Where to get help with fatigue and head pain? (PCS / Mild Brain Injury)

[Antique-white]

Advice & guidance of where to get help with fatigue and head pain? 18months after accident with PCS / mild brain injury

GP continues to have no answers

Neurologist seen once - answer meds that reduce my blood pressure which made me dizzy, light headed, little effect on pain

Not under any medical support but struggling mainly with sensitivity to light, sound etc fatigue, headaches and all that comes with this as it impacts on daily functioning, concentration, reading, my job, energy levels, mood, what I can physically do in a day etc

Anyone find any answers or where to go? Or any advice

Thanks !

[pinkvision]

Hi get all the basics covered, optometry for vision, ENT for sound, vestibular for balance and spatial awareness, neuropsychology test for cognition. Get what you can from the NHS and go private for the rest. Your GP has little or no knowledge of PCS neither do neurologists in general. There's plenty of information at headway and in the stories of people here who will share some or all of your symptoms. Keep a diary of your days and record symptoms and where you are and what you are doing. This will create a pattern and you can work out the do's and don'ts of day life, what to avoid etc allowing you to manage your symptoms. It's doable, you just got to get the bit between your teeth, acknowledge the reality, be positive and get to work on it.

[Shreds]

A-W, my suggestion is not to fight it but perhaps accept that lying down and chilling for 30-60 mins can really empower you. Another suggestion is to do a physical workout which despite feeling fatigued can strangely give you energy and balance up mental and physical fatigue. Not medical science - just what I have found by carefully recording actions and results to determine successful outcomes.

Best. 👍

[Painting-girl]

Hello, that all sounds far too familiar. You need a referral to a neurologist that specialises in MTBI / post concussion problems. Not all do - and they aren't helpful. The neurologist can refer you to a neuropsychologist for cognitive testing - to find out what parts of your brain may be affected . A neuropsychologist can also coach you on fatigue management, and explain why some things are more cognitively tiring than others, and support you generally. Neuropsychiatrists specialising in concussion issues are your drug specialists, and not the neurologist- and they can advise on fatigue management. I also had a private referral to a sports physio specialising in concussion treatment. He worked on exercises for my vestibular and oculomotor problems, my neck to sort out constant headaches, and graded exercise on the Buffalo treadmill protocol test to address autonomic nervous system issues that you can get after MTBI - and de-conditioning. I made a lot of improvement in about six months. Still not back to my original self, but better able to cope.

Talk to the Headway helpline for advice on how to approach your GP for a referral - don't worry about people suggesting a neuropsychiatrist - they are the specialists on the brain when it malfunctions like this. Plus you may not be aware of depression and anxiety -but they tend to go hand in hand with brain injury, and add to the symptoms of MTBI/ post concussion. It's definitely not a suggestion that it's all in your mind.

Meanwhile

1) walk or use a static bike / elliptical, but stop if you trigger any concussion symptoms, and only exercise at a lower level than your trigger point.

2) take regular brain breaks - lay down in the quiet with your eyes shut for ten fifteen minutes every hour - set timers for yourself.

Good luck 🌸

[moo196]

Morning,Have you asked for a referral to the community neuro rehab team? Spoken to Yr local headway group?

Both were very helpful in my recovery.

Remploy were really good in talking to my employer about my symptoms, capabilities and work life.

Good luck!

[Gordo6500]

Hi Antique I know what you mean my Neuro and primary Dr . Had no treatment except go home and rest! Go to this website, BrainCare .com by Dr. Michael Lewis there is some very good info on Brain recovery. It helped me a lot! Get his book and read . You may want to try the Omega3 protocol.