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Traumatic Brain Injury and Post Concussion Syndrome For traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post concussion syndrome (PCS). |
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#11 | ||
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maybe it would be helpful to add dates and commentary to my list of symptoms so there is a time line of events.. not everything I am going threw is from getting hit in the head.. there is several issue...
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#12 | ||
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Legendary
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You have it right. There is a huge overlap between the emotional trauma caused symptoms and the physical trauma caused symptoms.
It is often better to report symptoms in an experiential way. "Doc, when I hear a loud bang, my whole body tenses up." "When I go to bed, I wake up every hour or so, sometimes feeling terror." "As I start to fall asleep, my head and sometimes my body jerks and wakes me up." "I have headaches and nothing seems to give me any relief" Be careful talking about pain as many doctors know people use pain to get opiate pain meds. btw, My doctor told me to take maximum dose aspirin (enteric so it does not irritate the stomach) and Tylenol. The combination works as good or better than codeine based meds without the groggy feeling. I have needed to take anti-inflammatory meds (OTC) twice a day for 30 years. There are a number of things that you need to try to do for yourself because the doctors are usually helpless in these areas. The first is learning good sleep hygiene. This starts with getting up at the same time every day, even if you feel groggy. Wake up time sets the rest of your sleep system in motion. Simplifying your activities and thoughts a few hours before bed helps you mind settle down. No stressful TV or movies or loud music. There are some non-sleep meds and supplements that can be helpful. Magnesium citrate is good an hour before bed. I take a prescribed med, 600 mgs gabapentin, because my body and muscles want to be 'at the ready.' Some find 100 mgs of 5-HTP helps. (Do not take 5-HTP if you are taking an SSRI or SNRI med) I do well having a slice of cheese on crackers or a banana with peanut butter before bed. If you can find a sleep hygiene that you can stick with and works, you will be shocked at how it improves your day. The brain needs REM and slow wave sleep to heal and get ready for the next day. Without the quality sleep that allows REM and slow wave sleep, the brain get clogged with toxins. Sleep posture is also very important. The subtle neck injuries common to head injuries and physical abuse can get easily inflamed from poor sleeping posture. Find a way to sleep with your head and neck straight, not tipped forward. A recliner/easy chair is my best place to sleep when I am struggling to get comfortable in bed with good posture. I have a lot more suggestions for the future. I've been dealing with PCS for 50 years and PTSD for 17 with a lot of emotion stress the past few years.
__________________
Mark in Idaho "Be still and know that I am God" Psalm 46:10 |
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#13 | ||
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Junior Member
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I do not take pain meds because they end up giving me liver and kidney issues.. I take only Trazodone for sleep and I go to bed every night at 8 pm and I have night mares that I am awake rolling over in bed hurting my neck.. Its odd... I wake up so many times in the night and always up for the day around 4am seems like enough hours of sleep but always interrupted..
I appreciate your advise... I have had insomnia since i was a child with restless leg. I do know sleep is crucial to my recovery... Thank you |
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#14 | |||
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Co-Administrator
Community Support Team
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restless leg - You can try some magnesium gel or lotion to rub on your legs it works great for many.
__________________
Search the NeuroTalk forums - . |
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#15 | ||
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Legendary
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The gabapentin I take has also appeared to resolve a long history of restless leg syndrome. The trazadone can cause some of your symptoms in some people.
Has your doctor tried any other meds for you ? As Jo*Mar said, magnesium can help with the legs and with sleep. I had to work hard to find a mattress, pajamas, blankets and pillow combination so I could get comfortable and sleep without needing to change positions. I need a weighted blanket. Many find them helpful.
__________________
Mark in Idaho "Be still and know that I am God" Psalm 46:10 |
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#16 | ||
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Member
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I've taken Trazodone for sleep and it was really weird. It dropped my heart rate to the point where I was afraid of falling asleep since I couldn't feel my heart beating.
Also, after about 3 weeks it started to really mess with my stomach so I gradually came off of it.
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12/02/2012 - Light concussion at boxing practice. Ended up having PCS for about 3 months. March 2013 - Thought that since most of my symptoms resolved I could start having fun again. Went snowmobiling once (didn't hit my head) and concussion symptoms returned and got even worse than before. June 2013 - accidentally bumped my head against a deck railing, and had a month-long setback. November 2013 - drove to work after a big snowstorm and the roads were very rough, ended up having another setback. 2014 - Having setbacks after coughing/sneezing too much, or someone slapping me on the back, or any other significant jarring. Feb 2014 - Started seeing Atlas Orthogonal chiro - most helpful doc so far. June 2014 - Two months of physical/visual therapy - no noticeable improvement. September 2014 - Diagnosed with Perilymph Fistula in right ear. November 2014 - Fistula surgery (switched to left ear before the surgery after additional testing). January 2016 - Quit work to "work" on figuring out PCS, so far it seems that eyes/vision issues are the most contributing factor, especially computer work. Current symptoms are: inconsistent sleep patterns, headaches, vertigo/dizziness, anxiety/panic attacks, mental fog/problems with concentration, problems with computer screens. |
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