The brain's inflammatory system is on high alert after an injury and so it can over-react and pump out too much inflammation in response to those minor bumps/jolts. That inflammation causes the symptoms.

So your brain needs to learn to stop over-reacting. If you want to get back into Grappling, do a very gradual return. Start with 5 minutes then stop, wait a week, then do a little more each week. Do just enough to cause mild discomfort but not so much to cause a setback. And wear a helmet to protect your head.

When you experience symptoms from minor bumps, take a double dose of Omega-3 DHA and Curcumin immediately after the incident. Both are anti-inflammatory and neuro-protective so they will protect your brain from possible injury.

A lot of the foods we eat, especially refined carbohydrates and processed vegetable oils, cause inflammation which will exacerbate your sensitivities. So you should adopt a low carb high fat / ketogenic / sugar free / wheat free / organic diet to help keep the inflammation down as part of your treatment.

• Stop eating sugar and refined carbohydrates (fructose, wheat, white flour) 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 vegetable oils such as Canola oil as they can cause oxidation and inflammation which is destructive. Cook with healthy saturated fats such as Coconut oil, Olive oil, butter, or animal fats instead, and eat lots of it.
• Processed foods often contain the bad ingredients and added sugars so they should be avoided.

A neck injury will also contribute to the symptoms so keep pursuing that treatment.

The goal is to give the body optimal nutrition and optimal conditions so the brain can heal itself.

I would find a less risky sport for now... at least wait until you have no issues flaring up from minor jolts/bumps for many months.
And start back very slowly with any risky activity when you are doing better long term..

It does sound like your neck has soft tissue /stability issues..
Possibly your C1/C2 needs adjusted..
Explore Up C Spine for info on that.

Explore the sticky threads in the upper area on the main PCS/TBI page.

Anxiety & worry can re create some symptoms also.. sorting those out is important.

DeanBJJ,

Welcome to NeuroTalk.

You have asked a great question. Contact sports are a high risk, especially for you.

It sounds like you are depending on physio and whoever adjusts your neck to fix you. That will not help as much as you hope.

You need to work at your own directed healing. Head impact whiplash neck injuries require serious discipline so the upper neck can stabilize. This means disciplined posture while sleeping. Many 'neck adjustments' are too aggressive. The C-1 and C-2 joints are not self aligning like the lower cervical vertebra. They are slow to stabilize.

Physios like to work on range of motion. That is often not helpful. That should come after the neck as regained stability.

Most chiros like to do 'twist the head and pop the neck' adjustments. Those are fine for the lower vertebra but are questionable for C-1 and C-2 joints. Gentle traction and mobilization is good. There are upper cervical specialists

Learning to sleep with good posture is important.

If you choose to continue with grappling or other contact sports, you can plan on a roller coaster ride from the traumas you experience. You may lose the ability to work in a high paced, high stress job. Many do.