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

I alm 9 months into my TBI. No terrible symptoms but depressed and anxious and my balance is not good. I can drive and my speech is fine but I'm getting discouraged because I don't know when this will all improve. I'm told the first year is the worst and I have a lot of support so I guess I will just have to be patient is anyone in the same boat as me!

@margaretallen

I am at month 13 but this is not my first TBI and I have Epilepsy from two no fault car accidents. I can’t stress enough not to allow anyone or anything to get you upset, TBI’s make panic attacks happen and they are no joke, they can set back recovery, cause symptoms and pain that you never even suffered with on the original TBI. The balance issues for me was severe vertigo at first but is now caused by the cognitive fatigue. I would recommend a speech pathologist as they can test to see what areas of the Brain are affected and come up with a treatment plan to teach anyone how to function as highly as possible with their specific circumstances. Know you are not alone and I get it, so hard to explain anything that a person with a TBI suffers with but I know if you get the right Neuro specialists to help it significantly improves your odds and helps with the quality of life.

I don’t think there is a blanket answer as to how long but my symptoms have improved significantly, I just have to live a different kind of life now, not so fast, no stress, not as quick with thinking but still fully functional, good thing God gave me more to start with, but you are right and very blessed to have a great support system, never stop pushing to get better in one area or another and remember physical therapy of all kinds is a huge key to success. I recommend a neurophycologist who understands how the TBI and the brain activity can impact how you feel as it’s not just simple depression or anxiety there are all kinds of factors that contribute to the things we must overcome.

You are in my thoughts and prayers

Thank you so much for that advice. I have a psychotherapist a psychiatrist a doctor and I'm doing programs with a brain clinic here in Canada. I'm glad to hear that after 13 months you are feeling somewhat better that's what I am hoping come this October.. luckily my speech wasn't affected It's mainly just the walking now and handling the anxiety

@nanacate
I am so glad to hear that your speech pathologist has helped you in so many ways. I wish you continued recovery!

@margaretallen

I am so happy to hear you have made so much progress too!! It’s such a difficult painful process. I did vestibular physical therapy too for the vertigo walking and balance but the brain not telling my legs what to do for a while after a set back was hard to deal with, mine passed with time and slowly increasing activity, lots of cognitive rest an no stress. Hope to hear you are feeling better soon and your walking improves. Let us all know how you’re doing, it’s always wonderful to hear the strides and progress we all are making. Lots of prayers for a speedy recovery!

@nanacate

You are welcome. It is so hard when sometimes people just don’t understand. I still remember after it first happened, looking at someone at the post office who was talking really fast (the way I used to) expecting me to understand and my brain just wouldn’t process the information and how embarrassed I was when I had to ask her to slow down and explain it to me so my brain would understand. I went home and cried so many times. I finally had to accept with the help of an excellent speech pathologist (who is a blessing sent straight from God) that with a lot of hard work, recognition of my cognitive fatigue triggers, building endurance and filling my toolbox that I am yes different but capable of doing everything I did before.

I know a lot of people can get back full functionality but sometimes we can’t and have to accept a new future doing things a little differently. Hope you are making good progress with your knew beautiful self and that you know your not alone. It’s okay to grieve and sometimes I still do but I am not embarrassed to be the slower, less stressed better version of myself now, I give myself permission for it to be okay and it doesn’t make us any less worthy than anyone else.

You will be in my thought and prayers.

@nanacate

You are doing great, been there with you! I keep hearing the same things too, rest, rest and more rest. I take short cognitive naps, about half hour, really helped in my circumstances but my speech pathologist says it takes time and it’s a gradual slow recovery that can be set back. I would definitely keep your speech pathologist and the neurologist in the know, so they can help you heal. Three TBI’s is a lot and you might ask them about your progress and how you are doing. I ask mine all the time so we can change and adjust the exercises, rest, activities ect. according to my fatigue levels. I had to sleep a lot in between to recover from the cognitive fatigue and sometimes still do, boring but it works.

You have got this, I will be thinking about you snd praying for you.

@jenniferctbisurvivor What a great post, Jennifer. It made my day. Thanks and God bless!

@margaretallen also I don't see much improvement after 6 months. Is this normal

Had my family all 9 of us here for four days. Now I am completely exhausted and depressed. I thought after 9 months I will be able to handle things like this