Post concussion syndrome help!

[Beaxx26]

Hello

I sustained a concussion playing football 2 1/2 months ago and since then have been experiencing post concussion syndrome.

I have tried to stay positive but it can be so exhausting when everyday feels like it has a set back! I haven’t been able to return to work and I have moved back in with my parents for extra support, so I’m feeling very isolated.

I started seeing a physiotherapist and saw some improvement of my physical symptoms but my mental fatigue & anxiety is debilitating. Even talking is tiring and when I reach my limit it can take days to recover. Recently I had a very scary day where I got so tired I passed out and was in and out of consciousness all the next day. it made me feel like I was right back at the start of my recovery.

As I’m approaching the 3 month mark I’m wondering will things get any better?

I had no other complications to the concussion, although I was not offered an MRI or CT scan.

Any recovery stories or experiences would be appreciated!

[pinkvision]

Hi first thing to do is go to A&E and get a CT scan to see if you have any acute brain injury problems. A few people on here were not initially scanned and were later found to have acute brain injury issues.

It's in the NICE guidelines for diagnosing brain injury after a head injury. They can't refuse, no need to get referred by a GP, you have already passed out so it's more of an emergency.

Do that first and then come back and you'll find plenty of help and advice on here whether its PCS or an acute TBI.

[Ideogram]

Hiya. Welcome.

I won't rehash advice on rehab etc as plenty on here, other than to recommend a call to Headway if not already done. Often GPs don't know what's available, so it's worth investigating yourself or getting a friend to do so for you.

Fwiw I'm four months in, still on waiting list for rehab or neuropsych but under a neurologist and private physio. For the longest time I felt like I wasn't improving at all, and I still haven't gone back to work or a lot of normal activities like driving etc - but I can tell that's the right approach as they would just overwhelm and overfatigue me. However the last month I've suddenly realised I am actually brighter cognitively than I was before - fewer instances of confusion, struggling to speak, forgetting what I'm doing etc - although they're definitely still there, particularly when I'm tired. The headaches have also generally improved and I can cope a bit better with things like walking around the supermarket (but still need to be driven and accompanied).

I've found other health issues in the meantime may have muddled my progress and fatigue is maybe the biggest issue now for me. Ofc that probably means that I'm noticing headaches less! I've definitely got better at spotting my triggers and stressors and not trying to do ten things at once and then crashing and burning (ok - a *tiny* bit better...). While this doesn't mean you're suddenly cured, it has really helped me get through it.

That said, everyone is totally different and will also have different preexisting health issues (I was already pretty run down) so other people's experiences on here will only help so much.

The community here has been great, and definitely helped me feel much less alone with all of this.

Best of luck.

[Nemo24]

It's a tough one especially if you have been fit and healthy previously. It is a case of taking it slowly I'm afraid. Definitely get checked out by doctor and specialists. Have a read up on Headways website too. Lots of information on it that helped me.

[Painting-girl]

It can get better B. As Nemo says it's hard if you've always been well previously. Good advice here already.

I'll add that fatigue is a big part of the post concussion experience, much bigger than I realised, with the benefit of hindsight - and management of fatigue is key to feeling better. Fatigue is like starting the day with a half empty battery that runs out quicker than other people's. Sometimes just getting up and washing and dressing is enough to give you a flat battery.

So take breaks to recharge. It sounds bats to your pre TBI self - but try taking a 'brain break' of ten-fifteen minutes every hour, in dim light, with no music, TV or screens, or reading.

Plus keep a fatigue diary and note how bad your fatigue is out of 10 and what activity preceded it, then you hopefully can work out a pattern. If something knocks you sideways try and break it down into smaller sections, with rest breaks in between.

Take care, and let us know how you be get on.