Traumatic Brain Injury and Post Concussion Syndrome For traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post concussion syndrome (PCS).


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Old 12-03-2021, 03:51 PM #1
DrewDigital DrewDigital is offline
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Lightbulb Drew's Concussion Protocol - Rest, Reduce Inflammation, Gradual Return

Concussions and Post Concussion Syndrome are complex conditions that require a multi-pronged approach. As someone with a long history of concussions and Post-concussion Syndrome, I put together a strategy for dealing with concussions and PCS.

Treatment should focus on 4 goals: Rest, Reduce inflammation, Prevent inflammation, and then Gradually re-introduce activity.

1. Rest
  • First, Relax because anxiety can cause the brain to produce inflammatory compounds which can be a roadblock. You can't change the past, you can only change the future, so rest and relax.
  • The amount of rest you give the brain depends on the severity of your symptoms. So lower your activity to a level that you can tolerate comfortably with minimal pain. For most people that's just quiet time around the house but in severe cases that may mean bedrest. Once your condition stabilizes and begins to improve, then gradually increase your activity level while being careful to not overdo-it. Use the pain as a gauge of how much you can do so as to not induce excessive inflammation.
  • Ditch your smartphone and switch to a basic phone. Limit computer, TV, video game and tablet time to 1 hour per day. Electronic devices stream so much information at you so fast that it's a big chore for your brain to process it all.
  • Focus on getting more deep restorative sleep. Turn off electronic devices an hour before bedtime. Install incandescent lighting or use low color temperature light bulbs at night. Dim your computer screen with a blue light filter.
  • Take naps during the day and Avoid noisy environments.
  • Avoid driving. It takes a lot more mental cognition to scan the road and manipulate the controls than to sit in the passenger seat and watch.
  • Space out activities and appointments so you have a couple rest days in between to recover.

2. Reduce Inflammation
  • Inflammation is the cause of concussion symptoms. The inflammation after a head injury cascades and can spread and cause more inflammation. This inflammation has a damaging effect and can cause more symptoms than the initial force of impact so steps should be taken to minimize this secondary injury.
  • Take anti-inflammatory supplements such as fish oil Omega 3 and Curcumin. Look for an Omega 3 supplement that has a high proportion of DHA because that is the component that is beneficial for brain injuries.
  • Adopt an anti-inflammatory / ketogenic / sugar free / gluten free / organic diet to help keep the inflammation down. Don’t eat sugar or wheat because they cause inflammation, lack nutrition, and are acidic. Replace wheat with whole grains such as Quinoa flour, Almond flour, or Chickpea flour. Avoid processed foods with unsaturated fats such as Canola oil as they can cause oxidation which can be destructive. Cook with healthy saturated fats such as Coconut oil, Olive oil, or butter instead.
  • Also try colon cleansing and detoxification because poor gut health causes inflammation in the brain so you want to do everything you can to stop fueling the fire.

3. Prevent Inflammation
  • If your head hurts then stop what you're doing and rest. A little bit of aggravation is okay but a lot of aggravation is bad.
  • Take a double dose of curcumin and fish oil when you experience intense symptoms or after a bump to the head. They have a neuroprotective effect and will slow the cascade of inflammation.
  • Protect the head with a helmet or protective hat or bump cap if head bumps become a problem. Many people complain that minor head bumps bring back their symptoms or wipe out their progress. Keep in mind that each successive head bump is harder to recover from and the symptoms get worse, and if you get another concussion before the first one heals, that's very bad. If you've already had one or two setbacks from head bumps then you should consider head protection because the longer your PCS drags on, the higher the risk of another head bump. And if that happens then you will sink deeper into the pit that is PCS and then it will be harder to climb out than it ever was at the beginning, before the first head bump.
  • Avoid high risk activities. Do not participate in activities that put you at risk of another head injury such as sports or heavy drinking.

4. Gradually Re-introduce Activity
  • Then gradually increase activity level while being careful to not overdo it. Do just enough activity to cause mild discomfort but not so much to cause a setback. As your condition improves you'll be able to do more and more activity without aggravating your head. It requires patience and discipline, but if you follow the logic, it works.
  • For example, dine out at quiet cafes before going to busy restaurants or shop at small stores before going to big box stores. Then do a little more each week.

