ABSTRACT
Thirteen months after the author’s acquired brain injury (ABI) during a football, or soccer, match she finds that the cognitive fatigue and vestibular migraines are initially exacerbated by the Vestibular Physiotherapy and amitriptyline treatments.
Despite the drain on her energy levels, the author is determined to follow a structured plan of more activities and exercise. However, during one of her outings, an alarming assault causes further damage to the injury site. The author’s Fatigue Management Planner and other activities are abandoned as fears of further brain damage mean she has further A&E visits and prescribed rest. While dealing with anxieties provoked by the attack, the author is again threatened in public and suspects that her vulnerability after a mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) is obvious to those around her.
She also learns that one of her MRI scans has revealed a ‘bruise on the brain’ which means the initial diagnoses of concussion and post-concussion syndrome were incomplete. This increases her sense of anxiety and fear. Amidst these events the author’s Neuro-rehabilitation therapies continue and she struggles to deal with the paperwork involved with the end of her employment sick pay and associated government bureaucracy.
