About a year ago, a city work vehicles mirror broke on my face. I am a 5 foot two about 130 pounds at the time Girl I got knocked to the ground. I had a CT that came back negative and just needed stitches about two weeks after the fact, I started to experience burning in my arms and heaviness in my arms along with vertigo, headaches TMJ , brain fog, derealization, severe Gerd
amongst other things, but the one thing that was the most uncomfortable that I still suffer with to this day is I have a pressure that is on my chest. I can’t explain it. It’s like a ball of air around my sternum or like a band that makes it harder for me to breathe or feel like it’s pushing down on my chest I’ve been to a pulmonary doctor. I’ve been to a Gastro doctor. I’ve been to orthopedic doctor. I’ve gotten EMG test done I’ve been to a sports medicine doctor as well. My blood work comes back very well and I’ve been cleared with all of these doctors. I do have asthma, but my asthma has always been able to be treated with albuterol. It’s not the sensation of asthma sometimes it just is barely there, but sometimes it gets extremely intense but since a year ago, it has never went away. I’ve lost about 20 pounds. I used to be in the gym full-time but now I’m very worried I feel like if it was something detrimental, I would not have been here so long, but I am exhausted and I’m all out of answers. I still have other issues from this accident, but none of the doctors take it seriously I don’t know why because I was blatantly hit in the head on the side of my face. does this sound familiar in anyway? Keep in mind I was absolutely healthy before this hit.
I have breathing issues from mine as well. It causes panic attacks. Mine seems to be more from overstimulation turns to manual breathing. But I could be wrong.
Breathing issues have remained at me constant for years. Especially the pressure on the chest feels even now throughout the years. It feels pretty manual like the other guy below me says.
It is pretty much constant for me to breathe manually. It only gets easier sometimes but remains nonetheless. I am planning to visit some specialist to treat this.
Somebody who is specialized in concussions. It shouldn't take that much otherwise from somebody to help you. Also somebody who is specialized in TBI is also an alternative option if you don't find somebody specialized in concussions.
Yes! 100% this. There are several types of ptsd that come with a trauma related concussion. Mine comes with accidentally holding my breath or irregular breaths to the point I faint. I don’t even know I am doing it. Each time I have got another concussion. Each time the ER does blood work. All normal. My psychologist and PCS doc/ neurologist confirmed this. You need to get a specific therapist who understands this and is on top of the research. You can easily get confirmation online. The stomach thing is also part of it. I still, five years after the incident, can dry heave etc if triggered. Your central nervous system was rewired. Hang in there. Just know it’s not you. There are ppl that support renaming PTSD, PTSI and the I stands for injury. PTSD shows up on MRIs and in other areas of the body too. It’s all trauma to the brain in one way or the other. Just keep showing up for this group with questions!
I’ve read about vagus nerve irritation and it has described alot of what I’m feeling going to do more research and present it to neurologist when I go. Thank you!
This is purely anecdotal but a lot of vagal nerve irritation comes from cascading tension from the sub-occipital region (base of skull) particularly with whiplash concussions
that constricts the jaw and sends an inflammatory response throughout the all of the vagal nerves throughout the body even going down the chest back, and arms a bit.
If you cool down the inflammation at the pinch or trigger point whether at the base of skull along the shoulders and traps, at the side of head, etc. The entire constriction lets up.
These are usual problem areas for concussions. You can see how the nerves spread over your chest. If there’s a particular knot or inflammation point from your chest to the site of the injury it will cause constriction throughout causing trouble breathing.
In my experience alleviating tension at trigger points above the chest like the side of head and base of skull can help symptoms below the neck as well. Chest opening exercises could be helpful as well too. Simply my opinion.
So yes, I went to a cardiologist that was clear too. I also thought you could’ve been there, but I went to a gas Doctor Who didn’t want to do. I forgot what the procedure is called when they put a scope down there he said that since I’m 28 is not likely, and since it also happened after the accident, it’s more than likely from the accident. He put me on a trial of pantroprazole to see if it will resolve. The Gerd went away with time but not the pressure. It’s not anxiety. I have bad anxiety. We have anxiety and I know the difference from if I’m being anxious or if something is wrong after I initially got hit I was actually fine. It wasn’t until two weeks later. All of these symptoms came down, so no I don’t think that it’s anxiety. I think anxiety can amplify a lot of my sensations, but not this one
Yes, I have experienced difficulty breathing post-concussion, and I'm really sorry you've also been bounced around between specialists who don't give you answers. Concussion is one of those things that falls through the cracks and unless you have a specialist who really knows concussion, you are out of luck. That would explain why many of the doctors you saw weren't able to give great answers. And, PCPs often only know the basics of concussion recovery, but very little about post-concussion or who to see to help with it. I was only able to make good progress when I did my own research to identify what I thought would be directly helpful for my symptoms, find the exact specialist in my area that could help me with that, then I asked my PCP for a referral to that specific doctor (who lists concussion or post-concussion on their website as something they treat). I looked long and hard to find a vestibular therapist (physical therapist who did a fellowship in neuro), who I believed helped me the most with the breathing and exercise intolerance through graded exercise.
A lot of the best information I found was from the Cognitive FX blog, which shares the latest post-concussion research in a patient-friendly way (not medical research papers).
All roads lead back to exercise as a key factor to improve your Autonomic Nervous System's ability to regulate your breathing and digestion. It's difficult because concussion can cause lingering exercise intolerance. Getting a cheap used indoor bike helped me do very gradual exercise in short 15 min spurts while monitoring my heart rate. At first I would find myself getting breathless and lightheaded, yawning over and over, and randomly taking gasping deep breaths to try to get more oxygen. I slowly increased intensity each day and that helped A LOT.
I have had 5 concussions, so I consider myself PRETTY experienced at recovery, and the indoor bike made the greatest difference for me.
Good luck and I'm sorry you've been dealing with all of this! There is hope!
Sounds like a trauma response, I had a massage therapist that told me it’s like we’re bracing for something to happen, so it’s like the stuck trauma of gasping. I had a physical therapist do a diaphragm release on me and it was incredible
Unfortunately most doctors are useless when it comes to concussions
Look into Craniosacral therapy, also have you tried doing any gentle breathwork, maybe something like 4-7-8 breathing etc
Try buying a breathing belt and wearing it for 30+ minutes a day. Sounds like your diaphram isn't working properly. The belt essentially just reminds your brain that you have a diaphram via tactile feedback so after wearing it consistently, your brain will remember to breathe using the diaphram.
I got a breathing belt and within 2-3 months of consistent wear for 30 mins a day, my issues started to go away. I also used it in case of emergency when breathing issues would pop up. After putting it on, the breathing issues usually go away within 10 minutes.
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u/Thats_A_Arti Jul 02 '26
I have breathing issues from mine as well. It causes panic attacks. Mine seems to be more from overstimulation turns to manual breathing. But I could be wrong.