Hey everyone. I was reading through some topics on here and it seemed like a good community, so I figured I'd post about my condition, since as a lot of you know it's hard to get support from most people about PCS.

Anyway, I'm Jon. 22 years old. Suffered a mild concussion slightly over 4 months ago, still experiencing symptoms. The injury was entirely my own fault (which is mostly the reason why I beat myself up over the whole thing), I drank too much one night and hit my head off of a table head-on.

I want to make it perfectly clear from the start that over the past 4 months, I have definitely seen improvements over where I was at the beginning of all of this. But lately I've felt that I've hit a wall (figuratively), where my symptoms have been pretty consistent, not seeming to get better or worse.

So the "critical period" of my injury was a giant failure on my part, but as we all know, hindsight is 20/20 on these kinds of things. The night it happened, I didn't even think anything of it when I hit my head since I didn't bleed or go unconscious or vomit. I just hit my head while drinking and then went home and slept. The next day I chalked up my headache to a simple hangover, and went on with my day, even going to the movies with a friend of mine. On the second day, I still had my headache and had foggy vision and a general feeling of disorientation, so I went to the ER and was diagnosed with a concussion. They gave me a week off from work, but didn't take me out of college classes since I was in my final semester.

I felt like I continuously made more mistakes throughout the initial period, like hanging out with people instead of resting (I figured this would reduce the temptation of doing too much screen-related stuff at home). Truthfully I just kind of had no idea what I was doing most of the time, with doctors and other sources of information giving me conflicting information on what I should be doing for it all.

So my symptoms persisted. During the initial phases, I was feeling foggy 24/7, but I also experienced headaches, fatigue, and dizziness pretty regularly. Often times it would get so bad that I had to leave class.

I should mention that after a few weeks, I decided to go into physical therapy, which I've been doing for the past 3 months or so. My therapist had determined my deficits were in the inner ear, so we did balance therapy to work my vestibular system back up. This is probably my greatest sign of improvement throughout this whole ordeal. My balance has greatly improved, and I've actually passed all of the tests in therapy. I'm doing about as well as I possibly can there. Yet my symptoms haven't gone away.

One other thing that is probably worth mentioning is that after about a month and a half, I started to feel some really intense pressure and fullness in my ears. I had to constantly try to pop them because it felt so bad. I went to my family doctor and he chalked it up to my allergies/sinuses, so he put me on stronger allergy medicines. That actually did help, but then those symptoms came back about a month ago and my sinuses were under control this time. I went back to my doctor, and he felt I had a Eustachian tube dysfunction. I went to an ENT after that, and she didn't seem to feel the same way, and instead removed some ear wax and insisted it would improve. While I don't feel the ear symptoms as regularly/intensely anymore, they do come back every now and then.

I'd say my symptoms were most intense in the first 2-2 1/2 months. Since then I have felt better. However, my symptoms have been different now since then. Like rather than feeling dizzy, I tend to feel light-headed, or rather than having foggy vision I tend to get blurry vision. A lot of people don't understand the differences when I talk about it, but hopefully you guys get it. I also have a sensitivity to different kinds of light. I don't get headaches as frequently anymore, but they do pop up every now and then.

The thing is, currently my symptoms have been moderate, which I'm thankful for. They're more an annoying aspect of my day than they are something that significantly hinders it like they did in the beginning. While some days are slightly better or worse than others, I find that every day I seem to be feeling the same range of symptoms, at relatively the same frequency and intensity. While I'm thankful that I haven't gotten worse, I'm frustrated that I've stopped showing any signs of improvement.

So the big question is: is it possible to hit a wall with PCS recovery like this? Can you get to a point where you just stop improving and have to deal with these kinds of symptoms daily?

I recognize that PCS is something that no one seems to have clear answers to since everyone is different, but any input is definitely appreciated.

Also, sorry if this post is kind of long. I wanted to include as much information as possible about my recovery, but if you have any other questions, just ask. Thank you!

Deuce,

Welcome to NeuroTalk.

