[Halfnelson]

Hi all,

This is my first meaningful post in about two years. It's been approx. 5 years since my concussion and unfortunately my symptoms remain. Symptoms are language difficulties, strange tingling/pressure feeling in head, some light and noise sensitivity, and general slowed thinking. I'm certain there are plenty of you out there with similar cases.

I suppose I just wanted to check-in and see if there have been any advances in medicine for PCS (unlikely!) in my absence that I should be aware of? Any new treatments? Guess it's too much to ask for a miracle cure.

I've tried plenty of anti-depressants (SSRIs & NRIs) but they did not help me cognitively.

I've had a look over my posts which started in 2012 and it's upsetting to see how my life has hit a stand-still since my concussion. I thought that avoiding this forum might help me move forward and, whilst it was a little relieving to pretend nothing was wrong for a while, things haven't got better and here I am again. I just can't escape this.

All the best to everyone.

Halfnelson

[Mark in Idaho]

There have never been any reports of SSRI/SNRI's helping with cognition. Amantadine has helped on rare occasions. ADD/ADHD meds help some but their use is controversial.

Some people just have to learn to live with persistent PCS. I've lived with it for 50 years at increasing levels after additional bumps and aging.

I don't know if you were around for the update on sleep and PCS. Last Feb, a neurotrauma sleep specialist spoke at our TBI Support group. She said that amount of sleep does not matter as much as getting full cycle sleep. REM sleep is where the brain repairs (neurogenesis) but slow wave sleep is most important as it is when the brain flushes toxins.

I need to be able to get in bed without any thoughts from the day.

For me, getting my sleep figured out did the most at minimizing my symptoms.

A sleep study may help you figure out if you are getting full cycle (all of the stages) sleep.