After 4 months off of work, (3 months after the initial accident, I didn't know what was going on until I saw the 3rd neurologist who explained PCS to me), months of vestibular rehabilitation therapy, and hours of my life wasted crying and being frustrated, I can say that I feel a lot better. I'd say at this point in time I'm about 90% better.

You just need to let it run it's course and make your health a priority. That's it.

The light sensitivity and noise sensitivity persists, however I am not ridden with fear every time that I need to leave the house. Would more time off from work and an immediate leave of absence been helpful? Absolutely, but do what you can. Rest as much as possible and you'll get better.

One of the most helpful things to do: when the dizziness was severe and I had a hard time watching Netflix - play it in the background but focus on something like knitting, it has a very therapeutic effect.

Good luck to everybody and I'm sorry that you're experiencing symptoms of PCS.

I first posted on this site sometime around July-August 2015

Short story - I've been involved in martial Arts for 18 years, relocated to a new city, eventually joined a local Muay Thai Gym and the evening of July 2nd 2015 was a brutal sparring session / all-out war July. My pride and fighting spirit kept me in the ring and out of work/life for 3-4 months aftewards.

The situation was worsened because the doctors wanted to pin the whole thing on a previous diagnosis of severe depression which I had recovered from. They did a good job of convincing themselves (but not me) that this literal overnight, significant drop in my high mental functioning and energy levels had zero to do with being hit hard in the head 15-20 times by guys as much as 40kg heavier than me. I was around 82kg and very dehydrated - which increases the % risk of brain trauma.

Funny how I got to the 3 months stage and suddenly I had my brain back in some semblance of working order. I know how depression affected me in this past and this recovery did not fit with me, however I was over the moon regardless!

Concussion is still not fully accepted by many medical professionals, largely due to ignorance, its an emerging area of medical science, so go with your gut and know there is hope and a better life waiting for you on the other side.



"As long as you're breathing, you still have a chance"


At my lowest point, hope was all but gone, I thought I was finished, ruined by my own personal choices in deciding to pursue martial arts etc etc, a mental vegetable with all his hopes and dreams shattered... yet, deep down inside, although severley diminished to a mere tiny flicker. the flame had not yet gone out... and thats what YOU need to hang on to. Most concusssions, like storms, are time-limited events, horrible at their most instense, however, every storm eventually blows itself out and gives way to a brighter day. So give yourself that chance, be patient and be kind to yourself - you've made it this far though the tough game of life, now is not the time for quitting.


I returned to work in Nov 2015 and I am performing better than at any point in my life - same as my workouts, fitness, energy levels and gym goals, all increased beyond previous expectations!!

I will never return to full contact sparring, which is a shame as I really enjoyed it, however, life and fulfilling my wider dreams is more important that donning a pair of gloves and beating the other guy's head in... all my martial arts training is not lost, as long we are prepared to accept our limitations, we can work around it. Intelligent risk management is key here.

So for those who have made it is this far, thats the motivational/mindset stuff done with... and I'll post below for practical tips for anyone who is interested

This what worked for me...

Firstly, hopefully your employer will give you time off or adjust your role significantly in the early recovery phase as your brain will simply lack the horsepower to do your normal job until all the electrical activity has settled. Expecting too much will end in dissappointment and negative self talk which will fuel the already rampant anxiety and feelings of depression typical after concussion

Get rest, minimal screen activity, limit book reading - soothing music is best, get out in to nature, or sit in the garden and breathe!

When you feel ready to exercise again - ease in gently, dont expect to be at your normal exercise levels, it aint gonna happen - reasearch shows the brain uses at least 25% of our entire energy resources when operating efficiently and at this point in time, it requires even more energy to carry out its repair duties - do not disturb, the workmen are busy, let them do their jobs!! As above, expecting too much will end in dissappointment and negative self talk which will fuel the already rampant anxiety and feelings of depression typical after concussion


Supplements:

Branched Chain Amino Acids - energy, alertness & cellular repair
L Glutamine - energy, alertness & cellular repair and immune booster
CoEnyzme Q10 - for energy; mitochondrial effects boosting supplement
Vitamin D
Vitamin B6 and B12, Vitamin E for assisting your brain's natural repair mechanisms
Acetylcholine-based supplement containing Lecithin to improve memory and brain electro-connectivity firing (careful with dosing)


Cranio Sacral Therapy

I stumbled across this after reading a story of this helping a mum's young daugher recover from concussion.

Definitely flls into the woo-woo category, however, I'm fairly sure this further helped because in the early stages of recovery, I was very prone/anxious about secondary impacts and experience a number of short-lived, anxiety provoking relapses after accidentally banging my head (car doors, low ceilings etc) where I believed I had lost my gains.

The theory is that CST relaxes the tense muscle tissue in the neck area that is common after whiplash, which helps optimum energy flow and relaxation of the muscles. Every time the body experiences a physical trauma it goes into shock and stiffens up as part of our ancient instinctive hard wired, protection mechanism.

It is also claimed it helps re-align the skull plates, not sure so on this one tbh but whenever I had a session, I definitely felt a shift in the neck and skull region. I used to have the sessions fairly often after secondary bumps, however, I have not had a session for months and no longer feel I need it.

Mind over matter?, new-agey unproven therapy? or currently unexplained human bio-mechanical energy science??

Whatever, it worked for me! All I would urge is try it at least once



I wish you good luck and may the untold power of the universe be with you during your inevitably successful recovery journey.

Hi I'm glad to see that your doing well now..im 5 weeks with post concussion syndrome now and I feel better than the first two weeks of symptoms all my symptoms had ease only the head ache persist when I do activities comes up..i have I will recover the same time as you did

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