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My partner had a concussion many years ago, it was an eye-opening experience. After months of mostly-useless conversations with doctors, neurologists, etc, we
by ruddct 2y ago
My partner had a concussion many years ago, it was an eye-opening experience.
After months of mostly-useless conversations with doctors, neurologists, etc, we visited a sports medicine specialist who worked with snowboarders, skiers, etc, people who get concussions frequently.
The way the specialist described common concussion symptoms was really interesting: Effectively, your brain finds balance by using a combination of sight, touch (feet), and your inner ear. A concussion can impact the inner ear part of that equation, so your brain is overly reliant on sight and touch to compensate. This can cause all kinds of common concussion symptoms: Dizziness, sensitivity to screen time, etc.
Anyways, after giving us the rundown my partner was prompted to do a few simple exercises to test concussion symptoms. One of them was to stand on one leg and track a moving pen with her eyes. She'd done OK on some of the previous exercises but this one took her out, she lasted maybe 5 seconds and was completely exhausted and dizzy for the rest of the day because of it.
We ended up with a physical-therapy-like balance exercise plan that she stuck to regularly for a few months, and it ended up getting her to complete recovery.
- jtriangle 2y agoScotty, from Strange Parts, aka the youtube guy who showed the world that Apple could have included a headphone jack this whole time, went through a similar set of circumstances. Here're the videos where he talks about it: https://www.youtube.com/@StrangeParts/search?query=brain https://www.youtube.com/@StrangeParts/search?query=brain Like you said, extremely eye opening, and very good information to have. There is help available, and it likely won't come from a normal neurologist until their training catches up to the research.
- DiggyJohnson 2y agoThis is genuinely the sort of situation that makes me proud to be on speaking terms with most of my ex’s.
- OrigamiPastrami 2y agoHuh?
- solumunus 2y agoThere is another comment about talking to an ex, I assume they intended to reply to that.
- DiggyJohnson 2y agoYep precisely
- deleted 2y ago[deleted]
- 1992spacemovie 2y agoGlad to hear your partner is better. My wife dealt with a serious brain injury in her early 20s (she has since fully recovered) and it’s always a concern of mine if she were to be hit in the head again.
- stefan_ 2y agoPeople often seem to have a casual attitude to concussion; you read sports star X is out with a concussion and think little of it. Another word for concussion is "traumatic brain injury" and that tends to get it across better. I had a bad concussion a while ago and I still get occasional headaches, I had a tinnitus for months (if you are unlucky, it stays with you forever) and my sense of smell is permanently altered. I was ultimately lucky on that one too, enough force and you can permanently sever the connection to your olfactory receptors.
- tetraodonpuffer 2y agoThe neck is also surprisingly fairly involved in the balance system, I unfortunately have a lifelong inner ear deficit (deafness and vestibular) on one side and there have been times where neck tightness caused significant issues with my eye tracking (nystagmus). It’s really all connected, also salt intake, caffeine etc. can impact your balance / dizziness due to the pressure in your inner ear canals where the otoliths are swimming.
- aramndrt 2y agoDo you or anybody else have any resources to share regarding such training? I suffered a concussion 5 years ago and two more shortly after, and I still suffer from regular dizziness due to sunlight / busy environments and after too much screen time. It has taken away much of the joy of my twenties. Thank you.
- ruddct 2y agoUnfortunately I don't know anything online, but I would suggest seeking out sports medicine/physiotherapy folks who work with your local concussion-heavy athletes (snow sports, mountain biking, etc). Good luck!
- evilai 2y agoMaybe this video has useful info, I remember it mentions a company, maybe they have some papers(?) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gs790JOeN3Y https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gs790JOeN3Y
- onemoresoop 2y agoCan you please describe how one can reach such a specialist? What type of specialists are they? Thanks
- tnorthcutt 2y agoYou'll want to look for a "sports medicine specialist" as mentioned
- thfuran 2y agoSports medicine is the name of the specialty.
- ruddct 2y agoThe person we saw was a master of science in physical therapy, and specialized in/had personal experience with concussion rehab. They were based near a ski mountain, and thus a stream of athletes getting concussed regularly. If you aren't near any skiing, I'd seek out sports medicine/physical therapy folks who work with your local concussion-heavy athletes. Mountain bikers, cyclists, maybe football/rugby, etc.
- ianburrell 2y agoThere is "vestibular therapist" specialty which is physical therapist that specializes in vestibular issues. I had one who helped with vertigo from BPPV and some of the recovery exercises sound similar.
- anninaC 2y agoIe. Institute of Sport, Exercise and Health (ISEH) in London has both a neurologist (Richard) and a physio (Theo) specialised in concussion recovery, and working together. Been very useful for me (guessing you could do some assessments remotely).
- talldatethrow 2y agoI once had a bad dream and violently shifted in bed hard enough to headbutt the connected nightstand next to my pillow (weird design). Hard enough to bleed. I was dizzy for days whenever I laid down. It was as if I was spinning in an amusement park ride slowly. I called an ex GF neuro radiologist, who after realizing I wasn't going to go in for any scans (no health insurance at the time), told me of a series of "brain/balance reset exercises" you can do. I did the exercises, moving my head in several positions in a particular order, and all symptoms went away. The brain is crazy.
- gukov 2y agoThe brain is indeed fascinating. The stories here reminded me about https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirror_therapy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirror_therapy.
- Aeglaecia 2y agosearch engines are not returning useful results , do you recollect any of these exercises ?
- singleshot_ 2y agoSearch term: Epley maneuver.
- talldatethrow 2y agoIt wasn't exactly what you've described, but Im sure with enough googling someone could find all the various brain balance reset protocols and just try them all.
- singleshot_ 2y agoDownside: the Epley maneuver makes you feel so, so dizzy while it is resetting the crystals. Trying every one of these weird motion sequences one after another would probably give you some peculiar syndrome all on its own. Like I said above consult a vestibular therapist, neurologist, or someone other than this dummy if you want real medical advice. But it is real fascinating that this kind of physical manipulation is so effective.