Living with post-concussion syndrome (PCS) is taxing. Symptoms can be a constant obstacle to all of those daily activities that require both your body and brain. Everyday activities can become laborious while the brain gradually heals. However, there are tools for coping that will allow you to create a manageable daily routine with PCS.
It is crucial to recognize that every case of PCS is unique, so everyone will need to design a coping strategy that works best for them that may not work for others. You may need to try different combinations of therapies until you discover the one that works best for you.
PCS Is Real
Post-concussion syndrome is enigmatic. Many doctors are puzzled that concussions can linger for so long. Studies reveal that more than 10% of people who get a concussion will develop PCS. Recovery can be further frustrated by spending time and energy justifying your condition to those who do not believe you. Understanding that PCS is a real illness and having confidence that treatment does help are crucial to maximizing your recovery.
Be Patient And Diligent With Your Recovery
PCS can be successfully treated but it usually takes months, not days. Sometimes you will experience big steps forward and other times it may seem tediously slow. Peaks and valleys are common but keep in mind that eventually, setbacks will become less common if you remain diligent. Be patient and take it one step at a time on the right track to recovery.
Be Honest About Your Symptoms & Use A Support System
During PCS recovery, a support system is essential. By being honest about your symptoms and your troubles with friends and family can better prepare you and your loved ones to offer support and encouragement. Be open and transparent. Many people who have suffered from PCS testify that it makes a huge difference when coping with PCS. There is strength in knowing your limitations.
Treatment & Therapies For Post-Concussion Syndrome
Generally speaking, there are two roads for post-concussion syndrome recovery: active rehabilitation and medication.
Active rehabilitation is the preferred path for concussion damage recovery but it may be cost-prohibitive. Most concussion specialist doctors conclude that individuals with PCS symptoms for more than one month will be ultimately diagnosed with PCS.
Typically, symptoms fall into five categories:
- Cognitive
- Physical
- Vestibular/Ocular
- Sleeping dysfunctions
- Behavioral/Emotional problems
For those that have had pre-concussion conditions, for instance, migraines or mood problems, the likelihood of a prolonged recovery period increases. But when coming up with the right recovery plan, the most important consideration is the number of symptoms you have now and how severe they are. The higher the number of symptoms, the longer your recovery period will likely be.
Most people with PCS have a wide range of symptoms. This often means working with more than one therapist throughout the recovery process.
Due to the multidisciplinary shape of active rehabilitation, most physicians will not be able to offer you a comprehensive program. While medication is often viewed as a last resort, some medications might be necessary to keep you functioning day-to-day but may not ameliorate the underlying problem. In other words, prescribing medication may help manage the symptoms of post-concussive syndrome without actually addressing their cause.
If the correct constellation of therapies is identified and gets traction, a person suffering from post-concussion syndrome will definitely experience notable improvement of their symptoms.
Employing the correct combination of physical and cognitive therapy can be the ideal route for the brain to return to more optimal function. Doing so requires a multidisciplinary approach. You may need to work/consult with a team of specialists, such as a clinical neuropsychologist, a neurosurgeon, a clinical psychologist, a neuromuscular therapist, an occupational therapist, or other specialists.
Meditation For Stress Relief
Stress can become more difficult to manage and may even provoke PCS symptoms. Meditation and relaxation can be great ways to promote brain health and personal well-being. Brain injury patients have reported feeling calmer, sleeping better, and enjoying a sense of physical and emotional balance after mediation. Meditation is a wonderful tool for staying positive and focused throughout the recovery process.
Diet And Exercise
Increasingly, the combined roles of a well-designed diet and exercise program have proven highly effective for PCS patients in recovery.
Diet is primarily evidenced for those with cognitive, mood, and behavioral symptoms. A Mediterranean diet consisting of fresh fruits and vegetables, grains, olive oil, dairy products, and fish appears to help with memory and dementia as well as other cognitive deficiencies.
Exercise is a stress reliever and has been shown to have protective and corrective effects on one’s cognition. However, it is crucial that any exercise does not exacerbate or trigger symptoms. You can slowly, gradually rebuild your exercise activities without making symptoms worse. But be careful; it is important not to provoke symptoms to the level that will increase them.
Color Filters For Ocular Related Symptoms
Various color filters covering the computer screen or eyeglass lenses will cause less exacerbation of symptoms. They also lower the brightness of the screen. Amber-colored gel sheets are the most popular for covering a computer screen.
With help for reading black print on white paper, most people like the blue filtered lenses on their glasses.
Everyone will be different in finding one or the other most beneficial to them.
Green-colored lenses for light sensitivity outdoors are also very popular. As sensitivity decreases, the green shades are gradually lightened.
Post-Concussion Syndrome Symptoms Years After An Injury
A patient may experience that symptoms of a concussion come and go or get better or worse over many months or years after the initial brain injury. For instance, some symptoms may get worse when accompanied by stress or too much exercise. A rule of thumb is to carefully control your diet, rest/sleep, and exercise routines to reduce your symptoms. Deviating from a well-crafted routine can trigger symptoms to return. Consistency is important.
Even if a brain injury happened years in the past, you can still get positive results. PCS always remains treatable. With the correct therapies, your will improve with treatment. There are many cases where a patient experienced remarkable progress well beyond an injury, even decades.
Many post-concussion syndrome patients endure symptoms for years before discovering they have PCS. Once diagnosed it may still be troublesome to get the appropriate treatment. Many doctors are simply not aware of the most recent research and newest practices.