Concussion Part 2 of 2
I'll be picking up where I left off (here's the first email if you want to read it) as soon as I answer a few questions that came after sending out that first email.
1. I am still seeing patients. I'm actually also still traveling to teach (I recorded a podcast during the last seminar here if you would like to listen to me sing an intro and then chat with the other two instructors). And while I'm on that train of thought, here's a little career/life update: I'm now traveling to teach chiropractors and chiropractic students with the Motion Palpation Institute. I signed the contract in April of last year, but - no surprise - didn't teach anything until a mini course in November. I've gotten to assist in two courses so far this year and will teach a mini course again this weekend.
2. If you look at me, I seem totally normal, outside of maybe a little fatigued. If I didn't tell you I had a concussion, you probably wouldn't know. I think that's one of the scary things about concussions and also why they go under-diagnosed and under-treated. I can execute tasks, carry on a conversation (though I do feel a bit mentally slower than I'm used to), be a mother, love my husband, run my business, and care for my patients. I just get really tired, and when I need a break, I need a break. Another incredibly common symptom of TBI is irritability, but I'm trying not to let that one impact my behavior.
3. I have no idea how long healing will take. I am significantly better than last week, but still nowhere near normal. This varies for everyone and I am intending to remain patient while my brain heals.
Okay, onto the official part 2 of this email.
Additional supportive practices: I strongly recommend these, but they're icing on the cake once you've laid the foundation with the above treatments or practices.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is incredible. Dr. Dane has a unit at her officeand it was HUGELY beneficial for me immediately after getting hit, and I've since used the chamber four times. I fully intend to keep up with this practice for the next several weeks. Actually, I will probably keep up with this on a fairly regular basis from here on out because it feels soooo good overall (and I even noticed how great my skin feels, though that could be an additional benefit of the absurd amount of fish oil I'm taking).
Infrared sauna feels incredible. This is always true. It was the very first thing I did after I realized I needed to stop working out when I first got hit. It calmed my nervous system, increased blood flow, decreased inflammation, and helped with pain relief. I'm using our sauna at least a few times per week.
Get outside. I'm a huge fan of outdoor time in general, but this makes a HUGE difference for me when I am experiencing symptoms.
Movement is medicine; working out doesn't have to be it. A workout is going to look significantly different during a concussion. I personally feel better overall when I workout, but am doing nowhere near what I typically do for workouts right now. I felt good on Monday and thought I'd workout at a very easy pace. Six minutes in, I had to stop. I've been doing 10 push-ups every night since 1/1/20, so I've upped that to 15 for the consistency, and typically I'll also do 10 squats. Last night I had to stop squatting after 8 because I did them too fast and got a bit of a headache. Yes, this is the absolute bare minimum of movement. No, it doesn't feel like it's enough to sustain me. Yes, this is appropriate given my injury. And yes, this freaking sucks. I was talking to a patient today about the benefits of walking and decided I'd start that practice. And then it started pouring. But I plan to do it anyway.
Helichrysum is my new favorite oil. I had an actual gash on my forehead from the trap bar, and Dr. Sierakowski steri-stripped the wound. Because of that, I wanted to use helichrysum to help with wound healing. It's been very helpful for that, but I've since come to learn the pain-relieving benefits of this oil as well. This is probably the oil that will convince you that essential oils have health benefits if you're thinking they're just over-hyped. (I do think they are sometimes over-hyped, but helichrysum is a game-changer.)
Blue light blockers make a huge difference. I can physically feel the strain on my brain when I'm not wearing them, and I do absolutely zero screen time after sunset.
Arnica is still one of my favorite homeopathic remedies. It's great for soreness, and that coupled with the helichrysum oil seem to be making a huge difference in soreness for me. I use it topically and internally (and you can grab either here).
I will keep up with all of the above (and the previous email recs) at whatever level feels appropriate until I absolutely feel like a million bucks. I'm not there yet.
I hope you've found some benefit to reading this and my last email. You never really know what you're going to get out of these emails because I never really know what I'm going to send. But I've got lots to share with the world and am currently silent on social media (any extra screen time just doesn't seem worth the risk or blowback to my brain at this point, to be honest), so this newsletter is where you'll hear from me.
Thanks for being here, and be sure to check out my links below if you're looking for any of my online courses or clean beauty!
Hugs.
xox
Lindsay