LisaLucille,

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My best to you and your daughter.

I sent the following email to my friends; I thought I'd share it with the board:

"I resumed reading Shakespeare (Henry IV, Part 1), after being unable to do so because of reading comprehension difficulties (especially fiction and other metaphor-laden material) for the past 16 months.

Reading Shakespeare again had been one of recovery goals.

And here it is.

So very very happy!!!"

I still have a long way to go in my recovery, but things are getting better. I want to share something that happened today that made me really happy, plus a little background info:

Before the concussion, I was a full-time writer with a heavy workload. Writing was very easy for me, and I made decent money doing it.

After the concussion, my client list got smaller and smaller. I went from making $350+ a day to struggling to finish $20 of work. I would cry because my head would throb as I attempted to read the detailed project instructions from my clients. I could no longer comprehend most of the project descriptions, and I'd spend hours doing tasks that used to take me 15 minutes.

I'm working on a big project now for a well-known retailer. This retailer is known for being extremely picky, and I was terrified to begin the project. I know a few other writers who had work rejected by this client.

I finished up most of the project yesterday, and I found it easy. And fun! That's a big deal for me these days.

I woke up this morning to a message stating that I did a good job. Wow! I couldn't believe it.

I will say that my neck is now killing me and I am typing with one eye closed lol, but knowing that I am able to do my job well again makes me incredibly happy. I feel like I will be able to have a full-time writing career again in the future.

A Mom going thru the same horrible ordeal. What helped the most?
Karen

Thanks for sharing your story. I am in the same boat with post concussive symptoms for 7 months. May I ask what helped her heal? How did she deal with setbacks?
Thanks!

I attended and was a speaker at the 1st International conference on mTBI and PCS in Vancouver this past week. There was some exciting news for hope of recovery. Key factors are getting restorative sleep, exercise, nutrition and diet, attitude and use of proper diagnosis using some excellent imaging techniques, such as SWI MRI and PET Scans, of course funds for treatment ( healthcare-which has affected all of us) and the use of neurofeedback and biofeedback for recovery along with grieving the loss of your prior self.

I presented my recovery story and how hope and grieving are essential factors of recovery.

Once I get over my jet lag, I will be writing more on my blog on **

As a survivor of a stroke and 3 Traumatic brain injuries, I can attest there is hope. My focus was we might have a disability is some areas, we just need not be handicapped by them. There is a Way.

Many of the oldies know me. And I am still around to try and answer questions. But my story hasn't ended to the degree we would hope.

But lots of my TBI and PCS has gone away, but I'm not sure how many
I've had. I really had no clue as a yound adult that I was suffering from
these at sometimes. I can count at least 7 times that I've suffered these
in my years.

Each time the recovery has been longer, and less is back to the same. But
to know that it will get better, is a saving grace. I know that headaches
and whiplash are always connected. But the rest is what ever choses to
come.

Having gone through some vision retraining has helped to lower the amount
I have to look forward too. Thankfully I located this doctor and he not only
took away the migraines but also helped with a reaccuring problem.

There is always hope.

Donna

I'm just glad that there was a 1st mTBI & PCS conference.
But then I thought, "The First! There has never been a conference on this subject before!"
Seems incredible, seeing so many people are affected.
About time.
CS

I'm currently in Vancouver visiting. Tomorrow I head back to southern Oregon... tonight I sat up seeking ways to help myself regain/find what has been lost thes past 8 months since a wind gust pulled a tree off the side of a cliff and onto my head. Before PCS devasted my day to day life. Do I press on, forcing myself to try and do as much as I use to? Do I slow down or stop and let my brain regroup? Take meds? Take nothing? I'd just like somebody who's been here to give me counsel...

I wanted to post this to offer support to all those who are going through what my son dealt with this Fall. After accidentally hitting his head on the ground during football practice, my 13 yr old did n;t tell anyone for 24 hours until his headache was so bad he couldnt read or tolerate light. He was diagnosed with a concussion and told it would clear up in 1 -2 weeks. Well after two he was still home from school and still unable to read or tolerate light or noise. It was terrifying and isolating. We lived like ferrets underground with the lights off and I would read to him by flashlight.
Slowly the headaches diminshed, they would re appear if he read or watched too much tv. No computers. Car sickness. No school work. After six weeks he still had lingering symptoms, though improved. It took a total of 11 weeks for his symptoms to disappear. We still have anxiety they will pop up, but he can finally run and jump and seems to be clear.

Find a good doctor, one who can administer the IMPACT test, an orthopedist, not necessarily a neurologist, who may not ahve experience with athletes.

Make sure to be evaluated for vestibular damage as well.

My son didn't like the elavil, it worked on the headaches, but it made him feel sad and out of it, so we dropped it. But it works for many.

Be patient.