Yankeetowner

7 weeks ago I crashed and was unconscious for 5-10 minutes and incoherent for quite a while after that. Airlifted, hospitalized, and released to neurologist and neuropsychologist. Physical injuries are lessening, having problems with the post concussion symptoms: DIZZINESS/VERTIGO; depression; sensitive to sound; cognitive slowness; etc.

Haven't ridden since the crash. Primary bike is having frame replaced/upgraded...older bike is on a trainer that I use until I get nauseous. I've had to cancel some of my favorite rides, one in the N.C. mountains. I miss cycling and want to start ASAP.

Anyone else had a similar situation, and what did you do to get rid of vertigo?

therhodeo

Asking questions about a sore knee or similar on a bike forum is one thing. Asking about traumatic brain injuries is another. My suggestion would be to openly talk about all this with the appropriate medical professional and ignore whatever bad medical advice you could get on here.

Yankeetowner

I'm getting frustrated, depressed, and obviously desperate.

topflightpro

A friend of mine went through something similar a few years ago. She crashed, hit her head hard, and suffered a major concussion. She was off the bike for about a year. It really took that long to recover.

I suggest following your doctor's orders and taking things easy. If you feel the need to do something, go for an easy walk.

As for vertigo, I suffer from a mild case, and occasionally, I suffer bouts of dizzyness. When it hits, I have trouble standing - I almost look like a drunk person walking - and I have to hold on to things to keep from falling over. But for me, it usually passes in a day or two. I stay off the bike when they happen, and I try to hide in a darkened room if possible. I don't have any suggestions for how to deal with it.

therhodeo

I understand but it may just be a waiting game.

bonner1040

Agreed. 110%. Sorry for your situation and wishing you the best recovery possible. (bummed)

VNA

See a different doctor to get a second opinion and ask for a full blood analyses to make sure everything is normal and particularly that little and fragile pituitary gland between everyone's ears that can get damaged from a head trauma. (speak from experience)
Good luck

bruce19

This.

MileHighMark

Talk to a doctor/specialist. In the meantime, read: Post-concussion syndrome - Mayo Clinic

I went through a similar experience (albeit not as severe), and I believe that I was not diagnosed properly.

RPK79

Nice. No actual internet medical advice and everyone saying talk to the doctors. Very mature 41. Very mature.

I'm going to parrot all of the prior advice to talk to the doctors.

Number400

Those feelings are a big part of a concussion. Sadly, time is all that will help. I have plenty of heads on experience with this...

ColaJacket

Agreed.

If you really feel the need to do some cycling, either buy or go to a gym that has the stationary cycles that are almost impossible to turn over.

In before the bent guys get here to tell you to buy a bent.

GH

datlas 

Time is usually the trick. If not resolving, ask your physician about vestibular rehab.

But probably just time/patience.

That said, anyone who gets free medical advice on BF is going to get what they paid for.

banerjek

I was in a bad crash about 30 years ago that knocked me out. In my case, it took about 5 years before I could ride over 15mph.

You'll have to decide for yourself what to do. And unlike everyone else here, I wouldn't necessarily do what the doc says, though you definitely want to hear what s/he has to say.

Both you and the doc have an interest in you getting well, but there are other areas where your interests diverge. For example, the doc may place a high value on minimizing exposure to liability while you place a high value on getting back out there. My personal experience with medical advice is that it tends to be way too conservative and focuses on minimizing recovery time and risk rather than taking all factors into account and maximizing the enjoyment you'll get in the long haul. No one knows your body and your interests better than you, so get the best information you can and decide how to proceed.

Brian Ratliff

Rest. Lots of sleep. Don't ride. And sleep. Did I mention sleep? Being unconscious for 5-10 minutes means your head injury was SERIOUS. Yes, all caps. Right now you are panicking because you've been keeping a training schedule and think the more you miss the more you'll "de-train" and you'll soon be a lump of fat sitting on the couch. Don't worry about it. If your brain is not okay, cycling should be the furthest thing from your mind. Relax and take it easy until our concussion symptoms go away. In fact, wait until a week or two AFTER your concussion symptoms go away before you even touch your bike. Your brain has been injured and it is still healing. Just relax. Your muscles won't turn to mush in a matter of weeks. It takes years to bloat up 50 lbs. Your FTP will be back to its old self in a matter of weeks after you start riding again. It takes years to detrain your body.

Just relax.

