Apologies for another thread. I'm just so nervous and frustrated

My ability to exercise, which I've been working on at PT, has been dramatically reduced. I felt decent today after a chiropractic adjustment, but Walking 10-15 minutes dramaticlwly increased my symptoms and now I feel horrid. Symptoms ramped up badly. Just a week or two ago I would have been able to do this just fine.

I was beginning to have times where I could tolerate a little bit of socialization, but now within minutes of being with friends I start to feel horrid again.

I'm now sensitive to bumpy roads and head jostles. I wasn't before.

I get headaches much more frequently, which haven't been one of my biggest issue up to this point.

Can't handle more than 5 or so minutes of TV. Used to be able to go 20-30 minutes a month ago.

And (although this isn't new), my inability to speak eloquently is drive me crazy. I used to get complimented on my confident and concise public speaking. I can't believe I've lost that. I want it back so badly.

Is this normal to suddenly have worseneing symptoms? Maybe I hit my head on the headboard/wall in my sleep or something? Sometimes I hit my head in my dreams. Could this be based in reality? I just can't figure out why I'm feeling so much worse lately other than possibly having hit my head again. and that thought scares me to no end. God, I can't afford another concussion

I'm so upset

Stop tracking or measuring your symptoms.
A single chiro adjustment will not make a difference unless you have a locked up back. The idea that you tracked how you felt after a chiro adjustment suggests you are too focused on tracking symptoms.

When you say 'socialize with friends,' what does that mean ? Going to a club ? Large groups with lots of voices ? Noisy environments ? Have you tried wearing foam ear plugs in environments with lots of voices ? You can still hear nearby voices with them.

What do you mean by exercise ? Are you doing cardio with a targeted heart rate ?

Can you watch a Crackle (free) or Netflix or Hulu or YouTube program on a computer with ear buds ?

Are there some types of TV programs that you tolerate better than others ?

My concern is that you have over-sensitized yourself to the slightest appearance of a symptom. Once you notice it, anxiety kicks in and magnifies it 10 fold. Many of us live with PCS symptoms at a 2 or 3 level. If we let them frustrate us, that frustration anxiety will quickly push those symptoms to an 8 or 9 intensity.

By socializing with friends, I mean anything from sitting around a quiet room with a few friends or going to restaraunt. Can't handle any of it.

Can't really handle computers too well. I seem to tolerate the smart phone better than my lap top. Maybe because I don't have to move my eyes as much

As for TV, early on in the recovery I could handle football games somewhat decently. But just the other day I couldn't even tolerate watching the Masters (probably as low stimulation tv as you can get) for more than a few minutes. That's part of when my fear of a new unrealized injury really began to increase. I know it's probably irrational but I just don't understand it

As for exercise, Im just attempting to walk down the street and back. The goal is to get to 20. I still have yet to get there though.

Finally, yeah I believe the anxiety is a big part of it. I just have a really really hard time eliminating it. Hopefully once I get medication I can see a difference here



Also, if what you say about chiro results not being possible in one visit, then perhaps my issues are more neck/crrvical than brain? That would be nice. Maybe I'm just grasping at straws.


As always, thank you. From the bottom of my heart

You don't have an unrealized injury. First, you need to get that out of your head.

Have you been assessed by a behavioral optometrist ? NORA has a referral system. Health Care Locator Custom

Do you have different resolution TVs to experiment with ? I had a problem with hi def TVs early on. I did much better with the old tube TVs. HiDef has 2 to 8 times as many pixels for the brain to process and much more brightness. http://removeandreplace.com/wp-conte...1080-4K-8K.jpg

"As for exercise, Im just attempting to walk down the street and back. The goal is to get to 20. I still have yet to get there though."
Get to 20 what ?

"By socializing with friends, I mean anything from sitting around a quiet room with a few friends or going to restaurant. " I can understand the restaurant but quiet time with friends should not be an issue. It sure sounds like something else is at play, like anxiety.

What medication are you looking forward to ?

I can't do the quiet room with my friends because of my speaking. Conversation is very difficult. My brain becomes fatigued and overloaded.

Interesting point on the TVs. Only have HDs in the house but maybe I can turn down the resolution?

Apologies for not clarifying on the 20. 20 minutes is the current goal. I want to do 20 minutes every day but I can barely do half of that, and still feel a symptom increase

Looking forward to getting an SSRI. I have an appt with my psychiatrist next week. I was debating whether I wanted to get it up till now, and was putting off that appointment. Now I'm ready.

Hey Nick, sorry to hear about all of your symptoms brother, you and I have very similar cases and we seem to be near the same age (I'm 20). Got a skull fracture/TBI (no coma) when I was 13, seemed like I fully recovered In a couple months. Then in December 2015 I got completely knocked out on the asphalt by a few guys and pounded for a good amount of time after I was out cold (woke up in ER next morning barely recognizable) . What worries me now is what seems to be an increasing sensitivity to movement. I have to monitor how my feet touch the ground, can't move my head to fast or I will DEFINITELY feel it, cars bumps are jarring, but with my 220lb frame it seems like my feet touching the ground gives my head the biggest jolt. I am trying everything and will absolutely not give up, if I keep going on this way it won't be much of a life at all. Just paid for 40 visits at a hyperbaric place near my house (I'll keep u
Posted) on that, I am doing extensive research on the stem cells (hopefully that will help with the over sensitive head, luckily parents will pay for treatment) . I am trying to get a lot of rest, head movement excrsizes, powerful DHA fish oil, magnesium, d3, lots of fresh Turmeric and curcumin supplements, literally devoting my life to trying to heal. I think we should keep in touch we can use the support of each other. I think it's pretty rare two guys who aren't even old enough to drink yet can't even move their head swiftly without getting jarred, sad stuff but I feel like not giving up is the key. Can't wait to hear back from you man, God bless

Sincerely, Trevor

Trevor,

Welcome to NeuroTalk. It is rare that people on the PCS forum read the New Members' posts so I'm reposting your New Members' post so others can see it.

