1. Why does only a minority of concussion sufferers develop PCS? Most people that suffer a concussion report symptoms for only a few days - why do some people develop PCS?

2. From the portion of the concussion sufferers that develop PCS, why do some people take weeks to recover, other take months or years, while others have PCS for decades? Why is the recovery rate so different among PCS sufferers?

3. Does young age improve PCS outcome (better healing rate and extent)?

4. Can supplements help the brain physically recover, or they are like wearing glasses? I mean, can supplements aid in the recovery process, or they just temporarily mask your symptoms while you take them?

5. Some people here report having symptoms for 20+ years. That sounds like a very long time to have PCS. How come symptoms can persist for such long periods of time?

6. Is neuron loss the primary cause for PCS symptoms, or is it the loss of connections between neurons that is more problematic? Can certain supplements help rebuild connections between neurons, therefore increasing the brain's recovery capacity?

Thanks,
-ProAgonist

1. 2. and 3. Nobody knows.

4. The proper supplements can help the brain repair the myelin sheath that surrounds nerve fibers. It also help restore and maintain the blood brain barrier. They can help the brain tolerate stress. They can help the brain metabolize properly.

5. Every concussion results in permanent brain injury. That may be only evident when a subsequent concussion is suffered resulting in more severe and prolonged symptoms and recovery time. Or, it may mean symptoms manifest during times of stress. For some of us, PCS may be prolonged from a single concussion. For others, we suffer Multiple Impact Syndrome meaning we have suffered a cumulative injury that causes persistent symptoms.

In my case, I have suffered symptoms since my severe concussion at 10 years old. I did not understand these issues until I learned more about PCS years later. I did not connect my struggles with depression and struggles with friendships until decades later.

6. Yes, to all. PCS can be due to a myriad of neurological injuries and dysfunctions. The right supplements can help, but slowly over time.

Supplements are not just a healing aid. These also help with day to day function. For many, we know that supplements are a lifetime commitment to allow us to be more functional. Without my supplement regimen, I tend to be moody and volatile.

But, these answers do not change anything. Focusing on the whys and wherefores just causes anxiety. Anxiety is a brain polluter and stressor.

Mark,

Thank you for your reply.

While I have personally accepted the fact that I have a brain injury and am no longer depressed about it, there are still a few things that I'd like to understand.

You said every concussion results in permanent brain injury. Getting a concussion is a very common thing - there are more than 15 million concussions in the US every year. Do all of these people have permanent brain damage? Getting hit in the head with a force sufficient to concuss is a common thing, so is permanent brain injury a common thing as well? I see people getting hit in the head all the time - do all of them have permanent brain injury that can be detected decades later in advanced brain scans, even if they feel fine a week after the hit?

Also, does neuron loss matter that much if symptoms fade? After all, does it really matter if someone has less neurons because of a concussion, but they don't feel any different than before the concussion?

And if supplements are a daily commitment, does it mean that taking supplements daily for 1-2 years and then just stopping is useless and doesn't cause any long-term beneficial changes?

You said that anxiety is an enemy to concussion recovery, and I find that true - when I put the PCS aside and ignored it (didn't think about the future after it), I started feeling better and my recovery was accelerated. But is it a good strategy? Or should I focus on my injury, remind myself I have it, and therefore limit my activities? In my experience, ignoring PCS and just carrying on with life as I did before was beneficial for my recovery, but I fear this is a bad strategy.

I have read that 15-20 percent of people who develop PCS are those people who have had a prior brain injury or are mentally depressed and very sensitive. That may also include mental conditions such as ADHD, OCD, severe anxiety and depression, sensitive nature and are very emotional and self conscious all the time. These are the people who most likely will develop PCS if their brains are injured.

I do have ADHD and OCD, and aside from OCD I just have high levels of anxiety (actually now I have much lower levels of anxiety after attending CBT treatments for 3 months).

That could explain why I have developed PCS.

I was certainly going through a depressing time when I acquired my injury, I'd hit my head twice before in my late teens but didn't develop PCS way back then, I think mine was the straw that broke the proverbial camels back! But, I do wonder if the state of my mind contributed.