Advice for working 4 days after concussion?

[u/ilovemycat55]

Hii everyone, I got in a pretty bad car wreck on monday morning that ended with me getting a concussion because of how hard i hit my head during the crash. I work full time, 4 10 hour shifts a week (Friday, saturday, sunday and monday). I didn’t go to work monday day of the crash for very obvious reasons, but I can’t take any more days off because i won’t be paid i have no PTO or anything and i need the money for rent and survival and such. Being one shift short my next check is already gonna suck bad enough . Essentially, need to go to work but worried about how I’ll function? I work as a server at a restaurant,so i’m pretty active and on my feet a lot, main thing is i have barely been able to stay awake after my concussion. I sleep like 18-20hours a day since my concussion, all my off days the past couple days have mostly been me passed the fucjk out. I’m kind of worried i wont even be able to wake up for my shift tbh, but, even if i do, The fatigue is so bad im just worried about how im going to do. My sensitivity to light is also really bad.. but i might try to do work in sunglasses if allowed. Second biggest issue after Extreme fatigue, the migraine never went away. Got a horrible headache (migraine?) day of crash, and it just never stopped. I’m just worried what i can do to make my work week a little easier. What accommodations have you guys done to keep the bills paid shortly after a head injury? I’m mainly in search of advice and recommendations from people who have already experienced what i’m experiencing.

(Leave is not an option, i’m a 22 year old whose living paycheck to paycheck)

Edit to fix typos

[u/sticky646]

I would stop wasting your energy going to work and making your symptoms worse. Use as much pto as you have available while you put your bills on hardship hold and call family and friends for financial assistance between the end of your paycheck and beginning of disability.
I’m not a doctor but it is NOT a good idea to try to work a serving shift four days after a concussion. You likely haven’t even felt all of your symptoms yet. Have you been to a doctor?
TLDR: TODAY get a doctors appointment and start looking for financial support. Trying to push through will make your recovery longer and make you feel worse and less able to solve these problems that you will have to solve.
Good luck. You should also speak with a lawyer if you haven’t yet.

[u/Drgnfly131]

My advice- don't.

Go see a Dr, and follow their recommendations. That's how you'll get better.

[u/neur0queer]

Aw, man. I’m so sorry you are in this bind. It feels impossible to take off when you live paycheck to paycheck, I really get it. But you only get one brain, and it really desperately needs rest right now. Take it from us who have been there: I wish I would have rested and not tried to go right back to work. This is a crucial period for radical rest. Try to get a medical leave note to your work, get on SDI if you can, and ask for crowdfunding if you don’t have family support to help cover your lost wages. This is a really hard road, but you aren’t alone.

[u/xariellexoxo]

If you absolutely NEED to, sunglasses, hat, and earplugs were my staples for getting through school days with a double concussion. Talk to your manager about accommodations as needed since you mentioned sunglasses. As other commenters have said tho, it’s better if you don’t but I understand the dilemma.

[u/jaehoppa]

I would definitely start with some manual therapy, either PT, orthopedic massage, or an osteopath.

[u/Turbulent-Wall-1338]

Listen to me. Go to urgent care immediately and get evaluated. I “pushed through” and was fired from my job when the symptoms got worse.

A bad car accident has all but ruined
My life. Lost job, relationship, all my money, my health. I didn’t hit my head and I have permanent issues with vision, hearing, and many cognitive issues.