Post Concussive Syndrome…..is there an end in sight?

Hey there @tracibenn21, I just read your post and I'm truly sorry for what you went through, but I'd encourage you to keep your head up. Your story will be used to help and encourage others, like myself. 🙂 5 days ago marks 5 years since an accident I was miraculously spared from. I only had brief LOC. I had post-concussion syndrome also that wasn't caught until weeks later by my PCP - I could have sued the hospital who "treated" (never laid a finger nor a head CT) me. I was initially taken out of work, then able to return only part-time and with major restrictions. I suffered severe daily migraines for several months, but those finally subsided. I also had pretty bad vertigo and that was also temporary. My short-term memory, unfortunately, has been permanently damaged. But, if that's my only scar, then I'm exceedingly lucky, all things considered. I recently finished 8 mos of chiropractic care to correct what happened to my body during that accident and I've gotten 100% relief! I'm actually really grateful for that experience because it exposed some major health issues that can now be addressed. It's also given me huge perspective and a lot more confidence. I've been privileged to be able to encourage others at work and all around me. I wouldn't trade that for the world. Life is about giving back, our stories are not our own. So, yes - there absolutely IS light at the end of your tunnel and, in fact, you've been given a flashlight to use for the ride! Turn it on and look for the gifts you've been equipped with. There's joy and peace around you, I promise. Find the flower in the room; where there's one, there's more. But, they may be nightflowers and you'll have to look extra hard. I'm sorry you are suffering, I will not take away from the depth of your pain, but I'd encourage you to keep your eyes looking up. There are always rainbows in the sky, even in the darkest storm. You've made a huge stride just by arriving here and reaching out. You're already encouraging others 🙂 There's a lot of really wonderful people here in this community. May you find the peace you are looking for, relief from all your pain and good days ahead!

Hello, I am 7 years out from a major blow to my head on top of a life time of multiple concussions. My symptoms are very similar to yours. I hear your frustration! All the therapy can be exhausting so perhaps take a break. If work is too triggering, is there something else you can do? It took a long time for me to accept that I wasn't who I used to be and even longer to be ok with that. Your symptoms can still improve over time! Grant yourself some grace. I found it helpful to talk to my body as if I was talking to a child. You aren't alone!

@tracibenn - I am so sorry to hear what you are still going through. I have no personal history of concussions, but I have worked in the medical field and I have encountered many with similar experience.
My impression is that recovery time differs from one person to another.
I’m impressed that you have gone back to full time work- it must be very tiring.
Do you qualify for any disability?
Do you see a neurologist on a regular basis?
It is understandable that you experience anxiety and depression. Do you have any therapist to talk to? Maybe medication could help you with anxiety and depression.
It does take a long time for the body to heal from trauma- especially the brain.
My personal opinion is that you are taking on too much work now. Rest is an important part of the physical healing process.
Is there a social worker, for example, who can help you find out what help is available to you?
You will get better- it takes time and rest for body and mind. You sustained serious injuries. Hope you keep posting and letting us know how you are and what answers other members here can help you with.

I have also has similar concussion symptoms, though it sounds like your injury was more severe than mine. One effect you didn't mention, that I have, is a smell hallucination of burning coffee. I see this as being the olfactory of the tinnitus also experienced. I have gotten so much better but honestly it took a few years. I also have realized over the years that some of the symptoms originate in my neck, which was also impacted by the injury. Sometimes Ben Gay on my neck provides surprising relief. I cannot imagine doing the stressful work of nursing while recovering so would also ask if you can get disability and work less or not at all for awhile.

I'm so sorry! An injury from an assault at work can cause so much additional trauma. I suffered a concussion on March 3 so I'm not that far into my recovery and I'm not also trying to recover from the additional layer of understandable psychological trauma (I fell on ice and lost consciousness) of having been assaulted. Given everything your brain, body, and mind (which I think is its own phenomena) are having to handle, it makes so much sense that work is full of challenges to your recovery. I had tinnitus and hearing loss - voices sounded muffled but certain electronic sounds (cell phone rings, some music, etc.) were intolerable. I am easily fatigued and body temp seems out of whack. Some of the most difficult after-effects are psychological: it's hard not to feel like myself and it's hard to know when/if/how things will get back to "normal" - or if I'll even know what that feels like. I continue to say "I'm sorry but I don't remember ---" so many times and it takes a lot of positive self-talk to cope with feeling so differently abled right now. I've double-booked myself repeatedly and can't remember what I can't remember. It's rotten. I'm sure there are strategies that can help but I haven't figured it out yet.
I am trying to take a lot of breaks from work. I'm learning I might have two good days of what feels like almost normal productivity (though I still struggle with memory and anything that asks me to multi-task) and then need a day of doing nothing. Accepting this is hard but it really seems to help. I hope you have access to professional support for the toll of being assaulted and injured at work and can make the adjustments you need to recover with the compassion and support you deserve.

Welcome @mrhodes. I hope that @tracibenn21 has seen your supportive post and the comments from others like @rivermaya34 @stahnjohn and more.

mrhodes, this is all very new for you being only a month in recovery. You sound like you are approaching recovery with a positive attitude and giving yourself grace as John put it.

@stahnjohn, I'm intrigued that you find kindness towards yourself by talking to your body as you would a child. Does this help you be patient with your recovery?

First, I can’t imagine how frightened you were and how much you go through emotionally after being assaulted and hurt so badly by someone you were helping.

I hope this matters and helps, it sounds like you have more than post concussive Syndrome. I have a Diffuse Axonal Brain Injury. I have a lot of frontal lobe damage.

I am and have experienced your outcomes. If it is Diffuse Axonsl, (DAI), you will decline for two years as the axons and myelin sheath scar and also die.

A neuropsych report (full) from a neuropsychologist who does and interprets the findings is necessary. It is about four to five hours at once. It locates areas of the brain and level of function.

I am lucky that after two years I had brain scanning done and I had three white lesions and some diffused atrophy.

DAI injuries often don’t show. Think of the brain as a jello mold. Your white and gray matter accelerate and decelerate at different speeds. This is such basic info but I wish I could explain more. When they come back together, it is like a Jello mold that can also break but slide back perfectly together.

I had two master’s degrees and I still grieve this loss. It will be 6 years in June.

I would be interested to hear more. Maybe you don’t have a DAI. That brain injury will never get you back to your prior abilities. At least it is good to know. I saw an Medical cognitive SLP who specialized in brain injuries, strokes and swallowing disorders.
I look normal, so unless people spend a day at my home
With me, they can’t get it.

By talking to myself as if I was a child does help me to be patient with myself, just as I would not get angry at my children for being sick or injured, it reminds me to be gentle with myself