Hi. How long after a hard concussion can i activate and train my brain? Or is rest..

temporary · 09-09-2017, 10:13 PM

Hey. I complained much last time i wrote. Sounded negative that day. Was in a wierd mood.
Thanks for the answer.
Anyways. I might try and row in a while.
But no, i will not stop resting. I like it. But i agree i must also be active, sure.
It helps with stress for sure! Workout and endorphins.
I sure miss my endorphins after working out! The mental health gets way better also for me. And my back and all. I'm way younger then you, but sounds good that you work out like that. I love rowing machines! Good workout. I used to box on a bag, then row and lift weights... When going to the gym. I miss it.

Instant stress release after a hard workout and high on endorphins! Time slows down, and it's very calming.

About vestibular assessment i don't think i got a balance problem because i can ride a bicycle without feeling dizzy. I'm mostly slow in the head at the moment and get dizzy when walking and i walk slow... Need to stop from time to time.
But i will wait a couple of months and just see how it goes. I might be as good as new in 2 months, who knows.

Anyways. Thanks for the answer. I will just try and wait this one out...
But also try to enjoy life more even if i feel a bit limited now and low on energy.
Will try to row in a week or two perhaps.

I could get more energy.

But i must also learn meditation and mindfulness more and work with the beast in me. Even though working out is a good way to feel better. Will test it out in a while even if i have read that people dont recommend working out until all symptoms are gone. They recommend rest and sleep... But also to be active if the symptoms dont get worse. But the body and brain should adapt to easy working out.. Like rowing machine in a slow tempo the first time and then gradually go harder, faster the next time, etc.
Take care. Im listening to a good audio book atm. Peace out

Mark in Idaho · 09-09-2017, 11:11 PM

The experts do not recommend rest. They recommend normal sleep at normal times. The research studies show that rest after 48 hours is detrimental to recovery.

It was long thought that rest was always good until they did the research. I heard about the study from an expert who gave a presentation at our local neuro rehab hospital. She explained all the latest research about sleep and rest after head injury. The injured brain needs good blood flow to improve. Rest or even naps that are not full stage sleep just leave the brain clogged with toxins.

You appear to mix up many different concepts. Activity is good and important to the point below symptoms. Conditioning exercises to build cardiovascular or muscle condition is not recommended until all symptoms are recovered. The difference is intensity and whether you push to muscle break down. Muscle break down causes blood chemistry that is not conducive to the brain continuing to heal. Again, toxins in the blood.

But, sounds like you have your own ideas about recovery.

I don't row fast. I do 22 to 24 strokes per minute at a 200 meters per minute pace. It is refreshing and leaves my legs a bit wobbly for the first few steps. I get people who will sit down next to me and whip out 34 strokes per minute for 5 minutes. One guy can do 34 strokes per minute for 10 minutes. But, he is about 5'4" and built like a fire plug.

temporary · 09-10-2017, 12:33 AM

Alright, thanks. Good to know.

temporary · 09-13-2017, 01:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark in Idaho

The experts do not recommend rest. They recommend normal sleep at normal times. The research studies show that rest after 48 hours is detrimental to recovery.

It was long thought that rest was always good until they did the research. I heard about the study from an expert who gave a presentation at our local neuro rehab hospital. She explained all the latest research about sleep and rest after head injury. The injured brain needs good blood flow to improve. Rest or even naps that are not full stage sleep just leave the brain clogged with toxins.

You appear to mix up many different concepts. Activity is good and important to the point below symptoms. Conditioning exercises to build cardiovascular or muscle condition is not recommended until all symptoms are recovered. The difference is intensity and whether you push to muscle break down. Muscle break down causes blood chemistry that is not conducive to the brain continuing to heal. Again, toxins in the blood.

But, sounds like you have your own ideas about recovery.

I don't row fast. I do 22 to 24 strokes per minute at a 200 meters per minute pace. It is refreshing and leaves my legs a bit wobbly for the first few steps. I get people who will sit down next to me and whip out 34 strokes per minute for 5 minutes. One guy can do 34 strokes per minute for 10 minutes. But, he is about 5'4" and built like a fire plug.

Hi again Mark. I thought about the study you read or knew about. About rest and 48 hours and all you wrote about. ( detrimental to recovery after 48 hours made me skeptical, because i need proof in life..) I became curious and want to read the scientific study on what you wrote. Can you link it on here?
Or website, etc. But the study or research in pdf would be cool. I like science. But new to this with concussions, etc.
Thanks. Peace out

Mark in Idaho · 09-13-2017, 02:50 AM

I learned this from a neuro rehab sleep specialist when she presented at our local neuro rehab hospital. She had just attended a nation rehab and sleep conference and learned the latest.

Many studies show the first 24 to 48 hours are much different than after 48 hours. There are many therapies that work in those first 2 days that do not help after.

The key issue is good blood flow in the brain and good glymph drainage. Activity causes blood flow. Proper slow wave sleep causes glymph system drainage. Sleep that does not include REM and slow wave sleep has minimal value as it just lets toxins collect. Daytime sleep is shown to reduce the proper stages of sleep at night. Daytime sleep does not usually include the cycle of sleep stages. The stages are based on sleep within the circadian rhythm sleep pattern that happens at night.

Some of the information about brain function during different stages and types of sleep was not discovered until 2012-2013 when they were able to image the sleeping brain with the detail needed.

temporary · 09-13-2017, 08:48 AM

Alright. Thanks for the reply.
(I'm also changing my sleep pattern atm, so i will sleep at night instead like i usually do.