You likely still have plenty of improvement to expect. It may just be much slower. You may be at your brain's limit of daily activity and need to just give your brain some more low stress time.

If you have passed all the vestibular tests, maybe it is time to give your brain a rest from the vestibular exercises. You might have been pushing that too much.

What are you doing daily to keep stress levels down ?
What are your days like ? Are you working ? What do you do and how many hours a day ?

You may be four months post injury but school meant you did not give your brain an optimum environment to recover. Now, you can take more control of your daily effort levels and hopefully see more improvements.

Are you staying away from alcohol and all intoxicants ?
Are you still taking allergy meds ? They may be tough on your brain.

Have you read the Vitamin's sticky at the top ?

Thanks Mark, that was definitely helpful.

I haven't really been giving myself brain rest for a while now. I was in the beginning, but eventually my physical therapist told me I could start getting back to life and trying things again because it wouldn't really make anything worse at this point. Heck, a neurologist I went to see told me the same thing after only four weeks (I think that was bad advice for that early into it). So while I don't do everything as high-stress as I used to, I haven't really been limiting too much stuff out of my life.

Hmm, I didn't even really think about stopping the exercises. I still do a few balance and vision exercises at therapy. Is doing any exercise recommended? I do cardio at the gym.

I feel like I haven't been actively trying to reduce any stress levels because it doesn't seem like anything I do makes my symptoms worse. They're either just there or not there, usually regardless of what I'm doing. I did go back to work a month and a half ago, I'm stocking shelves at the moment (recent college graduate here haha). They only started me back on 4 hour shifts, but now they said since I've been doing okay they're probably going to increase that to 6-8 hour shifts.

No arguments that school definitely didn't help my recovery. It would have been easier to withdraw from classes but at the same time I would have kicked myself if I withdrew so close to graduation. And it's like I said, things have definitely improved since I graduated. But now they've kind of hit that wall.

I've mostly stayed away from alcohol (I never take any other form of intoxicants). I didn't even touch any of it for a good 2-3 months after the injury, but then I got that advice from my physical therapist that I'm at the point where I can start trying those things again. So I did try to get drunk one night, and it made my symptoms a lot worse. Since then if I have any drinks it's only ever 1-3 at a time. I had one night where I felt buzzed, but that was the most I've drank since then. I'm generally staying away from it for the most part, although I occasionally indulge myself.

I do still take my allergy meds. I didn't know they negatively affected the brain honestly. Although I feel like if I go off of those, it'll cause other problems.

I didn't read the Vitamins sticky, I'll look at it. Although I have tried taking supplements and didn't find that they helped me much. At my initial ER visit the doctor recommended fish oil pills, and later on when I saw the neurologist she laughed at that, saying they don't really help at all. So I stopped taking them and started taking Vitamin D, although I didn't find much success with that so I stopped that as well. Maybe it might be time to try something again.

Supplements are not a quick fix. They allow the brain to heal. They do not cause healing. It can takes weeks of consistent use to start to see a difference. Fish oil does help. The claim it does not has been discounted soundly. No single vitamin will do the job. You need to support the brain with a broader regimen.

Alcohol is a toxin to the brain. A single serving is the limit based on those experts who allow any alcohol. They justify it based on the stress reducing value vs the toxic value. No getting buzzed.

Strengthening your immune system with vitamin supplementation can reduce your allergic issues. I lived with allergies that could shut me down. After a few years of a strong regimen, my allergies are very minor, not enough to need allergy meds. This year was my worst but only while I was mowing the lawn. 20 minutes later, I was fine. We have some severe allergy conditions here in Idaho.

You have to make a choice. You can maintain your stress levels and hopefully slowly improve or you can try to reduce your cognitive activity and stress levels and see if it helps you recover further.

For many, those annoying but not critical symptoms will go away faster if one stops fretting and focusing on them. Accept them as your current condition and work within those limitations and you will have the best chance at further improvement.