"Hey guys, this is my first post on the forum just joined today. I guess ill jump right into it, in 8th grade when i was 13 I got a skull fracture/TBI (no coma) was in the hospital for about 5 days. Was rough for the few months after but eventually I returned to what I thought was normal.

Didn't have any problems with my head until I got my last concussion in December 2015 (I was 19 at the time), got jumped in Long Beach, knocked out cold, and was kicked in the head and bludgeoned on the asphalt for about 10 minutes afterwards. I was devastated when I woke up in the ER at 4 am the next morning, I knew my life was changed forever. For the next year after that i tried to really take it easy, and i noticed that whenever I moved my head even slightly fast I would feel like I could literally feel my brain moving around in my head.

I've hit some bad luck recently, fell down a couple of times in last few months and had a candle stick fall on my head. At this point I am living in a state of chronic stress and fear, it feels like the sensitivity to movement has gotten worse, whenever i hit a bump in the car my ears will turn red, eyes bloodshot, vision blurred and get a feeling like i just got jarred, I literally have to walk so slow and with padded cushions in my shoes because I literally feel the impact in my head if I take a full weight step, and it is super noticeable if I am barefoot.

Every time i move my head i seem to feel it, and it is not a good feeling. I am so worried about getting CTE and am literally doing everything I can do to prevent it (fish oil, magnesium, vitamin d3, lots of sleep). Do any of you have sensitivity to movement like me? would love to talk to some of you, thank you.
Sincerely, Trevor "

Have you considered that you may have a vestibular injury or a cervical injury that has not been addressed ? It is quite common for these issues to be overlooked in injuries like yours. Cervical injuries can cause changes in blood flow when the head is turned or otherwise moved.

You should add B-12 and folate to your regimen. Check out the Vitamins sticky at the top. Curcumin is good but turmeric is not helpful unless you consume large amounts. Only a small percentage of turmeric is curcumin and very little curcumin is absorbed with it being extracted and combined with pepperine or a similar addition. Curcumin extract with pepper extract (pepperine) is the most absorbable.

Excessive sleep is counter to healing. The brain needs to be active and only sleep at normal times but quality of sleep is important. If you feel sleepy during the day, it is often a sign of poor quality sleep.

btw, Trevor and Nick, If you use the Post Reply button at the bottom left, it does not quote the previous post and makes it easier to scroll.

Thank you Mark, you have so much knowledge in PCS and reading you replies in other threads has helped me out a lot. I don't sleep during the day but I try to get a full 8 hours when I go to bed. I definitely think your right about the cervical or vestibular injury, actually on some powerful antibiotics right now (augmentin) for a double ear infection, after I'm finished with those I will definitely get my neck/spine checked out. I think my neck probably has to do a lot with my symptoms, seems pretty stiff and is always making little crackling noises. I also worry that because my brain has been rattled inside my skull so much that there could be damage to the protective tissue between my skull and brain ( I think it's called meninges) which would explain why any inertia causes me to feel something moving around in my head. Thank you for all the wisdom Mark, greatly appreciated
Sincerely, Trevor

Trevor, Don't try to over diagnose yourself or make complicated assumptions. It usually leads to anxiety. The simple fact is your brain took quite a beating. The sense of your brain moving is more likely a vestibular issue.

The subtle neck injuries common to PCS rarely show up on imaging, unless the x-rays are taken by an upper cervical chiro. A PT can sometimes help with gentle traction and mobilization. Then, good sleep posture and being a bit protective with day to day activities, no extreme head/neck angles, and such for an extended period can help things settle down. Some do neck strengthening exercises. Avoiding range of motion exercises early in the process is good for some.

Nick,

If you can't do 20 then don't do 20...do what you can and nothing more until you can comfortably do more. It took me 2 years to be able to return to similar exercise levels prior to. My accident.

In regards to friends and social settings. Stop comparing yourself to your past...it will only serve to tear you down. I was a very social person before my accident, not as much now. I sort of came to the realization I talked to much and to readily and learning to be quiet and listen has turned out to be a pretty decent change.

There are a million different ways to communicate you are present and attentive while in a group besides speech, be open to learn different ways of communicating...I certainly had to.

I found using my past as a goal rather than a comparison was much more productive. It allows you the freedom to rebuild without needing instant achievement. Remember, no one adds 100 lb. to their bench press overnight.

I too experience unexplained setbacks after 3 years now so it isn't uncommon. They are further in between now and they don't incapacitate me but do require some courage and creativity and then they pass. Pay attention without obsessing and you will find workarounds to such incidents.

Trevor,

Welcome and sorry you are part of the club so to speak!

As Mark says don't over diagnose, it is very counterproductive. I hope you saw my line up above to Nick..learn to pay attention to symptoms, causes, patterns etc. without obsession. It is a very important line to learn.

Obsession kills motivation, it destroys our hope to improve and leads to constantly searching for what doesn't exist. Proper objective observation helps us to make the gains we desire when they are finally possible and how big a step to take, it exercises our minds creative and analytical abilities.

Take Care,

Bud