How long does post concussion head pain and cognitive fatigue last?

@raggedyanne You are so right! Everyone should obtain and keep copies of their medical records, and review them carefully to see if their doctor's not got his or her facts wrong, because it happens all the time. I also strongly encourage everyone to prepare a memorandum they give to every one of their doctors for inclusion in their file that details their history and pre-existing medical conditions before the onset of the condition for which they are seeking treatment. If that memo is in your medical record, then your doctor is charged with knowledge of its contents.

@patty78962

I got whacked on the top of my head by a 10 foot long pole that jumped out of someone else's make-shift brackets 7 feet up. Gee it has been an interesting 10 months. 3 different vestibular physical therapists because I moved from a great one to be closer to my neurologist and other better medical services. 1 therapist was down right mean to me----so I dumped that office and person, reported her to Patient Relations and my neurologist. Have been going to a 3rd one but now she doesn't think she can fix my tipping walk, and dizziness when I look up. Saying this may be as good as I'm ever gonna be. Okay. That's hard for me because I used to walk a mile a day and now I can't. Can't follow the story line in a book or a movie with too many characters. I also mess up with words. I usually catch myself after I have said "bread" when I meant "bed". But that stuff is hard for our daughters and grand kids to witness. Once in a while to screw up is no big deal, but every day?
My sweet husband died of a rare cancer six days after diagnosis, almost 15 years ago. I can't comprehend 15 years. Even before the concussion I couldn't grasp 15 years. I found a great counsellor/therapist. He is young enough to be my son, but I can talk to him. He gives me tools to manage anxiety and depression and grief and trauma. In a week with too many of those he will see me twice in a week, we've done that a few times. I told him those extra sessions are helping him pay off his student loans. Every week he has me write a story about my husband --it has been a real help to me to remember the good times, the not so great times and the goofy ways my husband made me laugh during hard times.
I also am a writer, but now I don't have the patience for proofreading and I'd like to scream over the spell check--I know what word I want to use! I have witty remarks to share too, some of my friends say I should go to an Open Mic Night and do stand up comedy just telling life stories. But can I remember the punch line? I suppose I have to admit, being 75 and creeping up on 76 doesn't help my brain injury any either. My neurologist asked me how old I was. I said, "My license says I'm 75, but I'm in denial." When the heck did 75 creep up on me? Probably in the last 15 years when I've been in shock and a fog without my husband.

@emdlewis
yes, has been 5 years ago but was told that i shouldn't still be in pain...
that was 4 months after my initial fall and injuries. They found a ruptured disc. the headaches it came down to ocular migraines . broken floating rib didn't help any. as For the other issues you describe and the doctor not listening, i would be looking for another doctor. My daughter got lucky in that in her 5th try landed a good one and he treats us both. very talented younger man. i can only hope you find one that still cares about every patient that is his and treats them with respect. good luck. Have a rest of the day blessed and Ps, after time some of the symptoms have gotten better and no i did not get the disc repaired would have meant surgery and i am not for that at all after having a tumor removed from my brain.

@raggedyanne
You may want to consider seeing a Speech and Language pathologist for an evaluation and treatment.

I fell your pain! I had a fall and subsequently 3 concussions within one yr with post-concussion syndrome. It is now 7 mos since my last fall and I am still physically fatigued, short term memory is very poor, and brain fog persists. I have been advised symptoms may last as long as a yr. Of course, it depends on one's age, and a number of variables. Good luck to you!

@raggedyanne
You may want to consider seeing a Speech and Language pathologist for an evaluation and treatment.

Hello everyone,

Been awhile but I thought I would share some new learned information.

A speech and language pathologist is a must have for the physical therapy exercises to help minimize the Aphasia and to prove options for physical therapy exercises to possibly rebuild the neuropathways in the brain and learn different ways to function. Notes and journals help enormously with the memory and helping the constant cognitive fatigue. Never let yourself get too cognitively fatigued as I have found with lots of experience that it can actually make the Aphasia speech issues, the physical balance that makes it feel or seem like a severe case of Vertigo, slow down functioning, memory and functioning all together. Lots of breaks help….taking short quiet breaks or power half hour naps with eyes closed helps prevent the fatigue as it takes days to recover from cognitive fatigue symptoms after becoming fatigued…The head pain I have found for me is a combination of eye convergence insufficiency….daily physical therapy exercises for the rest of my life helps the head pain a lot and when pushed to hard to become cognitively fatigued or overly stressed or pressured at work also causes more head pain….Prioritize yourself and your health, know your limits and learn your rights. Never ever let the stress stay unaddressed at be allowed to cause a physical stress reaction after a TBI as there are so many injuries, physical consequences relating to the Cortisol and Adrenaline levels.

Hope everyone is staying well, being your own advocates and doing as much research as you can, that has helped me the most and got me to the appropriate specialists needed to get as much treatment as possible. It has been and is still the toughest recovery and grieving process I have ever faced, but with God’s help I have been blessed with a different life. I still get very sad and constantly have to grieve the loss of who I will never be anymore but God has a reason for everything. I hope everyone is also finding a way back into some kind of life after their TBI’s and hopefully this information helps someone, even if it’s knowing you are not alone….I understand and see you too! You don’t need to be perfect, or the same, so what if we are different now we are all still beautiful, worthy, loved and so very special for being one of a kind originals.