Tag: #concussion

Chronic Pain

Holding on vs letting go…

concussedmom

Happy Brain Injury Awareness Day, 2021. Because of the pandemic, the briefing on Capitol Hill was conducted virtually, which allowed me to participate for the first time. This briefing was held by the Congressional Brain Injury Taskforce and the focus this year was, no shock, the effect of Covid 19 on the TBI population. There was a lot of scientific talk thrown around, but the most remarkable contribution, to me, came from former football player, Eric Washington, whose life was dramatically altered by concussions. Mr. Washington expressed a thought that I have had many, many times throughout this pandemic. He pointed out that now everyone in our country has experienced something similar to what those with brain injuries do- everything in life changing on a dime. Each “normal,” daily activity has had to be altered and reimagined through this pandemic; much as the lives of TBI patients have had to be. We all have been left with a year, (or a lifetime), unlike what we may have imagined. What we do with it is up to us.

#concussion, #pcs

More than “just a headache.”

concussedmom

Warning: political opinions ahead.

Recently, the president of the United States ordered air attacks which resulted in retaliatory missile attacks against our troops in Iraq. To date, 50 US service people have been diagnosed with Traumatic Brain Injuries. Instead of recognizing these injuries as serious, and potentially life-altering, the person who is in charge of these brave service members chose to minimize their diagnosis. To quote the president, talking about these soldiers, he said “I heard they had headaches and a couple of other things, but I can report that it’s not very serious.”

On the contrary, President Trump. The United States Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center has written, “The high rate of TBI and blast-related concussion events resulting from current combat operations directly impacts the health and safety of individual service members and subsequently the level of unit readiness and troop retention. “

If The United States Department of Defense recognizes TBI as a very serious injury, shouldn’t the leader of our country? Shouldn’t he, at the very least, refrain from making such uninformed commentary?

*Insert knowing eye-roll*

At one time, we had a president who cared enough to be informed about an issue before he spoke. Back in 2014, President Obama said, “I’ve seen in my visits to wounded warriors [that] traumatic brain injury is one of the signature issues of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.” That year, the US, along with the NCAA committed 30 million dollars for concussion research- research that is going to help care for these newly wounded soldiers.

The National Institute of Health recognizes that there is no such thing as a “mild” traumatic brain injury. If only the person in charge of our troops did. The Veterans of Foreign Wars group is demanding an apology for Trump’s erroneous comments. I hope they receive it.


Chronic Pain

The Role of Sex in Concussion Treatment

concussedmom

Today is International Women’s Day- perfect timing for the latest release of Challenge Magazine from the Brain Injury Association of America.

https://www.biausa.org/public-affairs/public-awareness/news/the-challenge-women-in-brain-injury-issue-available-online

More and more research suggests that while men suffer more brain injuries per year, women’s brains are more susceptible to concussions.

There is also research supporting that women’s brains are more complex (but we won’t tell the men that 😉)

It’s becoming increasingly clear that women and men need individual treatment plans regarding their injuries- or the discrepancies will continue to grow.

PINK CONCUSSIONS is an organization formed to do just that. From their website:

PINK Concussions is the FIRST EVER non-profit organization with a highly personal and urgent mission to improve the pre-injury education and post-injury medical care for women and girls challenged by brain injury including concussion incurred from sport, violence, accidents or military service. 

Today, on International Women’s Day, I, for one, am thankful for the research and development about women’s concussions, and I hope it continues. I also pray that one day, they will find a cure for long-term PCS sufferers like me. Until then, I will continue to fight and try to remain hopeful.

Chronic Pain

In a flash..

concussedmom

IT all happened without me even realizing it was happening.  I had just dropped my girls off at daycare, and I was sitting at a cross intersestion, waiting to make a left turn my school. I was watching the traffic pattern- trying to anticipate when it would be my turn to edge ahead.  There was a pick up truck directly in front of me.  He had his turn signal on- as I did- we were both turning left.

And then, the flash happened.  I didn’t see it coming, nor did a I realize, at first, how significant that moment would be in my life.  In a flash, my and my familiy’s life changed.

