Hi all

I've been doing ok for a while, no relapse of symptoms or head bumps.

A few weeks back, I after turning the lights off before going to bed, I walked into an open door while also wearing noisce-cancelling headphones....

Next minute, I've hit the edge of the door with my left knee and my face almost simultaneously, my left headphone pad is knocked off by the door and I've instinctively whipped my head back.

I was trying to re-assure myself immediately afterwards that this wasn't a concussion, if my recollection is correct, the door edge missed my head and glanced past my left cheek.

Since my concussion in 2015, I've had much more definite/harder impacts than this, which haven't resulted in further concussion or PCS.


I've been trying to get some logical perspective on this event by listening to various concussiion podcasts that describe findings from multiple studies into measured hits in American football players. These findings mirror what Mark has previously said on here, that concussions in players were only observed from impacts of 70-100G.

They found the majority (70%) of ‘hard hits’ over an average season are less than 25G and intentionally heading a football is around 20G, while a neck injury/re-injury requires only 4-5G.


They also discussed whether one concussion leads to more susceptibilty down the line. Studies into ATP levels in the brain following concussion indicate biological recovery from injury occurs after 4-6 weeks. Research has apparently found that if a person receives another concussion (i.e. another 70G + impact) outside of this 4-6 week recovery window, there was no difference between this subsequent injury and in someone receiving their first concussion



Another interesting thing they described is the potential for 'micro-glial priming', where, due to previous injury, the brain tissues remain on high alert, launching an inflammation response to search for and clean up any damaged brain cells - even when no damage has occurred.


They also discussed research into concussions, the power of the mind and the Nocebo Effect. In one clinical drug trial; participants were presented with information on undesirable drug side-effects beforehand. Up to 31% of the Placebo Group experienced negative physical symptoms due to having been pre-warned and negative expectation.

They also mention how increased media / social media coverage of concussions and CTE may be amplifying this Nocebo Effect in people who receive very minor bumps, then experience PCS.

Other factors include mistrust in doctors, medical misdiagnoses, pathologizing of a condition, negative medical prognoses during initial consultation, 'social contagion' and existing mental health issues - anxiety, OCD, neurotic traits.

Nocebo Effects in Concussion: Is All That Is Told Beneficial... : American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation


We expect something to happen due to past experiences / social conditioning and we get what we ask for - in my case, an unwanted gift just before Christmas that has left me unable to stay present.


There’s no way I hit that door with my head at anything even close to 20G, yet I'm still struggling almost 2.5 weeks on and definitely experiencing one of the worst setbacks I've had in recent years.

Some days I believe I've not had another concussion, that it's just an emotional hijack of my nervous system and I start returning to baseline, other days, my symptoms return and it seems like I have injured my brain

You mention 'micro-glial priming'. That's what I was trying to get at in my previous posts when I said the brain over-reacts to minor impacts and pumps out too much inflammation. And that inflammation has a damaging effect so that's how symptoms can return or get worse with just a minor impact.

I've been taking a high concentration circumin extract for any inflammation, along with double the dose of my usual Vitamin E, plus Creatine for ATP function

along with 50mg Zinc, 2000mg D3 and a reputable Vitamin B complex

I tend to take these latter supplements every few days, rather than every day, due to the higher dose of the first 2, while I personally find B6 and B12 can overly stimulating to the point of causing anxiety and sleep disruption - even when taken in the AM. Probably a methylation issue.

I bet your reputable B Complex has a small amount of B-12 and thiamine.

Add a few grams of Omega 3 daily.

Taking Jarrow B Right atm, the % s are well in excess of RDVs, especially for Methylcobalamin and B1- probably why it makes me feel jittery if taken too often

Yes good point - I forgot to mention Omega 3s, currently getting these from avocados and avocado oil.... whenever I try to supplement high strength fish or Krill oil for any period of time, I get seriously depressed (my money is on the choline). Same thing happens with eggs!

I've been looking into Lions Mane for brain health and PCS, any insight on this?

The Jarrow B-Right is fine for maintaining minimal levels but low for people who need to be higher on the doses. The B-12 is only 100 mcgs. I take 2000 mcgs to maintain the B-12 level I need.

The RDV/RDA was established to prevent malnutrition, not maximize health. The recommended vitamin B12 in your bloodstream is generally between 190 and 950 picograms per milliliter (pg/mL). Many believe under 300 is too low. I do best at about 1000. Higher folate levels are also recommended.

Have you had your blood checked for folate, B-12, D-3, potassium, calcium and magnesium.

My daughter swears by high doses of niacin. 400 mgs 2 to 3 times a day at minimum. She suffered a miserable concussion in a car wreck. Her college biochem studies got her interested in solving her struggles.

40 years ago, my orthomolecular medicine doctor put me on 400 mgs of niacin 2 times a day to overcome some cognitive struggles related to a high stress event. Thiamine, Niacin and B-12 were his primary treatments.

His regimen is the basis of my post in the vitamins sticky. I add B-12 to the B-50.



Omega-3 fish oil is considered poor man's HBOT. At 3 grams a day, it provides the cognitive benefits of HBOT. HBOT-HyperBaric Oxygen Therapy

Oct 2020

Magnesium 0.97 mmol/L (0.7 - 1.0 mmol/L)

(was taking Mag Citrate at the time and up until around October 2021)


Aug 2021

Vitamin B12 - Active 186 pmol/L (Range: 25.1 - 165)

Vitamin D 78 nmol/L Normal Range 50 - 200 nmol/L

Folate - Serum 13.9 ug/L (Range: > 2.9)

CRP HS 0.6 mg/l (Range: 0 - 5)


My B vitamin intake has increased in freqency since the Aug 2021 test and D3 has increased in both frequency AND dosage, so I expect these levels to be even higher if I was tested today.


I was taking Niacin 500mg/d for the last 12 months. After a while, it started giving me blurred eyesight at the time of flush onset. Didnt fancy taking any further chances with my eyesight, so stopped taking it a few months back..

Not too fussed about Calcium levels, as I eat a fair amount of dairy - full fat yoghurt, full-fat cottage cheese and home-made kefir.


I'm going to order some Lions Mane early in the New Year, along with some more Magnesium powder (either Glycinate or Threonate), and see how that goes.

Hi, No "expert" here, but I'd suggest reading up about B12 levels and getting yours raised a lot more. There's an absolutely incredible source of information about B12 and other vitamins in the Vitamins forum here at NT and also at the top of the PN forum (esp B12).

I use the forum search feature and type in name of vitamin or hormone I'm looking for and add username for the person's information I want. I use either - mrsD or glenntaj. That'll bring up threads or posts that I know will be helpful.

e.g. https://www.neurotalk.org/1282714-post9.html

Might be hard to read if you've got a bit of brain fog or screen strain like me but using the forum search like that tends to sort out the posts a lot for me that's for sure. You should try that for the Niacin too.

What's your calcium level that you're not fussed about? Calcium is in a loop with Vit D and Parathyroid Hormone. Worth checking into that too depending on how low it.

I don't know how long you've been taking 2000 mg D3 but if you've been taking it a long time and your calcium is low then you should talk with your doctor about that.

The CRP is C-reactive protein measuring inflammation or infection.

If you are testing B12 and are taking supplementation then cease it for about a week before the test.

Always talk with your doctor before adding anything into the mix.