Hi all, new here

I notice someone else has posted a very similar story up very recently....

I recently moved to a new city in the UK for a new job, so quite a demanding time, but things were going ok. I had recenty started training in thai boxing again at a local gym, I hadn't sparred in a while and I definitely took a number of punches with different opponents. I can't remember how many punches I took to the head - more than 10, but no knockouts or seeing stars. I just remember feeling empty and subdued after the session - without sounding melodramatic, it felt like part of me had been killed off that night. Most of the punches that landed where on my forehead - frontal lobe region, needless to say, I've stopped training in Thai boxing.

I would normally consider myself quite intelligent, a fast thinker/problem solver, talkative, witty and for the last few weeks following that brutal sparring session I've been plagued by poor memory, confusion, attention difficulties, loss of social spontaneity, loss of confidence, lower of libido, emotional numbness... it feels like part of my brain is now missing.

I've tried to stay positive and although there has been progress, I'm concerned about whether I'm stuck this way. I've been taking amino acids like l tyrosine, DLPA to boost dopamine, Vit B complex, Omega 3, BCAA's, lecithin for choline. I also took full week off work, 2 weeks away from the gym and i'm now working half days

I feel like I've gone from a man who is very capable in handling himself, motivated, sociable and successful in my job to feeling angry, scared, vulnerable,withdrawn person with lack of motivation.

I suspect some of this is due to my hormones now being out of kilter as well. I had my testosterone levels checked the other week - they came back 'normal' for my age but am not convinced, as beard/hair growth has slowed, libido has suffered and also weight training in the gym is now more difficult too.

Ady,

Welcome to NeuroTalk.

It sure sounds like you traumatized your brain.

Rather than getting hormones tested, how about your B-12, folate, mag, D-3 and such. They appear to be missing from your regimen. DHEA is also a hormone worth checking. Your B-Complex is likely weak and may border on just better than worthless. What B-Complex are you taking?

I always struggle to understand why someone would engage in an activity where the primary goal is to inflict brain damage on the other person. Just because you do not 'see stars' does not mean your brain is not being damaged.

Hi Mark,

Firstly, thank you for your response, I appreciate you have a wealth of experience and knowledge around PCS...

It definitely feels like my brain has been traumatised in a way unknown to me before. I know what you mean about boxing etc, its only now looking back that I realise how risky full contact fighting sports are and suddenly, after a very long road, they are now off my list forever.


The B Complex you asked about is 'Busy B' from Holland & Barrett (UK) with B1, B2, B3, B5 & B6 all at 100mg, B12 (cyano) 500ug, Folic Acid 400ug, other useful ingredients are Choline Bitrate & Inositol - 50ug.

Funnily enough I bought D3 10ug today, along with Zinc 15mg and already have Natrol DHEA 25mg, I figure it is best to these in the AM to avoid sleep disruption, however, in your experience, when is the best time to take the DHEA?

I also have been trying various amino acids -

Lecithin for acetylcholine 3g/d
D-Aspartic Acid (Test booster & NDMA activator, but apparently potentially excitotoxic - so might have to go in the bin)
BCAA 3g/d (cited for brain repair)
L-Tyrosine (for dopamine synthesis) 1000mg/d and, or
D-LPA (ditto) 500mg/d

When I used to take L-Tyrosine or DLPA, they made me feel too amped/give me insomnia, now after the injury, they help me focus, lift my mood and I believe actually help me sleep better. Conversely, I used to take L-Tryptophan (Ajinomto Tryptopure) and Valerian for sleep, but these now seem to make my brain fog worse the day after.

My guess is that where before I needed more serotonin/GABA to relax and less dopamine/norepinephrine & acetylcholine, things are now off balance the other way.

However, despite the above gains, I wonder if aminos which boost excitatory neurotransmitters are a good thing right now while my brain is in recovery and whether I should wait a while rather than trying to jump-start/overload it ??

Wow, your B-Complex has more than most. You could add some B-12 methyl. 1000-2500 mcgs

D-3 should be 2000 to 5000 iu's.

The DHEA may not be needed. A blood test would say.

Excitatory amino acids should be considered carefully.

Maybe you should back off and see how you do.

One of my friends, who is also a trainee psychologist, is heavily leaning (like a fallen tree) towards the opinion that these after effects may be more related to anxiety/depression (I've suffered from this once before, badly, it screwed up my mind - big time. I recovered, but it took a LOT of time and even more effort).

I was feeling a bit off / depressed the few weeks leading up to being repeatedly hit in the head. I dunno though, partly because of all the stories you hear about ex footballers/hockey players/boxers suffering from depression after head injuries and.... (I admit I've googled myself into paranoia)

along with my half brain functionality right now, other things I've noticed that I don't normally associate with anxiety/depression

- difficulty touch typing
- much slowed hair / beard growth / feeling weak in the gym / etc (suggests pituitary gland damage - or anxiety-driven paranoia)
- I occasionally catch the floor with the soles of my feet when walking, as if my gait has been slightly affected. I was unaware of this before - damage to brain? Again could be more paranoia

I am so confused right now...

partly because the very thing that I use to make sense of everything is the very thing that is currently not working as well as normal. I can't see the wood for the trees and I've no idea how far into the wood I actually am, how big the wood is or whether this wood stretches on for infinity.

Short term, work have today advised me to go back to half day working only, I am also now looking to avoid alcohol and intensive training sessions at the gym.

In the meantime, I will continue with the supplements, minus the dopamine/acetylcholine boosters (because they may now be fuelling my anxiety/paranoia) and fish oil (which repeats on me like a parrot on speed).

Ady,

My off the cuff opinion is a concussion that is brain stem oriented that is effecting motor control. There are specialists (Physiatrists, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and some neuros) who are good at observing a walking gait to see if there is evidence of a problem. Some physical therapists are also good at watching your gait.

Anxiety is usually a complicating part of PCS.

But then, you can also just be overly focused on things that pre-existed due to your anxiety.

It is not uncommon for PCS to cause little issues to be magnified such that they appear to be a new problem. Most are not.

The hair growth could be one of those issues. Stress and lack of good sleep can cause hair to grow slower.

So, try to back off from your micro self-diagnosing and just leave the diagnosis as PCS with anxiety complicating the matter. Try to reduce stress in your life, including time spent researching concussions. Such research is counterproductive for many.