I admit I am one on of the less vocal and less overall posters in this community lately, and there is a valid reason for that besides not wanting to engage in political and religious discussions.
On Friday, August 6 of this year I sustained a concussion while attempting to make a catch while playing softball, at least my second concussion. I have no real recollection of my forehead hitting the ground besides what my teammates told me and the mild neck discomfort/pain I immediately experienced. This one is different though because I am not getting better.
My diagnosis is post-concussion syndrome since my symptoms have lingered and I am past the traditional bell curve for recovery.
For the past month I feel about the same, no worse or better, and I had an appointment with my concussion specialist this past Tuesday. I begin treatment on my neck soon and I go back to the concussion specialist in a month. She did give me medication to take at bedtime to help me sleep and hopefully ease the headaches. I am not experiencing blinding headaches and that is a blessing.
Here is my best attempt to describe my symptoms and no one can tell me when I will recover yet.
My head fills like when one has a head cold or one’s sinuses are blocked all the time and the headaches are mild, but persistent.
I take short rest breaks throughout the workday (busy periods make my symptoms worse), and I take at last one nap after work. This is the fatigue part, and I would like to sleep even more.
Occasionally I get lightheaded.
My goal is to be there/functional for my family and friends, and to take walks every day. Getting back on my mountain bike and playing sports again is not nearly as important and seems inconsequential at this point.
I share my story, not for sympathy, empathy, etc. but for awareness for others. Physical injuries are hard enough. Mental/brain injuries may be even harder. I am not comparing one to other. We all have all crosses to bear as it were. I appreciate the many members who have shared their stories too, like ravenb99 and Phil B.
My worst episode was counting and sorting Lego pieces about two weeks ago for the Lego Midi-Scale Millennium Falcon I bought off eBay. I began feeling very dizzy and nauseous, my wife helped me finished and I was better after lying down for two hours.