I like to sleep at night, but have been a night owl. But enough is enough, so i'm going to sleep during the night and try to stay a bit active in the days to come later on. Like going for walks during the day or try the gym easy the first time.
And the sleep quality is best at night also, i agree. I will just try to follow the day and night naturally as i want to do. Peace out)

Mark in Idaho · 09-13-2017, 11:31 AM

The issue with sleep quality has to do with the brain's sleep rhythm. The science shows you cannot change the brain's sleep rhythm whether you are a natural early bird or a night owl. It has nothing to do with how you feel. It is about how the brain behaves during sleep. They see a range of rhythm for early risers (4 to 6 am) to late risers (8 to 9 am). The wake up time governs the go to sleep time. The later risers should be sleeping by 12 midnight for proper brain sleep. It is based on how the brain recognizes the light of day.

temporary · 09-14-2017, 05:15 AM

Hi. Yes, i fully agree. I stayed up all night yesterday and all day and slept at night when it got dark. And i slept awesome. (Deep.) I needed to stay awake a while to manage the day and night, but i fell asleep/crashed when it went dark and woke up when it was bright today, and it feels so much better.
I usually sleep during the night and get up at the day, but i can sometimes oversleep and i use a sleeping mask also. Eventually i oversleep,(little longer each day.) but now i will have a good rhythm for a while. Anyways, i got a deeper quality of sleep, but will keep this rhythm forward on and it feels better.
I will try to just follow the sun and the moon.

Sleep when it's getting dark, wake up when it's light. Feels much better. (I could quit using a sleeping eye mask later on, and that helps to have the sleep more natural later on so i don't switch it over time.)
Take care. peace out

Mark in Idaho · 09-14-2017, 10:30 AM

I should have mentioned she taught us about the difference between feeling tired and feeling sleepy. Sleepy is a brain issue that controls the sleep rhythm. Tired is more of a physical or mental exhaustion. Increasing blood flow with activity can resolve tiredness. Daytime sleeping is usually in response to feeling tired but does not resolve a feeling of sleepy. Nightime sleeping is usually in response to being sleepy.

It sounds like your body is responding positively to you taking care of feeling sleepy.

brandnewconcussion · 09-14-2017, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by temporary

Hi mark. Thanks for your answer!
Yeah, well. I can skip alcohol then until i am back to normal. I don't like that drug even. But ocassionally i can drink beer...
Good to know. One beer will not have a negative impact on me, but i mostly wanted to know how dizzy i got and i got dizzy, but i did not push it.
Will stay away from it a while. I will not drink beer then to get buzzed, or drunk.
Good to know. I agree It's a poison. I don't get agressive towards people when drinking. I can normally put on hard rock instead. Or cry sometimes. It only happens when i drink sometimes.. Dont know why, but thats how it works on me. Or i get happy it all depends.
But i will listen and stay away from it until i feel normal when walking..

I get worried sometimes that.. "What if i would feel like this for life. I don't want that/this. Would be very hard/though to have these symptoms all of my life."
....
But that is in my head. I sure do hope it will go away eventually! I don't want headaches/dizzy walking/foggy, etc. I want to be clear headed again and feel like before that stupid skateboard accident. Hmm.
But i need patience. It might be good in a month and 10 days. 3 months total.

I can ride a bicycle and it feels alright when i have tried it. But as i wrote.. The walking bit annoys me sometimes. I also Kinda have a hard time accepting how i ****ed up like that in a skateboard pool.. Without an helmet that particular time! But i need to accept it. It was clumsy, but **** happens i guess. Wish i would not been that clumsy and i would enjoy life more right now.

Still love life, but this is no fun at all the situation...
Pardon, im rambling. But i need to accept how and that it happened, and i need to think more positive. Have more patience! And stop worrying this is permanent. That will not help, and i might be fully healed in time. Might just take a while. Meditation. Acceptence. Recovery. And i'm alive! Could have died also, so yeah. I should be more grateful.

Anyways! Thanks mark, and rowing machine sounds good! If exercise like that don't affect my recovery i could perhaps try it out. Rowing machine is quite tough though after a while.

Before this i would sometimes row nonstop for like 30-40 min and yeah, that is good.
But i would take it slow if i started now. Or i can do push ups at home maybe.. Good that you mentioned muscle tension in the neck. I need to get my computer in a better place soon. Doing yoga for neck tension sometimes...
I got back pain since 3 years ago now and have not fixed that yet. Tried gym last year, but i can manage the back pain. Yoga is the best for me. Doing yoga for that at home.. Sometimes.

And alright. If symptoms shows up after exercise like those headaches i can wake up with once a week after 8 hours sleeep.. After not doing much the day before i will avoid it. Sometimes have a headache where every heartbeat feels in the head or when i walk, but not every Day. Thankful It's not that often i wake up with those and the Day is rest..

But i could also just "practice" longer walks... Then the brain needs to adjust and It's just me walking.. Rest, sleep, walk a bit.. Rest sleep.. Walk a bit.. Then it should go away the dizzy feeling eventually. And i can get a vestibular assessment if this persists more then 3 months...
Anyways. Thanks for the answer. Keep it up! Rowing is good for the body. Peace

Edit. Here is an awesome yoga video if anyone has neck pain or back pain. Thought i could post it. It has helped me Anyways.
Yoga Stretches for Back Pain Relief, Sciatica, Neck Pain & Flexibility, Beginners Level Workout - YouTube

When I saw the optimism in your first post, saying that you might be as good as new after a moderately severe concussion I knew you were setting yourself up for disappointment. Unfortunately, you will never be as good as new.

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