Brian Ratliff

In every other part of the body, I'd agree. Every part of your body has pain receptors that can guide your recovery much better than blanket advice from a doctor. Except the brain. No pain receptors there. Humans are flying blind when it comes to brain injury recovery. The best advice then is to be extremely conservative. Hard to self-monitor when the self-monitoring equipment is the part that's f-ed up.

FLvector

I agree with Brian. This is one time to back off and allow your brain to heal. Hard to tell how long it will take to see improvement, but pushing yourself too early doesn't sound prudent. I'm sure you're concerned about getting back to your level of fitness prior to the accident and don't want to continue to lose more. Don't worry - you'll come back.

Hope you get a handle on the vertigo.

Jakedatc

+1 As someone who has evaluated and watched many concussion'd athletes recover rest is the #1 deal. Also darker rooms, staying off phone/computer screens and TV help. Mostly let your brain relax and not have to concentrate on anything.

NCAA protocol will not even allow post-concussion computer testing until 3 days after symptoms stop completely, OP doesn't sound close at all. THEN a very structured and sometimes slow reintroduction of activities.

haven't watched all of it but they are usually decent on OtL
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rNPh488SCc

cdale56

Sorry to hear of your problems.

I had a crash in July of 2014 and continue to have problems with head fogginess, a hard to describe dizzy-lightheadedness, headaches, depression and worst of all fatigue and low energy. Symptoms aren't severe but persistant and tend to wax and wane.

I have seen my PCP, my orthopedic surgeon, a neurosurgeon, a mental health counselor, a physical therapist (actually 2 differerent ones for 2 different things)and 2 diferent concussion clinics, never mind the ER doc, inpatient hospitalists on this journey after the crash and have been given a lot of advice from these people.(but I felt that they generally ignored what I would say)

My experience has been to get as much advice as you can and make you own assessment from that advice. It will get better but not all at once and progress isn't a linear curve up but a series of ups and downs that you have to have to appreciate at each moment and have to adapt to. Rest if you need to and take naps. Don't be afraid to do this and don't overexrt yourself. When you start riding again pace yourself and accept what you can do rather than being disappointed in what you can't do.

If posible talk to others with this same problem. I was introduced to a mother and son (at a family picnic) who both had TBIs-though one was much more serious than me. Their words were invaluable- the poor kid(who had a seemingly minor head injury with long term concussion effects) I found that talking with them was valuable and the mother's advice for me (and my wife) was to go to a support group. I haven't done that, but just talking to these two was valuable.

Aonther suggestion I would make would be to go to a concussion clinic, I went to a local one at 3-4 months post injury but I lost faith in that operation and I just started going to another clinic in Boston, MA and and after one visit they seem to offer some help.

I was not the type to go to doctors much but this crash has changed that. The orthopedist fixed all my bones and joints and natture has healed the other fractures but this head thing is taking forever. Frsutrating as any of the other stuff I have gone through,

Before this crash, I went thru 4 lost seasons with a knee injury/failed knee replacement//second knee replacement and last year with the shoulder repair and other fractures so this is my 6th missed season.( partially, as I do have miles in this summer, but not lately) I have learned this too- that it isn't overcoming adversity any more, it might be more of adapting to it or perhaps of a balance between the two- depending on the day. My motto- stolen from my AA firneds- is 'to live one day at a time'.

Good luck, Hope this makes sense.

shelbyfv

Recumbent trike?

sced

I get debilitating vertigo from time to time and have found that prescription anti-nausea medication helps a lot. I have a friend in a similar state and he says the meds help him too.

JohnJ80

^right answer. Every TBI is different. You need professional help and evaluation. No other way to approach it. I say this after son's TBI, 3 week coma, 6 weeks in patient therapy and year of out patient therapy. Every ask of the professionals about "what's next?" was answered with the comment that "Every TBI is different."

J.

big john

After my concussion I gained 35 lbs. in 6 months. I had other injuries, and surgery on my shoulder, so I didn't ride at all during that time.
With a head injury, you're never quite sure if things that happen are related, even years later. It's hard to know when the symptoms are done if you don't know if somthing is a symptom. Personality changes can occur.

jrossbeck

Sounds like the perfect training plan if you are trying to extend your recovery. Concussion recovery is not about avoiding another blow to the head. It is about letting the brain heal. Any physical exertion raises BP, which increases blood flow to head and brings back symptoms. Back off. Talk to your doctor. Read about concussions, and then follow a proper recovery plan.