The strategies above will not cure PCS overnight, but it will give the brain the conditions it needs to heal. As long as you keep making small gains while minimizing setbacks, then you will get better.
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Last edited by DrewDigital; 12-04-2021 at 03:26 PM.
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Old 12-06-2021, 01:27 AM #2
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The experts say rest should not be for more than a day. Start returning to normal activities on day 2 with moderation if your normal activities cause a return or increase of symptoms.
Do not sleep, especially bed rest except during normal sleep times.
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Old 01-04-2022, 02:42 PM #3
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The brain needs rest to heal, just like any other injury. The brain needs extra downtime to recuperate and repair itself and rest is essential for neurogenesis and neuroplasticity to occur. If everyone's concussions healed within 1 day then nobody would have PCS and nobody would have long term lingering symptoms.

Sleep is important because the brain flushes out excess gunk while you sleep. If you are not getting enough sleep at night, then nap during the day. Also take mini-breaks throughout the day to allow the brain to recuperate.

There are many reasons why you would want to avoid extended rest but healing the brain takes priority so that's why I emphasize a gradual re-introduction of activity. Because you aren't going to go from a dark room to an all-day music festival right away. It can take days, weeks, or months, depending on your condition so I would avoid setting a time limit.

The most important thing is that you make steady improvements, even if they are small. If 1 day of rest is all you need, then great. But if your condition is not improving, or if it is getting worse, then you need to adjust your strategy and give your brain more rest.

People should not have to suffer with PCS symptoms for months after an injury. Most concussions heal within 7-10 days. When people have symptoms that last longer than that, it's probably because they didn't rest enough in the beginning.
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Old 01-04-2022, 03:00 PM #4
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I would suggest listening to your own body and use logical care for your symptoms..

Some head hits can be a serious injury and some are milder..
No single protocol fits for all..
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Old 09-18-2022, 03:35 PM #5
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Neurogenesis and Neuroplasticity

The brain is capable of generating new brain cells. (Neurogenesis.) But the brain needs optimal conditions and optimal nutrition for Neurogenesis to occur.

Diet and Nutrition: A lot of the foods we eat cause inflammation, which inhibits neurogenesis, so it's important to stop eating inflammatory foods. (See list below).

Low-carb High-fat diet: In the absence of sugar, the body burns fat for energy and when doing so, it generates Ketones which fuel the brain. So stop eating starchy foods like bread, pasta, and pastries.

Fats and oils are important because they provide the building blocks for new brain cells. So add lots of healthy saturated fats to your food, especially Coconut oil. Fats also improve the absorption of nutrients in other foods so always use full-fat dressing on salads.

Rest: See above.

Exercise: Sustained aerobic exercise promotes neurogenesis so incorporate brisk walking, cycling, or cardio exercise into your routine.

Dark Chocolate: Flavonoids in cocoa promote neurogenesis because they contain antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents. But regular chocolate is highly processed such that most of the beneficial flavonoids are stripped out and lots of sugar is added which makes it bad. Dark chocolate is less processed, so it's best to use pure cacao in recipes.

Time Restricted Eating: Consume food in a 8-10 hour window during the day. The long period of time between meals at night triggers a healing crisis which promotes neurogenesis and synaptic plasticity.

Stress: stress reduces neurogenesis, so learn to manage stressful situations in a calm manner. Meditation also helps calm the mind.

Gut Microbiome: Gut health affects mental health and brain health. An overgrowth of bad bacteria causes inflammation in other parts of the body, including the brain. Sugar, refined carbohydrates, medications, and artificial sweeteners feed the bad bacteria. So address your gut health as part of the treatment plan. Probiotics and fiber help, but a proper diet is the best way to cultivate a healthy microbiome.


Stop eating these inflammatory foods-
  • soda
  • sugar/fructose/corn syrup
  • wheat/gluten
  • fast foods
  • processed foods
  • fried foods
  • refined carbohydrates
  • processed vegetable and seed oils (polyunsaturated fats)
  • (safflower oil, canola oil, sunflower oil, corn oil, soybean oil, cottonseed oil)
  • Trans fats (shortening, hydrogenated vegetable oils, margarine)

Eat this instead:
  • Replace wheat with whole grains. (Paleo flour, quinoa flour, almond flour, coconut flour, chickpea flour, etc)
  • Eat a moderate amount of protein, lots of vegetables, some fruit
  • cook with lots of healthy saturated fats (animal fats, coconut oil, butter, olive oil).
  • bone broth
  • Eat cold water fatty fish for the Omega 3 DHA
  • Eat organic foods because pesticides contribute to neurodegeneration
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