Relevant Health Pre-Injuries: Lifelong soccer player with no diagnosed concussions but I presume minor ones, collegiate rower which got me in great shape but I do not think did any great wins for my spine, whiplash from a swing incident in Costa Rica after college (don’t do stupid things), acne from middle school until this year (!!) that I see as a reflection of my body’s over-inflammation….and perhaps more.

Date of Injury 1: 02/2019
Injury 1: Jumped off a cliff into the water in South Africa (again, stupid things), compress fractured my T5 upon impact, had a lot of bruising all the way down my back and the back of my legs

Action taken after Injury 1:

• After a few days, got an xray confirming fracture in South Africa
• A month later, got an MRI that showed no further damage in Morocco
• Two months later, saw a chiropractor in Spain that did nothing except further hurt
• Travelled the world (literally, 5 continents) for the rest of 2019 with soreness but not severe ache, and lots of anxiety

Date of Injury 2 (the PCS-inducing one): 01/2020
Injury 2: Got hit by a car while riding a bike in Mexico, driver was going fairly slow but T-boned me, I landed on my left shoulder and hit my head behind my left ear, no loss of consciousness, did not seek care in Mexico

Action taken after Injury 2:

• 02/20
  • Xray that showed compression but no fracture at T5
  • Orthopedist visit that suggested PT and MRI
  • PCP said my sinuses were dry and to try nasal spray (sorry but lol)
• 03/20
  • Travelled to Portugal, then back because of COVID and not feeling well at all
  • Telehealth appointment suggested I had Post Concussion Syndrome
    Symptoms: felt out of it, intense headache on the bridge of my nose, fatigue, still exercised regularly, on the verge of tears all the time, and though I didn’t realize it at the time, very off-centered

• 04/20
  • Started seeing a naturopathic doctor (have seen her weekly since)
    • Began anti-inflammatory diet: removed gluten (had already 3 years prior), dairy, corn, alcohol, processed foods and most sugar
    • Added daily vitamin D, vitamin B, magnesium supplements
  • Started going to Physical Therapy for neck and back (went weekly until mid-Oct)
  • Started seeing a psychotherapist to help with the anxiety (have seen her weekly or biweekly since)
    Symptoms: worst they ever got, woke up feeling like the world was spinning, neck and back muscles totally locked and a lot of pain in my neck, lots of pressure around my eyes, discomfort sitting, standing, and laying down, felt in a constant panic

• 05/20
  • Tried a holistic chiropractor that I am not convinced was doing anything
    Symptoms: much the same, reduced pressure around eyes, more aware of how much trouble I had with my position in space

• 06/20
  • MRI on brain and spine that showed ‘normal spine with compression at T5’ and ‘age appropriate brain
  • New chiropractor tried dry needling, did NOT go well. Too much, too soon
    Symptoms: continued panic, lots of angry and sad rants, neck pain, very tired but trouble sleeping, and trouble focusing mentally and physically (my eyes were all over)

• 07/20
  • Saw a concussion-specific Physical Therapist in Vermont (on vacation) that guided me in the direction of vision exercises and adding back in cardio activity
    Symptoms: much the same, heightened awareness of heart rate increases spiking symptoms and dizziness upon standing from sitting

• 08/20
  • Got a series of tests done including EBV, metabolic panel, Lyme. Whatever my primary care would order
  • All test results were in normal ranges except EBV antibodies which were very high
  • Started celery juice cleanse per my naturopathic doctor’s recommendation to start addressing possible EBV reactivation (have been drinking every morning since)
  • Met with a neurologist, after recommendation from my PCP, who wanted to prescribe me Topamax for nerve pain and migraines. I declined and opted to try Vitamin B per his recommendation instead (which I was already doing)
    Symptoms: constant headache, neurofatigue, slightly less anxiety, less pressure in head and neck, muscles no longer locked and with increased flexibility

• 09/20
  • Did a 3 day intensive at the Concussion Center of MA that helped realign my vision and vestibular systems
  • Did daily brain exercises per that intensive to continue the training (have since stopped)
    Symptoms: no more vision or vestibular troubles!, increased tolerance for activity, continued upper cervical tension, neurofatigue, and just feeling out of it

