said, I only take it before sleep. It has an 5-7 hour half life which means it is active for a short period compared to many meds. If the 300 mgs 3 x a day does not work, a higher dose before bed may work better. If I forget my dose and take it later, I will not notice a benefit for 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Then, it kicks in good and my body/muscle tension releases so I can relax to sleep.

Thank you so much MARK for your advice.

I've read lots of your other posts and your knowledge which you share willingly with others is amazing. You're one of life's good guys.

Peace and love to you

Granny Aggie x

Thank you Mark for your advice.

I discussed my medication with my doc and she agreed it is trial and error finding what is right for me individually. I started to take 600mg of Gabapentin an hour before bedtime and there's a massive improvement in my jerks and I am sleeping so much better woo hoo! I still have the odd rough night when I've pushed myself too hard during the day but life feels so much better.

I've read lots of your other posts and your knowledge which you share willingly with others is amazing. You're one of life's good guys.

Peace and love to you

Granny Aggie x