[Claired]

Hello,

**
I developed POTS two and a half years ago. I got a concussion last fall (2014), and another early last winter (2014). I had six months of headaches and other symptoms.
I have since (for over five months) been headache free until last week, when someone headbutted me giving me a hug rather hard. I didn't expect any problems from it, but to my dismay my headaches have returned! I cannot read or use the computer without them, and my exhaustion is back, too.

I have three questions to ask of you intelligent, experienced people:
1. Why have my headaches returned when this didn't seem like a concussion?
2. Is this normal? Shouldn't I be healed by now from my concussions? Should I be doing what my doctors love to do and "blame it all on POTS," when I know from experience that these are PCS-like headaches?
3. How can I go to school/work like this? Will small blows always bring back headaches and tiredness for me, or will this sensitivity eventually go away and I will be "normal" again? ( I put normal in quotes because it's hard to be normal when you have POTS.)

THank you!

[Mark in Idaho]

Claired,

Sorry to hear of your headaches. For some of us, headaches can be brought on by much less than a concussive force. Sometimes, it is our reaction to the mild bump that causes the headache. Maybe some muscle tension in the neck. POTS does suggest you could have other autonomic dysfunctions that could contribute to headaches.

In my experience, I don't spend too much time trying to explain the headache. I just try to relax, maybe ice the area of my head ( a hit and miss treatment) and take some ibuprofen.

[Claired]

Is this something that remains constant or will it eventually go away? How can I plan for future? Should I keep taking college courses?

How do people manage going to school/work with PCS? Does anyone have any suggestions?

[Mark in Idaho]

Plenty of people live a successful life with migraines that make PCS headaches look like a minor inconvenience. In time, this head ache will pass too.

I write many of my posts with a headache. Very rarely do I let them stop me. I once had a six month head ache. Actually, this happened twice but I needed to keep working.