[mminakow]

I finally got over a bout of PCS and neck issues causing headaches and vertigo after 9 months, but have noticed that the smallest bump causes regression back into concussion symptoms that usually last a week or so. I have had roughly 6-7 concussions in my life, but find it odd that even the smallest tap on the head causes this. Does anyone else have this issue? If so, what can be done? Do I need to wear a helmet to sleep or what?

[Mark in Idaho]

Plenty of us have such sensitivities.

Are these happening in bed ?

Sleeping with good neck posture can be important. It can be difficult to learn to sleep with a straight neck position but once learned, it can make a huge difference. What positions do you hold your head/neck when you sleep ? How much of pillow elevations ? On your side or back ?

[Mark in Idaho]

Here's a link of some different types of pillows for side sleepers. http://www.walmart.com/c/kp/side-sleeper-pillows

[Bud]

Mm,

I had a great deal Of trouble with bumps at the point where you are now. I would be knocked down for several days.

I am now at 17 months and doing much better. I had to take a 2 hour each way ride 2 weekends ago, first time that far since my injury. I could feel that pounding sensation start on the way home with each bump. It took 3 days for it to start to calm down. The good news is I didn't go as deep into a pcs funk as I have before.

I get around ok now if I am out for an hour on pavement. I still need to be careful around the farm roads I travel as they can be real rough.

Bud

[mminakow]

I should have phrased it slightly differently. I was ok for about 3 months following my log recovery period and was able to do full exercise but following that period I bumped my head on someone else's head very slightly and have had a regression back following 3 months of no problems. This is the 2nd time it's happened since my bad concussion and was wondering if the rest of my life will involve never hitting my head again in the slightest?

[Mark in Idaho]

Your timeline confuses me. Were you OK for three months after the head collision ?

With the number of concussions you have had, it is not uncommon to become sensitive to minor impacts. Some suggest that after each concussion, it takes less impact forces to cause the same or even more symptoms. But, after only three months of good recovery time, you were likely still in a mild recovery period. Did you experience any symptoms after your exercise periods ?

[mminakow]

Hi Mark, my last bad concussion was quite a mess. It happened at the end of August 2014. I recovered initially in about 3 weeks then regressed after the gym one day and had PCS symptoms until April 2015. Finally I was able to get past the PCS and neck issues in April/May 2015. I was OK at that point and was able to exercise at 90-95% until July when I bumped heads with someone slightly (Very slightly, other person didn't even have a headache). It took 2 weeks to get over that and get back to where I was able to exercise at 90-95% again. Just last week after ~2 months of being fine, I bumped heads slight again and have been dizzy/getting headaches again.

I understand that concussions become easier to get as you've had more but I feel like I am at the point where I even tap or brush my head on something and I have issues again. It feels like I'll never get past this...

[Mark in Idaho]

What activity are you doing when you bump heads ?

What kind of exercise do you do ?

[mminakow]

When I bump my head in usually just sleeping in bed and roll and hit my girlfriend by accident. Not very hard but enough to cause a headache and dizziness for a few days.

When back to normal, I usually can golf, bike, jog and even lift without issue.

[Mark in Idaho]

I don't think the bump is causing your headache and dizziness. The impact force from such a hit would be no more than the impact your head feels from stepping off a step or walking down stairs. But, these events can cause strong anxiety reactions. Anxiety reactions can cause symptoms that last a few days or even longer. A disruption to your sleep can also cause a similar reaction. Combine the two and you have a double whammy.

As an aside, I think you are pushing too hard by exercising at 90 to 95% so soon after strong concussion symptoms. A common standard is to slowly increase effort in 2 week steps if those two weeks are completely symptoms free. The recommendation is to not even start strenuous exercise until 6 weeks after a strongly symptomatic concussion.

Jogging and lifting need to be carefully considered. Lifting can cause neck straining that effects blood flow/pressure to the brain. Jogging can rough from the pounding action of a normal gait. Learning to run with a soft foot plant will help. Try jogging with foam ear plugs and you will notice home much your foot plant travels up you body. Then, you can modify your gait to soften the impact.

For many, symptoms can arise the day after exercise.