Rollercoaster week (Mini update #9)

Just back from my physiotherapy session. She combines fascia manipulation, some acupressure concepts and energy balancing touch therapy. I feel really good at this moment. 

So it’s been a pretty big roller coaster ride these past weeks with pain and pain meds, and decisions by psychiatrist, GP and physiatrist (concussion rehab specialist). The new path is to stop coming off everything, and stay with the current regimen because it’s one of the top meds for concussion pain. It agrees with me, we were just going up too fast and now going down too fast. That’s why I’ve been so incapacitated these past weeks..

Thankfully I have some validation for feeling so critically exhausted emotionally, mentally and physically. I’m not lazy, crazy or incurable!! Haha. 

I’d come down in half doses every week or so and with that very strong mental and emotional side effects, and significant increase in headache pain. When I saw the physiatrist last week (or the week before?), he said go back up a half dose and stay on that for 4-6 weeks and then titrate up a half dose and then stabilize for 4-6 weeks. He said I’ll probably end up at the dose the highest dose I was at with no pain at all (about 5 steps up), but will be more functional because I’d taken time to get there.

Oh, perhaps the trial and error is the hardest part. 

I’m managing a medium amount of head pain which is exacerbated by stimulation such as light, noise and movement sensitivity.. and I have to rest a lot to ensure it stays as low as possible. Cognitive is still off and on. Sometimes my skills are really sharp, but last maybe 30 mins, sometimes a bit longer. Then I have to rest. Like right now, writing this I have ringing in my ears and pain so much I can’t see well. Be back to edit later…

Ok, rested. Had a bite to eat, too. 

On suggestion of my GP, I saw my super sweet occupational therapist this week as a check in. We had quite a few sessions in my first few months but ended up with educating me on the whole business of concussion and pacing which was super helpful and put me at ease. When we got to the cognitive exercises I wasn’t well enough to proceed. Just confusion and a bucket of tears. Well this week, we determined I’m still not ready. I’m looking forward to working with her when I am. She’s very action oriented and gung-ho. I need quiet and soft landing help right now.. she has a few other types of therapists who work in her rehab company so I’m exploring clinical counselling and kinesiology help down the road. It all costs $100/hr, so I’m not sure right now..

❤️

Photos from my walk home today..