A distracted driver ran right jnto the back of my minivan- causing my full travel mug  to be tossed across my front seat.  Likewise, it caused my head and neck to be tossed forward and back, two times over.  My brain bounced within my skull and my neck was strained beyond its capacity, and with these injuries, my life was forever changed.

It can happen to anyone- and it can happen in a flash- so embrace each moment for all that it is worth- you never know if it could be the end of the old, and the start of your new life.

Be aware, and don’t believe The Myth of Mild Concussion.

 

Chronic Pain

Vestibular Concussions

concussedmom
Balance is everything

As I have posted about before, there are several different classifications of concussions. One such possible concussive area of impairment is the vestibular system. http://rethinkconcussions.upmc.com/2016/10/concussion-clinical-trajectories/

Unfortunately, this is one of the deficiencies I have had experience with since my concussion. Your vestibular system is the balance center of the brain — affect one’s ability to interpret motion, coordinate head and eye movements, or stabilize vision upon head movement.

In my own laymen’s experience- my vestibular system allows my body to figure out where it is positioned, at any given time, and also interpret movement around me. When the vestibular system is taxed, the brain automatically begins to rely more on input from your eyes, thereby exhausting that system further. Even to this day- if I am asked to close my eyes and balance on one leg, I VERY quickly lose my footing. When my accident occurred, I had two toddlers. This proved to be very challenging. Just imagine how many times we, as mothers, crouch down to tie shoes, fasten clothes, or give hugs. Now imagine again that each of the incidents were extra-taxing for the brain. It was a chore not to lose my balance each time I crouched down, which was quite often, and exhausted my brain even more.

During my time in Vestibular therapy, I worked with Dr. Anne Mucha, the preeminent therapist in the UPMC Sports Medicine program. Anne took care of me when I would wake up with spontaneous vertigo. She also worked with me when I had space and motion disorder. She put me through the paces in therapy for 9 months- and boy, it was thoroughly exhausting. I wasn’t able to drive myself to these appointments, and sometimes, my brain would be so taxed that I would fall asleep on the twenty minute ride home. In fact, I would often be so fatigued that I would have to sleep for hours after our appointments. While I wasn’t able to fully recover from my vestibular issues, I know that I had the very best working with me to help me heal, and for that, I am thankful.

Chronic Pain

Is it Friday, yet?

concussedmom

It is currently lunch time on Wednesday, and when I add it up, I have spent approx. 9 hours in doctors’ offices, and 3 hours at the dentist so far this week. To be fair, 2 hours of the doctor visits were for my oldest daughter, and the dentist was for my youngest daughter, but I am still one tired momma.

When you throw in “normal” everyday activities like showering, dressing, food prep and consumption, I feel like I have used up all of my spoons very early in the week. So for the rest of today- or at least for the next few hours, this is my view-

(Notice the ears of my always faithful, comforter in chief.❤️)

To summarize the result of my appointments, I have to consult with a pulmonologist because a sleep study showed that I am losing oxygenation when I sleep (not like apnea when you stop breathing). My rheumatologist also suspects an auto-immune response in my body- though she hasn’t pinpointed what, yet. My bloodwork is negative, and she suspects seronegative arthritis, a form of rheumatoid arthritis. This is all a bit nerve-wracking to me as my mother passed from auto-immune disorders three years ago. Knowing that the brain injuries can lead to disruptions in ALL areas of the body, I have legitimate reason to be concerned.

I am also being referred to a OMT Physical Medicine and Rehab doctor to treat me for allodynia and other pain issues. The lucky part of that is the doctors I was referred to are former co-residents with my CURRENT PMMR doctor that I see for concussion management– but I have to be honest, it’s completely overwhelming to think of adding two more doctors to my mix- not to mention that the therapy docs are 45 min away. I am already going to one medical massage per week and one-two physical therapy sessions- along with whatever other appointments come my way. It would be overwhelming for a person with a healthy brain and body to navigate this all, but for a spoonie like me, it feels like I am standing in front of a mountain that I need to climb, and the terrain goes straight up the face.

