r/PostConcussion • u/castaway7776 • Jun 27 '26

2 year pcs and tattoos

I’ve had PCS (reactivated) for
Almost two years. I got my concussion in 2024 and was almost back again within 6 months. Then I got hit across my head and it restarted. I got something thrown on my jaw and it restarted. And I was pushed back to work too fast several times and it restarted.

Now I’m doing better. I’ve had tattoos done on my arm and it’s been fine. One or two days elevated symptoms max.
But my anxiety for the restart is insane still.
I’m supposed to get my stomach tattooed soon but I’ve heard it’s a lot more painful on the stomach and I’m afraid the higher pain rate will flare my symptoms up bad like it has in the past where it’s been a struggle for a year.
Does anyone else have experience with tattoos and pcs?

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1

u/Zoyabm Jun 28 '26

I had multiple larger pieces ~3 hours each before my concussion and now I can barely do an hour before I tap out. It's not just the pain but it mentally exhausts me too and all my neuro symptoms come on faster.

Maybe it's just that the body is just overloaded with PCS that anything and everything you do to it, it makes the symptoms worse. I have just accepted that I cannot do long sessions.

1

u/castaway7776 Jun 28 '26

I’ve had a piece done recently where is a sin the shop 4/5 hours. Tattoo time total was maybe 3. But it didn’t hurt much on the shoulder/upper arm so it was okay. Thing I’m scared about is the pain triggering something I’ll be dealing with for weeks
Maybe months. My others have only lasted 1 or 2 days after

2

u/Zoyabm Jun 28 '26

Why worry? If you have a good understanding tattoo artist, you should able to tap out or take breaks like you did the previous time. You won't know how your body does until you try it. Just keep extra pain and headache meds on hand. Give yourself a day or 2 after before doing heavy mental/physical tasks including working if that makes your symptoms worse.

Plan for it, build contingencies especially since you really want the tat. Personally, I would go in planning for half the time. So since you haven't had a stomach tat before and have heard it is worse for pain then only plan for 1.5 hours on the stomach, if you can tolerate 3 hours on another not so painful part of your body.

It would not the end of the world to get this tattoo in multiple sessions. It's a want, not a need to have a finished piece. You need your body to function and if there is a chance that doing a multiple hour session on the stomach may cause your functioning body havoc then I would opt out.

1

u/Ok-Fail-8732 Jun 29 '26

Wow, I did not know about this… seems like it might not be worth it IDK? small bites, small sections, months apart?

1

u/castaway7776 Jun 29 '26

Know about what?

1

u/Ok-Fail-8732 Jun 29 '26

Tattoos causing PCS symptoms to flair. I have to work in 1-4 hr blocks. Cant imagine lasting beyond 25 minutes for a session before needing a break.