8th Month Post-Concussion Update

April 29, 2016

Today is my 8th-month post-concussion anniversary.  Each month I like to reflect on what progress I've made from the previous month and share any new information I've come across.  First, I'd like to share a scripture that has truly blessed me.

You see, the mind of a person suffering from a concussion goes through many challenges.  We first have to navigate our normal world with an abnormally functioning brain.  Our brains are healing and making new pathways and sometimes they don't always match up quite right.  For instance, as I'm typing Grammarly is a huge help.  I used to be a terrific speller and now I misspell words and even type them backwards.  What the fudge?  LOL!!!  

Meditating on the Word of God is a huge help for me.  I don't know what other people rely on to pull them through, but my faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is everything to me.  When I ask for his help, guidance, wisdom, peace, or whatever I need to get through this ordeal, he always supersedes my expectations.  We have gotten much closer during these past 8 months.  

Anxiety

This month I cannot stress the importance of my continued need to rest.  I'm not just talking about resting my body, but my mind from anxious thoughts.  Anxiety is one of the worst feelings ever.  I'm tired of wondering what I'm supposed to be doing next and forgetting what I forgot.  When I forget something it seems to really amp up the anxiety.  Trying to measure my life now to the life I used to live also causes distress and frustration that is a recipe for all kinds of physical symptoms like headaches, muscle tension, neck pain, and overall fatigue.  

So, what I'm doing to help with my restfulness and reduction of anxiety is massage therapy 2-3 times a week.  Not only does this help me relax, it also relieves the irritated nerves and muscle pain from my pinched nerve in my neck.  This pinched nerve had not been bothering me since last September, then out of the blue, it starts acting up while I was at work.  I noticed my inability to type without my left arm literally spasming out of control.  I couldn't type for a few minutes and had to take many breaks to complete my work day.  

To have symptoms return is no good feeling at all.  All of the specialists I see tell me to cut down on the stress and not think about the concussion when I notice a physical symptom, but how can I NOT think about my injury when I am numb down my left arm and the muscle at my shoulder region is tight as a tennis ball?  How can I not think about the concussion-whiplash combo effect that is taking place in my body?  I never had these issues prior to my car accident, so I AM going to pay attention to my body.  Pain is a sign that something is going on that needs to be checked out.  Sorry for going on a tangent, but when professionals who are supposed to be well learned in this matter start treating you like:  

It gets my goose cooked.  I created this meme because it makes me laugh and it is very true.  Doctors have a hard time acknowledging when they don't know something, or if you don't heal in the time they had mapped out for you.  Yep, doc, it IS in my head!!!!

Neuropsychology Testing

On April 21st, I had a very exhausting 3 hours of neuropsychological testing.  This test is designed to determine how my brain is functioning and whether there are impairments needing continued rehab attention or even psychiatric attention.  The first hour was spent on going over my medical history and after talking for an hour my speech started changing.  In comes the island-girl accent.  It's got to freak people out who are not used to my variations in speech.  Even after 6 months of speech therapy, I'm still not back at my baseline.  When I'm tired, forget it.  I get a new accent and tongue tied altogether.  

I had several battery of tests to assess my personality, visual processing, executive functioning and working memory.  On April 28th, I returned to receive my results.  I was happy for the quick turn-around time in the scoring of my test.  I found the information useful because the test displayed my impaired executive functioning and visual spatial processing?  Confused yet?  Ok, I'll break it down in laymans terms.

Executive Functioning: The Frontal lobe is what controls executive functioning.  It is the brain's ability to organize, multitask, make decisions, control emotions, concentration and problem solving, as well as the ability to control behavior.  The blow to the back of my head caused a counter richochet within the front of my head.   I had felt a horrible sharp pain in my frontal region upon impact.  I didn't know then how much this blow would effect my daily life and how I think and process information.  

During the test, I would easily get overwhelmed when switching between tasks.  My brain acted like it just wanted to shut down.  I even felt lost like when you are reading a book, and lose your place or something. This explains why I struggle to do some of the simplest taks at times.  It also makes working extremely difficult.  In fact, I was only working 1 day a week for 8 hours.  Even that little bit of time causes issues.  So now, I will be back home fully recovering after my last shift on 4/30/16.  I am encouraged to know where I am to chart where I need to go. 

Visual Spatial Processing: The primary region that regulates vision is in the Occipital lobe in the back of the head.  Although there are several areas in the brain that aids vision, this region has the most impact on it.  When it is impaired how you process distances with space, and  perceiving objects are affected.  For me, I had a hard time connecting the dots on an assignment on my test.  It was hard for me to find the next connection when it was millimeters to my left.  Instead, I circled about 360 degrees around and away from the answer that was literally right beside my last dot I had connected.  I still don't know how or why I couldn't make that easy distance calculation, but I believe I understand a little more giving the areas injured in my brain.  This also explains why I had so much trouble reading, and processing information too.  It's like I almost lost my ability to get a mental picture of things too.  This also impaired my ability to retain what I was seeing.  I am so blessed to have been in vision therapy since December, 2015.  It has made a huge impact on my vision and overall cognitive abilities.  I will be continuing treatment until July 2016.  I wish it didn't take so long to heal, but I'm going to stay focused.  

 Source: National Institute on Drug Abuse (1997). Mind Over Matter: The Brain’s Response to Drugs, Teacher’s Guide.

For more information:  https://science.education.nih.gov/supplements/nih2/addiction/guide/lesson1-1.html

Coming Up

My test results have shared vital information for my multiple providers to use.  I will be evaluated to receive additional assistance with  my executive functioning and vision issues.  I will also be closely monitored to stay on top of anxiety or any mental health concerns as they come up.  It was very hard being told not to multi-task when my role as a registered nurse calls for that and so much more.  I guess as it is said, "where there is a will, there is a way."  I have a will to do my best to eliminate stress, stay connected with my loved ones, and keep believing God is going to get me through this victoriously.  So, stay tuned and bless you all.