My head is spinning, and I am employing all of my “just do the next, right thing” beliefs, ala Glennon Doyle, and that is the only thing making it possible for me to crawl out of my bed each day. I WANT to spend my time and energy anywhere but in the doctor’s office or on my couch, but that seems to be my path for the next few weeks, at least. (Did I mention that my daughter ALSO has to have PT twice a week for a shoulder injury?)

It’s all a bit much, and it’s time to bring in the reinforcements. So I would like to know, what is YOUR best spoonie tips for surviving when doctor and therapy appointments are adding up?

(Bonus points if they don’t cost a lot of money- it’s easy to outsource cleaning, laundry and meals when money isn’t an object, but when facing some high out of pocket expenses, that has to be factored in, as well.)

I hope to have enough energy to finish my post about vestibular therapy, soon- so be on the lookout!

Chronic Pain

Neurofatigue

concussedmom

The thing about learning how to blog- and trying to organize all of my thoughts is that it is very tiring. So while I may have a series of ideas bouncing about in my head, and maybe some snappy one-liners cued up, I have to figure out a way to pace myself so as to not do harm.

Everyone gets tired. People may even use the expression “brain dead” to describe themselves after a particularly tough day. Neurofatigue after brain injury is totally different. In fact, I would relate my Neurofatigue to going “All In” in a game of poker with one pair. Unless there is some random stroke of luck, there is nothing left.

In the early years of my accident, I would often “feel” my brain trying to work. I would describe it best as I would get a “flopping” sensation in the front of my brain- one that I would liken to a goldfish who had somehow fallen out of its bowl. My brain was flopping and twisting for its life. Today, this sensation happens a lot less, (Thank God!), but it is still brought on when I work too hard on matters of perception (such as puzzles) or when I am trying to synthesize too much information from too many sources. As a result, as I flip back and forth through WordPress guides and tutorials in order to learn how to make my hyperlinks work, or how to allow followers to know how to contact me, and also write, it can be a challenge.

So while I have a LOT to say about brain injuries, chronic pain, migraines and the like- it may take a bit in between posts. I hope to continue to reach other #warriors and remind myself, and them, that someone DOES understand.

Chronic Pain

Sometimes, I feel like that pony…

concussedmom

Some days, I feel like I only have one “trick” up my sleeve, and today is one of them. Perhaps it is because I did “too much” yesterday. I had a physical therapy session for myself, and then had to pick my daughter up early from school for her own PT session. I then went out with my family for a quick bite, returned home to help with a homework assignment, and dissected the plot of a television show with my oldest daughter. Oh, and then I had to shower and blow my hair half- dry before turning in to bed. These are all mundane tasks for the healthy person, but maybe that was all too much for one, mid-winter day. I never know the answer.

Today, I had to awaken an hour earlier than usual to take my youngest daughter in for some dental work. (Anytime my sleep is thrown off in the slightest, I can pay the price for days after). Whatever the reason is, today, I feel like I have accomplished all that I can for the day. And that is a difficult pill for me to swallow. As I lounge on my couch, huddled in a blanket to try and keep warm, I stare aimlessly at the tv, or social media- because I know that reading a book would be too taxing for my brain. I look at my family room that needs redecorated after taking all of our cozy Christmas decorations down, and I wish I had the energy to Pinterest -up some projects around my house. I try not to think of the ever-growing mound of laundry upstairs, and I take mental inventory of what we have in the refrigerator to try and determine an easy dinner to make. I do this all while keeping a watchful eye on the clock for when my girls will be home from school- because each day, I paste a smile on my face and greet my kids with whatever energy remains within me. On days like today, maybe that should count as my second trick– assisting with homework, the daily run-down, and extra-curricular activities– they all take energy that most people don’t ever have to think about. But, I do- and sometimes, it can be tricky.