• 10/20
  • Did 3 sessions (once a week) of PEMF therapy with a new chiropractor. It helped with neck pain but seemed to overwhelm my body with other toxins. 
  • Had a telehealth appointment with primary care for more tests. She couldn’t order any testing that I wanted and denied food and hormones being a factor.
  • Had appointment with a more functional medicine-type doctor and got tested for Heavy Metals (had an elevated Thallium level) and Food Sensitivities (found out I have an allergy to sesame)
  • Switched to paleo/keto, low-carb diet and added in chlorella supplement
    Symptoms: much the same, increasingly irritated and hopeless, more apparent ringing in ears

• 11/20
  • Sought answers from another naturopathic doctor about mold, hormones, and specific nutrient deficiencies. Did not end up going through with the testing because after talking it through, I was already taking a lot of the steps that would be needed to address those imbalances.
  • Will reach back out if other steps don’t solve issues
  • Began using a red light at night to wind down after the day
    Symptoms: much the same but I thought I narrowed it down correctly to spinal alignment issues, remains to be seen

• 12/20
  • Found new chiropractor and made 6 month plan for correction, starting at 3 times a week
    Symptoms: neurofatigue, brain fog, ears ringing, digestion troubles, constant headache and body achiness, irritable and anxious, still not consistently driving

• 2021
  • Continue work with chiropractor and naturopathic doctor, complementing with regular exercise, same diet, limited screen time, and detox techniques

• Naturopathic Doctor, Balance Point
• Chiropractor, Cornerstone Family Chiropractic
• Therapist
• Functional Neurologist, Concussion Center of MA
• Mentors and Community, Concussion Compass
• Physical Therapist, Professional Physical Therapy (though not well-versed in concussion and would probably choose one from Complete Concussions)

• Plant-based, whole food, anti-inflammatory diet, very little grains or complexity
• At least 64 oz of water or herbal tea
• Vitamin B Complex
• 2,000 IU Vitamin D
• 400 mg Magnesium
• Fish oil for omega 3s when not enough in diet
• 16 oz of celery juice before any food
• Light exercise (e.g, 20 min run/walk followed by stretching)
• Work (I work full time remotely)
• Regular use of blue light filter glasses
• Ergonomic pillow and work setup
• Meditation and deep breathing even if just for a few minutes
• Lots of time outside and away from screens
• Jin Shin Jyutsu therapy on myself to help calm neck and gut
• Lymph drainage with my hands and a tuning fork
• Nightly red light therapy on head, neck, and back
• Epsom salt baths, a bonus

(*my favorites)

• Physical Therapy exercises/stretches
• Orthobionomy
• Cranial Sacral Therapy*
• Lymph Drainage*
• Jin Shin Jyutsu*
• Interactive Metronome
• PEMF on neck and back
• Stim on neck
• Transcranial Electrical Stimulation on cheek and tongue*
• Vielight*
• Normal chiropractic adjustment*
• Dry needling
• Arnica tablets and cream
• Oil pulling
• Skin brushing
• Chlorella for cleansing gut
• Celery Juicing*
• Exercise intolerance training
• Vision tracking exercises
• Epsom salt baths
• Emotional Freedom Technique
• Sophia Flow lymph drainage cream
• Turmeric supplements
• CBD- very briefly, had a harsh reaction
• Red Light Therapy*

• Brain fog
• Headaches- started at the bridge of my nose, migrated to the top of my head, then the back, then eventually to my neck and away. Occasionally shooting pains.
• Neck and upper back tightness and at times, pain
• Eye tension/pressure and eye floaters
• Derealization
• Exercise intolerance
• High anxiety and at times, depression
• Trouble in social situations, focusing, thinking at all
• A feeling that energy would rush to my head and not leave
• Like my thoughts were moving through mud
• Trouble processing what others were saying and finding the words to respond
• On the verge of tears most of the time
• Crazy fatigue, feeling like I could nap at any second
• Overwhelmed by life, including the smallest things like making breakfast
• Slower memory recall
• Feeling like I was going to tip over, probably a symptom of my vision
• Feeling like my head was disconnected from my body
• Tingling on the left side of my face and down my left arm, this was a strange one
• In later times, tingling in fingertips and toes
• It was like I had to build in time to worry and have a long dialogue in my head because my mind was constantly racing, probably a symptom of being super cautious of how every choice affected my health
• Dizziness and heart rate spike when going from laying to sitting to standing
• Frustration because I felt alone, others around me expected me to be normal, and doctors told me 5 million different possible reasons and solutions
• Not comfortable driving longer than a mile
• Ringing in ears
• *an interesting one that I think was actually a sign of why brain fog* little red bumps on lower back and whitish bumps back of tongue that slowly disappeared as I felt better
• All symptoms worse on my period
• And more…