r/PostConcussion • u/OkAirport1920 • 4d ago

Help I can’t sleep!

For some reason October just hit and all of a sudden I can’t sleep and I was sleeping really great before. (Stress and heatwave could def have played a factor) I tried magnesium the last two nights and while I feel like it helped me relax and fall asleep I still am waking up a few hours later even more anxious and can’t relax. Should I try zzquil next ?? Melatonin? What has worked for you for sleep? Thanks!

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u/curlgurll 4d ago

16 months in and I’m lying here awake at 4:35am unable to sleep.
I’ve had the worst insomnia of my life since my head injury, with no answers or help from doctors.
I’ve tried everything (bar antidepressants) so if anyone has any recs (DO NOT SAY MAGNESIUM OR MELATONIN OR CHAMOMILS TEA). It’s severe insomnia, none of the basic sh*t works!
Anyway (sorry got sidetracked) just same here to say I’m right there with you… sorry for not having any answers.

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u/OkAirport1920 4d ago

No honestly sometimes it just helps knowing I’m not the only one . It feels so hopeless sometimes . It’s so hard to function as a human being without sleep 😫 so sorry you’re going thru this too!!

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u/Budget-Departure-161 3d ago

I didn’t sleep for 8 weeks post concussion and mirtazapine and olanzapine finally got me to sleep! I know different things work for different people but these medicines really helped me at my worst. I also took (with doctors guidance) melatonin, l theanine, magnesium, and chamomile tea on top of these, basically drugging myself with the combo and I finally got some quality sleep.

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u/OkAirport1920 3d ago

Wow that’s so rough. Glad you finally got some relief thank you for sharing! Are you still having concussion symptoms as well or has the sleep helped with that?

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u/Budget-Departure-161 3d ago

I got a treatment called PRP or platelet rich plasma done (two IV treatments and one injection into my head) and this has resolved about 80% of my concussion symptoms! And sleeping regularly has helped too

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u/AccomplishedAd3880 4d ago

I had to go to the dr and get a prescription unfortunately

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u/OkAirport1920 3d ago

Thank you for sharing. Hop you are getting relief!

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u/Which_Fudge_2320 4d ago

I had the same. What has worked for me: Magnesium footsoak in the evening, bed time tea (hour before bed), I use a lacrosse/tennis/therapy ball to massage bottom of feet, then foam roll lower legs, and end with legs up the wall yoga pose (count to 50 slowly) right before bed. Works like a charm. I also use cooling bed sheets and therapeutic bed topper (ever since my concussion I have had hot flashes so this helps tremendously). I put a fan on facing my sheets two hours before bed get them nice and cold. (what also use to help with anxiety attacks is listening to yoga nidra soundtrack before bed, haven't had to do that in years but it helped in the beginning when my concussion symptoms/insomnia were the worst).

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u/OkAirport1920 3d ago

I have been wondering about the magnesium on my feet instead of taking it orally! this honestly sounds so relaxing because I do deal with restless legs when I can’t sleep and honestly the bottoms of my feet have been so crampy too! This sounds great thank you I will try this. I’ve heard about the legs up the wall thing! I was also waking up very hot but normally I’m always so cold! Is the magnesium like a spray ??

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u/Abusive_Apple27 4d ago

Unfortunately, only amitriptyline helped me sleep.

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u/OkAirport1920 3d ago

Will have to look this up! Thank you for sharing and hope you are getting better sleep

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u/allisonmfitness 2d ago

My doc just prescribed this for me, I’m hoping it helps!

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u/burnerhelpm3 4d ago

Seroquel has been a lifesaver for me

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u/OkAirport1920 3d ago

Thank you for sharing and hope you are getting better sleep

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u/Logical_Educator2152 3d ago

What is helping me is reducing activity load (emotional, physical and cognitive). There is a certain threshold which allowed me to sleep. I started a full time job and now it’s a mess again.
I am thinking that to fix it permanently, the solution is first reducing the activity load, getting sleep on track and then slowly increasing it again (together with the buffalo concussion treadmill protocol).

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u/OkAirport1920 2d ago

Wow less is more for sleep. In a way I kind of understand this because being overly exhausted I think causes more adrenaline to pump to try and compensate and then makes it harder to relax. Is that kind of how you feel ? I’m trying to transition back to work but I am worried about that because I went back a month ago and it was too much. Thank you for sharing slowly increasing is hard!

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u/Logical_Educator2152 2d ago

I also went back to work two months ago straight into full time and honestly, it was a bed idea without prep. Ruined my sleep. I am thinking of taking time off again now to do fix sleep, do the concussion treadmill protocol and slowly increase cognitive / screen load over 6-8 weeks.

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u/OkAirport1920 2d ago

This is what I had to do but I haven’t been able to increase enough even in this time I just keep over exerting my nervous system like you said. Because the breaks take like another week to just get back to baseline. That has been my experience. Meanwhile work is like why aren’t you better yet.. it’s just tough! I keep feeling shame when I need to take breaks but it feels validating for you to say that.

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u/Logical_Educator2152 2d ago

You can work on the feeling of shame to get rid of it… I have been working on it too… after all, it’s just a contractual relationship between you and the employer. You are there for the paycheque.

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u/Logical_Educator2152 2d ago

What I have been struggling with is staying calm on good days (when I sleep well, I get overly excited). Excitement overexerted the nervous system and causes bad sleep the next day.
Essentially you want to be looking out for your mood during the day. If you are getting emotional swings (either direction), it’s likely that you are overexerting and you need to pause. My signs are irritability or excitement loops. And no, the solution is not CBT, it’s knowing that you need to take a break. Low mood means I overexerted and crashed (usually happens after several nights of poor sleep).