#pcs, Chronic Pain

The question of rest

concussedmom

How do I determine when to push ahead, and when to listen to my body and rest? These are questions that I struggle with daily. Each morning, I wake up not feeling refreshed. I put one foot in front of the other and rely on the scientific theory, “An object in motion will stay in motion.”  I rely on this mantra as I push through the initial fog, reach for my medicine, and begin to fuel my body for the day.

After the hustle and bustle of getting the kids out of the door for school; I take time to assess my body and brain for how they are feeling each day.  What hurts most today? (Unfortunately, for the past 7 + years, it has never been ‘Does anything hurt?’) I also need to assess how alert I am. Am I following conversations well, or am I feeling confused? Is there any part of me that needs to be addressed before I can start my day?  Sometimes, my medicine will kick in and I feel more alert and capable after a half hour or so. Other days, I feel like my energy and focus are nowhere to be found. It can be incredibly random and therefore difficult to predict- all which can lead to more frustration if I let it. With it’s myriad of symptoms, there is no getting around it, living with Post Concussion Syndrome (PCS) is challenging.

 I check my schedule for the day to see if there are any appointments or errands that I must attend to, and if not, I typically take that time to sit on my couch, peruse social media, and flip between Good Morning America and the Today show as I continue to take inventory of myself.

Some days, I have non-negotiable appointments set up- and they can be both good and bad for me.  When I have to be out of the house, I typically get ready and go- no matter how I am feeling- and I deal with the consequences later. Doctor’s appointments and physical therapies can be both motivating and exhausting at the same time.  I rely on adrenaline to see me through, and I crash when I get home. Those days, I get frustrated because I feel like I have spent all of my “good energy” addressing my health and not doing anything fun or fulfilling- but I also can find solace in the fact that I have ticked concrete items off of my to-do list, therefore “earning” the exhaustion I feel.  The equation is balanced in that occasion. Other days, I may not have anything concrete on my schedule, only a list of tasks I would like to accomplish or things that I “should” do. These days can be trickier to navigate because logically, I know that my body DOES need more rest, so how do I balance what I would like to accomplish and what I should do?  How can I tell what would be best for me in the long run- to push or to rest?  Seven plus years into this journey, I still struggle daily with how to answer that question.  Sometimes, I even wonder if someone should be making that decision FOR me because it feels like too often, I have a tough time finding balance between the person I desire to be and the person I now am- and I still have a very difficult time accepting that fact. One day, I hope to be able to accept myself as I currently am, not who I was.

Chronic Pain, Uncategorized

Where’s the party?

concussedmom

What’s the one party that no one wants to be invited to?  Yup, that’s right. A pity party. When I share about concussions, my spine injuries, or even migraines, its with the intent to further understanding.  True, I want people to understand what I face on a daily basis, but I don’t want pity. I want empathy and understanding. I want people to know that when I am hesitant to make plans, or have to cancel at the last minute due to not feeling well, well, I want them to know it’s the truth and it’s not something I take lightly.

On the flipside, I also want family and friends to recognize that when I DO show up, when I DO accomplish a mundane task like cooking a full meal, attending a friend’s party, or even washing and folding a basket of laundry, it IS a really BIG deal.  Those tasks can be momentous for me on any given day- and more often than I would like, they are out of reach. Think about that. I know no one WANTS to do laundry, and we certainly bemoan the constant question of “What’s for dinner?” But what if you just couldn’t manage those tasks on a regular basis?  What if you had to face your husband, day after day after a full day of work and school, and admit that dinner wasn’t something you had enough energy left to accomplish. That would frustrate all parties involved.  

The constant challenge for people with chronic illness to complete the mundane tasks of everyday life is not one that too many people recognize unless they have experienced it themselves. Think of how it feels the first week or two after having the flu- how everything is exhausting and takes so.much.extra.energy. Even showering.  That is what it feels like on a regular basis to live with chronic illnesses.

So while I don’t need a parade in my honor when I DO show up at a school event or a party;  I DO want people to recognize how much harder it was for me to accomplish the same tasks that so many take for granted. And ultimately, I want that understanding to motivate others to appreciate their own lives.