Epilepsy Talk

Concussions: Helping Your Brain Heal… | June 2, 2025

It’s a conundrum.

Some people get epilepsy / seizures from concussion-related accidents.

And many people with epilepsy have concussions as a result of their condition.

I got my concussion from a head injury.

Into the side-boards I went, while speed skating. (Actually, my friend’s little brother tripped me — just for fun.)

It was clear I was out cold. In fact, I awoke on my coach’s lap, and boy, he was one handsome guy. 🙂

But did I get treated for anything? No.

Although I subsequently ended up with seizures.

Like many, the doc’s attitude was “So you’ve had a concussion. What can WE do about it? Let’s just wait and see.”

But recently, I read about some wonderful research in Bottom Line’s Daily Health News (a terrific daily newsletter that I both wrote for and receive daily.)

The new line of thought is that after a concussion, the brain needs “stimulus deprivation” for a week (basically, total brain rest — no computer, no music, not even lying on the couch and watching TV) in order to recover fully.  And obviously, you need plenty of sleep at night and rest during the day.

Another surprising piece of advice is to get some food in your stomach right away.

According to research, making sure patients get at least 50% of their usual calorie intake within 24 hours — including a higher-than-usual amount of protein, should be continued for two weeks — and is vital to healing.

Other natural ways you can help yourself is with antioxidants. Some recommended sources are blueberries (BIG on natural antioxidants) and Vitamin C, combined with small amounts of calcium, magnesium and potassium – preferably in a powdered form to help aid absorption. Mixing it with orange juice makes it more palatable.

Also…

Keep yourself hydrated with plenty of water.

Take lots of fish oil. (As long as there’s no bleeding in your brain involved.) The recommended amount is up to 4 grams of high potency fish oil from the time of the concussion and then for a week afterwards. (I wish I had known that.) This will help decrease brain inflammation and with it the fogginess, memory loss and headaches that are often a part of concussion.

The good news is that symptoms usually go away entirely within three weeks, as long as you don’t fall again. (A very good case for helmets for those in most danger of falling.)

So the next time I hit the bricks (because there’s been many more than one drastic fall for me), I think I’ll try to follow this advice to the letter.

Perhaps you should too…

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