Deuce,
I'm at my 4 month post concussion this week and I too feel like I am at a standstill. I'm not getting better and I'm not getting worse. Very frustrating.
From what my physical therapist has told me and from what I've read, light cardio is actually good for you. If you feel dizzy or any pressure, of course, stop but I do @ 20-30 min easy cardio and I think it oxygenates the brain.
That of course is nothing like the workouts I was used to pre-concussion but at least it's something.
I agree with Mark, reducing stress is very important and as far as alcohol, I agree, it's a toxin and I would say not even one drink until fully recovered.
Good luck!

Thanks, both of you.

I decided I'll start trying to take supplements again. I raided my cupboards and I only have fish oil, C, and D3. But it's a start.

Well, I haven't been drinking alcohol often, but all right I'll continue to not drink as much as possible.

Also, it's not that I don't believe you on the claims about supplements or alcohol, but do you have any links on the subjects? My own research into it never gave me any concrete results, which is why I ask.

I live in PA, where allergy conditions are also pretty bad. This year in particular has been one of the worse ones.

How do you reduce stress levels though? I feel like stress is one of those things that I don't voluntarily control over, it's just a result of stressful things that I have to deal with throughout my days. I know limiting cognitive levels involves reducing screen time and things of that nature though. I'll try to find a good balance with everything.

Also, I feel like I've heard the advice of "don't fret or focus on your symptoms" but that's one of those things that's easier said than done. Any advice on that would be helpful too.

And yes, kdog, we're definitely in the same boat then. I guess I'd just like some sign of improvement soon. I do light cardio while I'm at therapy as well though. Usually like 20 minutes on the treadmill and 20 on the elliptical, 3 days a week. It is supposed to help.

At a minimum, you should add B-12, a B-50 Complex and magnesium to you vitamins. But, if you don't believe us, I don't know what to tell you.

40 minutes of cardio is not light cardio unless the equipment is set for very slow. I doubt it. But, if it does not cause headaches or an increase of other symptoms, it should be OK.

What do you do throughout your day ? What kind of living environment ? What kind of sound and visual stimulation is a normal part of your day ?

I wonder if your physical therapist really knows much about concussions. Getting good blood flow is good but what else is she saying your should do ?

The issue is peak levels of activity/stress. Limiting those peak levels should be helpful.

Just as peak levels of alcohol are also a problem. You'll just have to believe us. I am not interested in digging up the research. The brain injury specialist at our rehab clinic says NO alcohol. Others say a single serving is OK if it helps lower stress levels. As I said, they consider it a trade-off.

"Well, I haven't been drinking alcohol often, but all right I'll continue to not drink as much as possible."
Isn't drinking a choice ? It is possible to not drink at all. If peer/social pressure is a problem, then you have a different issue to deal with.

Deuce, stress is a part of life, concussed or not. Of course, reduce as many stressors as you can, but the stress that comes with every day activities is something you may not be able to control. When you feel it coming on, go off by yourself and do some slow, deep breathing exercises. This has been shown to reduce stress levels.
If you need to tell your boss, you need a minute, then do it.
As far as alcohol, they call it a "depressant" because it depresses the central nervous system and inhibits it's function. In doing so, both physical and psychological activities are impaired and reduce brain activity and awareness.
It blocks messages from the nerve receptors to the brain. My opinion, I don't need anything that messes my brain up any more than it already is! Ha!

Thanks for the tips on reducing stress. I tend to try to keep myself pushing through everything all the time, especially when I'm at work. I don't know if it's pride or what, but I don't wind up taking a minute even when I need it sometimes. That gives me something to keep in mind throughout my day, thanks!

Deuce,

Now it is understandable as to why you are stuck in your recovery. Pushing through is counter to finishing your recovery. Every time to find a need to push through, that is a sign you need to do just the opposite. A short break or a change of task can make a big difference.

I used to be that Type A pusher. It made for quite a roller coaster ride. problem was, others around me were being dragged onto the ride against their will.

I hope you can find ways to slow down and find a cadence in your day that does not require the pushing.

My best to you.