Advice for services/rehab

[Mel1910]

Hello!

I sustained a head injury back in 2010. Whilst it’s mild and I’ve managed to get through uni, I’m now taking a small break before starting work part time.

During this break I’d like to aim to get my baseline health/symptoms back to as low as possible before starting work. As many of you also have similar symptoms, I was wondering whether there are any services or therapies or even retreats that you recommend. Some of my symptoms include headaches, tinnitus, dizziness, concentration/memory problems, whip lash.

Any advice is much appreciated!

[Kirk5w7]

Hi, ive found reflexology, mindfulness, Tai Chi acupuncture ( especially scalp acupuncture) all have helped.

I needed vision therapy too so have paid for that twice over the last tgeee years, we are now working on my vestibular system to try to train me to regain better balance

Hope this is helpful

Janet x

[Mel1910 in reply to Kirk5w7]

Thank you so much Janet! This is really useful I’ll look into trying some of those x

[Broken_Doll]

Hi Mel,

I used to suffer quite badly with tinnitus and dizzy spells that would make me feel as though I was spinning.

It might be worth enquiring with your GP as to whether your local NHS trust have a “balance clinic”. I had vestibular retraining and it has improved the dizziness greatly. I only ever really get dizzy when I look up these days.

Good luck & well done on getting through uni! I’m just about to start uni in a week or so & I am feeling rather terrified!

Take care

Emma x

[FlowerPower62 in reply to Broken_Doll]

This has actually helped me too. Like mel1910, my husband suffers from dizziness, and has only just been referred to an ENT clinic 7 months later. But that "balance clinic" sounds better, so I will enquire. Like Headway have said recently, I think it is a bit of a postcode lottery. Good luck to both mel and emma at uni. x

[Mel1910 in reply to FlowerPower62]

Thanks to both of you! I’ll look into this. I had some sort of ENT input earlier on but definitely worth revisiting.

Good luck at uni Emma!x

[Hidden]

Hi, MBCT, mindfulness based cognitive therapy

[HavingAlook1]

Mine was in 2009, very similar symptoms with a added high anxiety.

I have tried 3 times returning to work part time and all times have lasted around 6 months or more, but has made my health so much worse and takes me months to feel better again.

General making notes and keeping to a timed diary keeps my head straight without having to worry about to much all the time.

Also as mentioned relaxation techniques works very well.

To be fair I get more money not working getting the higher care component to pip and employment and support allowance, so stressing my self out for £30 a week isn’t really worth it when you can concentrate on your life with the head injury.

Wish you luck in your new adventures

[Mel1910 in reply to HavingAlook1]

Thanks for the advice! I’m sorry you’ve found it tough going back to work. Definitely worth doing what’s best for you in the long term! Best wishes

[steve55]

without being rude, these are problems you should have addressed when you first had your or was informed of your injuries.

[Mel1910 in reply to steve55]

That’s a fair assumption! I had addressed as much as I felt able to at the time with some issues being more pressing than others. My accident happened in the middle of my GCSEs and I was so desperate at the time to relearn as much as I could (as I’d forgotten most of it) and didn’t really put my health first (or as much as it should have been). Whilst I thought I’d been spending a huge amount of time on appointments it wasn’t really enough and I was still very much in denial and keen to prove myself wrong by putting studies first, and in the long run making my health much worse. So now that is going to change and my health will become a bigger priority in my life!

[steve55]

the denial issue i understand. we cant move forward on our journey until we can accept to ourselves the person we were is no longer, we are a different person on a new journey.

but through all this surely your parents wouldve been aking questions, wanting to know what would happen ?