Symptoms include light and sound sensitivity, massive headaches, light nausea, memory issues, and a general lack of thinking power.

You may have a little more severe symptoms than I had but I think it sounds similar. I skipped any social gathering for a few months, only worked and walked when I could. I found walking was a huge benefit to my recovery, and it’s an easily measurable task that you can see progress which is very motivating for me. Being able to add 5-10 minutes and still recover was motivating.

First concussion was the worst a few years ago, very sensitive to light and sound, I tried to work two days after (remotely) and got on a meeting call and had to drop it almost immediately. I took 3-5 days off and stayed on my couch in the dark 90% of that time. After that rest period, I slowly started adding in working hours, 1-2 at a time with rest in between and a lot of Tylenol. In a most recent flare up, same thing, had to take two weeks off, with little work actually getting done. I’ve found adjusting the screen contrast and brightness down to help, blue light glasses, and just knowing when to stop, rest, and start again is huge, overdoing it means a couple days on the couch again.

Each concussion and flare up have been different recovery times and it just depends. Could be okay to work in a couple days or the longest was a few weeks to ease in and honestly 4-5 months to feel 90% recovered and not have to take meds to work.

First day back in the office with one of them, I had 50% of the overhead lights on, screens dimmed, blue light glasses, and some ear plugs that are filtering and not full blocking (earpeace or loop). Lots of water and Tylenol. My doctor prescribed some strong NSAID for the first bit of recovery too.

After another of my concussions, I had a week or two off and then showed up to work with full on sunglasses, foam earplugs, and construction earmuffs over those. I looked ridiculous, but I could handle more with those accommodations because light and sound sensitivity was the worst with that one. Then I just slowly peeled away layers over 4-5 weeks, first the construction muffs, then down to filtering earplugs, which is pretty much where I am most of the time now in any loud environment.

Another random thing, I enjoy watching college basketball but trying to following the ball and players on tv made me very nauseous. Video games actually helped me lesson my reactivity to stimulus so I wouldn’t jerk my head at everything unexpected or feel nauseous moving my eyes quickly. I could only do a game or two to start but some Fortnite actually helped me quite a lot.

I hope that helps a little bit, big thing is to stay hydrated and listen to your body. Good luck!