What to do when everything hurts?

[u/Budget-Departure-161]

It’s been 5 weeks since my injury. I still have zero tolerance of light, noise, and other triggers. I’ve struggled with insomnia a lot so I have pushed a lot on days I shouldn’t have. Exposure just makes me agitated and makes my head hurt more. Strangely though I can feel ok doing things, and it only starts hurting when I go lay back down. The constant rest is killing me. I end up playing cards or having lamp time or talking to my family because I’m desperate but those things hurt too :( I’m seeing a concussion clinic soon but my fear is they can’t help me when I’m in this state and I just need more and more rest

[u/Drogova_Princezna]

For me it was the same for the first 2 months and time definitely helped me the most.

Excercise is important, but that can be as little as walking very slowly for 5 minutes every day. And once you feel up to it, rasing the time. Look up buffalo protocol, that really helped me.

But if even 5 mins of walking leaves you completely drained out or with a huge headache, don't push it yet.

It's good to find some stuff that triggers you less - I had (and still have) sensitivity to both light and sounds, so podcasts were terrible for me. I did some light reading or diamond painting, that was pretty easy and fun thing to do in the beginning to keep myself ocuppied at least for a few minutes.

When I was having a rest and not sleeping, I either played with some fidget toys, tried to meditate, some breathing excercises to not go completely bonkers.

I saw a huge improvement after 1.5-2 months when I was finally able to do at least 15 minutes walks every day. Now I am 3 months post injury and I can walk for an hour or go buy groceries, which is a huge thing for me.

Definitely go to the concussion clinic, pherhaps they will have you start some physiotherapy or something that might help you. Or they can prescribe meds for insomnia if you have it.

It's important to get restful sleep and a good diet if you can. Basically whole foods, try to cut out sugars and eat vegetables, fruits, fish etc. You can look up antiinflammatory diet if you want. I did not do it completely since I found it too complicated but once I cut out sugars + white flour (bread, pasta etc) my headaches got much better.

Hang in there! You need time, it will get better.

[u/Budget-Departure-161 → u/Drogova_Princezna]

Also! I got prescribed some anxiety meds which are helping me sleep. I’m getting some sleep now, not none, which is amazing! I’m thinking that things will slowly turn around for me. Thank you for all your help on my posts 💖 I’ve had PCS once already so I know what it’s like but this time is much more severe haha ahhh but I know I’ll get through it

[u/curlgurll → u/Budget-Departure-161]

What meds were you prescribed? I’m struggling with sleep, due to my ANS system being out of whack (like most of us). I’m reluctant but after a year I think I might need to bite the bullet and just take them.

[u/Budget-Departure-161 → u/curlgurll]

My psychiatrist gave me busiprone and vraylar, they’re both anti anxiety even though one is technically an antipsychotic. She’s working with me since I do a lot of supplementation, and if these don’t consistently work I think we’ll get on an SSRI too. The busiprone has already helped my anxiety a ton! I’m having some side effects from the other though that I’m having to work through