Rehab post concussion

[Muzzyfoxster]

Has anyone any advice on walking whilst recovering with Post Concussion Syndrome, who managed to recover..is it best to start with two or three shorter walks a day that do not fatigue you, or just do one walk a day?

[Shreds]

Exercise is good and sadly something that the NHS dont include in most rehab. Have you done much walking previously? That will determine what you should do now.

I would say start off with short sessions and maybe increase your target distance each week. The sense of freedom and getting “back to normal” was so encouraging for me that I think everyone should do it.

Because I was reasonably fit beforehand I had a higher tolerance threshold and I now distunguish between fatigue often caused by mental or clerical work and exhaustion after exercise which seems to be different.

[Muzzyfoxster in reply to Shreds]

Thanks..yes used to do 5-8 miles..and play walk football..how i was injured unfortunately. Think it depends also on the degree of inj you sustained.

[cat3]

Hi Muzzy. I'm not walking much right now owing to a knee injury but, usually, I walk outdoors every other day for a couple of hours.

A SAH left me with balance problems and, on bad days when I feel unsafe outdoors, I walk briskly from the furthest corner of my bedroom, down the stairs to front door and back again 5 times .....better than nothing and not so demanding balance-wise.

But for me, getting out amongst different sights & sounds is the best tonic for creating feelgood hormones and for muscle & cardio health. Been really missing it !

You'll know what suits you from trial & error. Too much and you mightn't have energy enough for other activities, but finding what's right for you can definitely enhance mood and general fitness... x

[Muzzyfoxster in reply to cat3]

Thanks..hope your knee mends soon..im doing a mix currently as headache still with me

[Muzzyfoxster in reply to cat3]

In June las yr i was ahead of where i am now but going bck to work set me back as pc had not gone ...i could walk slightly further then but am approaching that now with a break ...i positively assume that having got further down the line then..i can get there and recover eventually..finger crossed?

[cat3 in reply to Muzzyfoxster]

I know the word moderation may have a boring ring to it Muzzy but, hopefully, you're finding it's the key to reaching your best possible self.

ps ...love your username (just back indoors from feeding my gorgeous visiting foxes)..... 🦊🦊 x

[Muzzyfoxster in reply to cat3]

Awww in keeping with your helpful nature on here. Whats an SAH?

[cat3 in reply to Muzzyfoxster]

It's a Subarachnoid haemorrhage, so a bit of a mouthful. 🙄 Basically a bleed on the brain from a ruptured vessel in the Subarachnoid space. In my case it was spontaneous ; not trauma related.

On a lighter note, I hope the sun's shining for you wherever you are. It's freezing here in NW 😬but beautiful blue skies... x

[skydivesurvivor]

welcome! Sounds a good start to y recovery! I was a bit worse it seems, spent 4 weeks in a coma 6 months in various hospitals. 3 months in neuro rehab. Broke femur so walking was a trying task, take it easy! Will get there in time. Use this site to vent y frustrations on y journey?

[Muzzyfoxster in reply to skydivesurvivor]

My mistake was trying to go back to work in June, when I thought the Post Concussion Syndrome had gone....im almost bck to where i was then..so would say good start but lack of guidance ...which now am getting more here tgan anywhere else helps..awaiting currently a neuro regeraal..found my GPs less than useful..eg prodding back of my head when told her where i get headache...thus managing to re aggravate it

[skydivesurvivor in reply to Muzzyfoxster]

Lost benefits in 2004, spent year awaiting appeal. Awarded 2x what was required for long term if nothing else head injury teach y too be patient?!! sick. S/services stood back as mum was looking after me. She was nearly 70?!!! She’s since died so went back to s/services. They sent me to memory clinic who sent me for brain scan again!! The Dr’s were astonished at what they saw. 23+ years after tbi now looking for someone to socialise? Another s/worker is trying to get me driven to day centre, meal on wheels etc. 3 months on & still waiting!!

[Leaf100]

Hi MFIf walking outdoors doesn't trigger symptoms...say due to a lot of noise from something...then I would say take it steady.. and aim for the shorter walks that don't wear you put.

You won't recover as fast from anything as you did before, most likely.

The other thing to be aware of, is to watch your automatic systems. What? Well, you may find when you overheat you don't cool off automatically as you did before - watch for your face getting really flushed and it it does, rest. You may also find you don't feel cold while you are out , and a few hours later you are freezing and don't know why - or are too hot and don't know why. Keep a log of anything that happens that seems odd, or that others point out to you. It can take a bit to put two and two together- anything can crop up, from not sweating when you should to issues with the elimation system.

There may not be much, bit you never know.

That's why I say take ot steady. You will be increasing your fitness, just not challenging your cardio too much. (People with brain injuries are more prone to heart issues.)

Well, that sounds rather gloom and doom - though you may find everything is OK. Increase very slowly... I would say keep.the same at least two weeks before you increase, and then not by much. Your brain will benefit from the extra oxygen and the exercise, you are in support mode, not challenge mode.

Leaf

[randomphantoms]

Aaaashhhh walking. The wonder drug.

Depending on your confidence you can walk alone or with others.

You can walk unsupported or use a stick, walking pole or frame....whatever you need.

Only walk to your limits at that time.

Try to walk where you can be away from buildings. Green space is wonderful.

Physio can help you to learn to walk properly again too.

Good luck and enjoy.

[Teazymaid]

hi for me regular walking was difficult with balance and leg pain but without the fresh air and physical work I’m unsure how much recovery I would have made .. although I’m not so good at the moment I wouldn’t have changed my approach to my version of rehab .. Sue 😊

[Painting-girl]

Hi Muzzy, I'd keep within your fatigue limits on walking - keep an eye on how you feel a day or two afterwards too. When I wanted to walk to a particular destination that was really outside my capabilities, the physio suggested that I walk there (as reaching the sea was really important to me) but then stop and rest for at least twenty minutes and eat and drink something before heading back. Without breaking the walk up like that I could be washed out for a couple of days afterwards. He also wanted me to train for the twenty minutes of graded exercise within my pulse rate limits for that week on the alternate days between the longer walk. Do you have a smart watch? Can you track your pulse rate while walking? I found on the graded exercise on the stationary bike that if I got beyond my 'set' pulse rate for that week, that my pulse rate shot up and got very erratic, the idea was to be able keep it steady within a range that did not exacerbate any post concussion symptoms like nausea or a headache like a right band round my head. Presumably these symptoms and the erratic pulse rate could be triggered by walking as well?