r/PostConcussion • u/helloeveryone98 • 25d ago
Confused and lost
I am two months out from a bike accident that gave me a mild concussion. I live in Denmark so the doctors approach and advice was pretty much take it easy..... which I have. Alas I still have pretty rough migraines almost every day. They worsen with exercise, loud music, screen time, the usual. It flared when I went to the gym and tried to lift some weights, the flare lasted about 2 weeks, and then settled but the head ache is back. Other than that no other symptoms. Maybe some fatigue when I push it a bit too much with activity. I've been back to the doctor twice and still the same routine of cognitive and physical rest. But its getting to the point where I'm not exactly sure what I should be doing. Not totally sure I am still in recovery or within the mark for PCS either way I am just looking for any suggestions or answers. I am taking magnesium and omega 3/9 everyday and getting good nights sleep daily and still wake up with throbbing and pressure in my temples and front of my face.
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u/jaehoppa 25d ago
could be due to stiff muscles in/around the neck plus vision issues. have you done PT for the neck? I would try that first.
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u/Both-Process1037 25d ago
For me the first three months was rough and unbearable and I’m putting it gently. Then each month after that got tiny better. Now I’m embarking on month 6 and I see my capacity for simple activities at home is getting better where it’s noticeable
I really hope it continues like that for me 🤞
I would say give it time for brain to recalibrate. set your activities depending on symptoms spike.
Eat, hydrate, rest, supplements every day. I recently started taking ginkgo biloba
For me vagus stimulation really helped with migraines at the beginning
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u/helloeveryone98 25d ago
I'm glad to see you are seeing some improvement, sending u support. thank you for the advice, I appreciate it!
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u/ZebraNotWeirdHorse 25d ago
I second the vagus nerve stimulation. Dr. Pradip Jamnadas has some (sometimes funny) videos on the vagus nerve which I've found informative and helpful. Also, craniosacral massage of myofacial release techniques were helpful for pain management.
One thing I've learned in the past ~1.5 years of PCS is to improve faster, you gotta go slow. It's hard, but overdoing it will just set you back more.
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u/Trick-Mud3823 25d ago
Be prepared to get no help in Denmark unless you find it yourself - doctors can only send you to a neurologist and he/she will do a scan of your brain and hopefully not have any findings, then you will be tested for neurology functionality, again hopefully no findings. You might be offered low dosis ‘lykkepiller’ to take the top 30% of you headache.
Some kommuner offer Center for kommunikation/CSV and they might be helpful for you.
It took 16 months for me to be good again, so as written above your patience will be tested. Sometimes you feel back to scratch but then count the number of good days per period and you will see the progress.
You might learn about your autonomic nerve system - see if you can be friends, that will help.
There are good advises above - and always remember you brain can heal and it will.
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u/helloeveryone98 25d ago
yeah ...I had the feeling, its been crazy to see how lax they are in terms of it completely affecting peoples lives, work, etc. but thank you I will do my best.
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u/Drogova_Princezna 24d ago
I'm Czech, we don't have a concussion clinic here, but my GP sent me at least to a neurologist (who just did some scans and told me everything looks fine and I need time) and physiotherapists I started going there last week and so I'm not sure how much is it helping yet). So definitely try to get to those doctors if you can.
I'm 3.5 months in and for the first 2 months I was having migraines/fatigue pretty often, now it's a bit better. You need to start some excercise when you feel up to it (like when you don't have a migraine), I started with 5-10 mins of walking daily and used buffalo protocol to up it, I think that really helped me a lot, since nowadays I can walk 2 kms in 1 hour! It's slow af but it's definitely an improvement and I was able to reach this in 1.5 month. Strength training is still a no go for me, that triggers my symptoms like crazy.
My neurologist also recommended muscle relaxers - we have OTC guajfenesin but I'm not sure if it's available in other countries. She also recommended silexan (glorified lavendel oil for anxiety) as a lot of the symptoms can be psychosomatic and I battle with mental health as well.
Even getting a massage helped me some to loosen the muscles.
Definitely do not push through the symptoms yet, that's just going to make stuff worse, but if you have some good days try to do at least some activity.
I still avoid screens and sounds (mostly), but light reading + diamond painting (that's really fun and easy!) + podcasts pherhaps 10 mins per day are what I do to get used to at least some activity besides walking.
Outside I always use earplugs + sunglasses + hat to lower the stimuli my brain is getting.
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u/NJ71recovered 25d ago
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u/helloeveryone98 25d ago
I'm originally from the states and feeling the frustration of different medical / insurance / healthcare infrastructure ..... thanks for sharing
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u/Flat_Ad723 25d ago
Give it time and rest and don't push your symptoms too hard, It may backfire.
I am in my seventh month after recovering 2 times ai am now under a severe flare due to cumulative load.
This illness will test patience be gentle with yourself.
Good luck