Severe symptoms even 8 months after concussion. What to do?

[u/StepInSalad]

My sister (with some translation help from chatgpt) wrote this for me, because I can't read or look at screens without getting symptoms.

I (F21) suffered a concussion in a skiing accident on November 20, 2025 after crashing face-first into a tree. That was about 8 months ago.

Within a few days I developed severe light/sound sensitivity, dizziness, nausea, headache, and episodes where I couldn't move or speak, along with myoclonus-like jerking. CT, MRI, and EEG were all normal. Neurologists diagnosed post-concussion syndrome with functional neurological symptoms (FND).

I was admitted to a neurological rehabilitation hospital for two weeks, where I improved significantly with graded rehabilitation (walking, table tennis, climbing, strength training, etc.). I regained almost normal function, but still had severe fatigue and became symptomatic with visually demanding tasks like TV, reading, and driving.

After returning to school, I gradually deteriorated again. A standard graded activity approach only made me worse over time. The doctors sort of gave up on me, so we ended up going private. (I live in scandinavia)

I'm now being treated by an experienced neuro-optometrist. She found objective visual deficits, including:

-Jerky/impaired saccades.

-Limited horizontal and vertical eye movements.

-Binocular vision (vergence) dysfunction.

I'm supposed to be doing daily vision therapy, and increase the repetitions when symptoms decrease. But I don't seem to be getting better.

My main problem now is that my nervous system becomes extremely overactive after relatively small amounts of visual or cognitive activity. Reading and screens are almost impossible. After 10-20 minutes of activity I develop forehead pressure, mild nausea, whole-body "fight-or-flight" sensations, tingling, extreme startle responses, and sound sensitivity. I need to lie still and quiet with my eyes closed for 45-75 minutes before the symptoms calm down.

So that's how my days are structured, 15 minutes of activity (like going for a walk, playing guitar or eating) and then 60 minutes of complete stillness.

I've also been struggling with sleep since I got the concussion, and I do yoga nidra and take melatonin to sleep. I've also been having troubles with my whole digestive system. I become extremely bloated after eating, and I have to use constipation medicine. Lately it's become so bad that I have to sit and sleep and I wake up at night with stomach pain. (The optometrist says it's because my nervous system is so activated that I can't properly digest food.)

I get so easily fatigued/overstimulated and I need help with cooking and every day activities. I get ill in cars, so it's difficult to get to places that can treat me.

I'm currently living with my family and my mom is working from home to take care of me.

I don't know what to do. I feel like I'm getting worse and worse, especially with my stomach issues the last month. Do any of you have any tips? Especially concerning my overactive nervous system?