A Life-Changing Moment: The Day Everything ShiftedFebruary 17th, 2024, is a day that changed everything for me. I was driving just half a mile from my house, going no more than 20 mph. It was a normal day—until it wasn’t. Coming down the hill in the opposite direction was another driver who wasn’t looking up. I honked, swerved, did everything I could to avoid her, but she didn’t even glance my way. She turned right into me. My son was in the back seat. At first, it seemed like a minor accident. My car was totaled, not because it was an unrecognizable wreck, but from a hard sidewall hit that may have damaged the axle. The chaos felt surreal. In those first moments, all I could think about was my little boy. I scrambled through the front passenger side, lunging for him, but the second I reached him, he started crying. My heart broke as I felt powerless to protect him from this experience. We were both shaken, in shock. In our small-town community, there’s a kind of magic in the way people show up for each other. Almost immediately, a friend walking his dog rushed over to us. He pulled us into his arms, and in that moment, he just held us—giving me the strength to keep it together. Another friend who was driving by stopped to help. He and his son played with my boy on the side of the road, keeping him distracted for nearly an hour while we waited for everything to settle. Another girlfriend saw us and, without hesitation, took me in, caring for me for the rest of the day. But the shock didn’t end with that moment. Even now, the sound of metal crunching sends a jolt through me. My son still talks nervously during longer car rides, clearly still working through his own trauma from that day. It’s the lingering effects that continue to unfold, and that’s where this story truly begins. The Physical and Mental Impact: Healing a ConcussionAfter the accident, my health unraveled in ways I could have never expected. At first, the headaches came in waves, and I assumed it was just the stress of the situation. But as the weeks wore on, it became clear that something was very wrong. My vision deteriorated in my right eye, and my thoughts became cloudy—basic tasks felt insurmountable. Even nine months later, these symptoms persist, leaving me questioning what "normal" even means anymore. A few months into recovery, I was hit with five-day-long migraines, often so severe that sleep was impossible. To this day, I still can’t sleep through the night. On top of that, I lost much of my range of motion in my neck and shoulder—what was initially thought to be a torn rotator cuff turned out to be muscle atrophy. Despite countless physical therapy sessions, my shoulder muscles weakened further. There’s a deep frustration in feeling like my body is betraying me when all I want is to get back to the activities I love. Then there’s the constant tinnitus—a ringing in my ears that never seems to stop. Some days, it feels like a reminder of the concussion's grip on me. Other days, it’s the invisible nature of the symptoms that makes it all the more isolating. People see me and think I’m back to normal. But what they don’t see is the cognitive fog, the executive functioning challenges, the deep emotional toll of living with uncertainty about whether full recovery is possible. Emotional Struggles: Navigating the FogThe hardest part is often the loneliness. It's hard for others to understand what it’s like when your symptoms aren't visible. People will say things like, "Oh, I’ve been sleepless too—it’s the worst, right?" But it's not the same. While I know they’re trying to relate, I often feel exhausted by the need to explain. I'm met with kindness, but also with misunderstandings, leaving me to feel isolated in my own experience. Patience has been my constant companion, even as it runs thin. I want to heal, to move past this, but it’s a slow, painstaking process. Sometimes, I’m just tired—tired of the pain, tired of the patience required, tired of waiting to feel like myself again. Finding Support and ResilienceDespite the challenges, there’s a silver lining. My team at Monarch has been my rock throughout this journey. Their expertise and commitment to holistic healing have been crucial in helping me regain some semblance of balance. From advanced therapies to thoughtful, individualized care, they’ve created an environment where healing feels possible. I’ve leaned heavily on various treatments, from LED therapy to contrast therapies, PEMF, and more, all of which help my body repair itself from the inside out. These treatments have brought relief when nothing else could, and slowly but surely, they’re making a difference. The Aesthetic and Physical TollThere’s a strange disconnect between how I feel mentally and how my body is responding. After the accident, I noticed rapid changes—muscle deterioration, skin laxity, and hormonal shifts that left me feeling like I’d aged overnight. My physical appearance became a reminder of the injury I was fighting to overcome. Seeing these changes in the mirror only added to the emotional weight I was carrying. It’s been hard not to feel defeated by it at times. A Journey That’s Not Over YetThere’s no clear endpoint to this recovery, and that’s something I’ve had to make peace with. The physical, mental, and emotional scars are still there, but so is my resilience. I’ve learned to celebrate the small victories, like being able to go for a hike or complete a Pilates session. It’s a slow process, but one that’s teaching me the value of patience and self-compassion.
I know I’m not alone in this. If you’re reading this and have faced your own health battles, know that it’s okay to feel the weight of it all. Healing is not linear, and it’s not always quick. But with the right support, a bit of patience, and a lot of resilience, it’s possible to move forward, even when the path ahead feels uncertain.
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This past February, I suffered a concussion that changed my entire perspective on recovery. What I thought would be a few days of rest turned into a journey of dealing with persistent headaches, brain fog, and fatigue. I found myself searching for something beyond the standard recommendations to alleviate the inflammation and get me back to my best. That's when I was introduced to Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT). I was fortunate to have access to a local facility, Wood River Hyperbarics, where I started an intensive protocol right after the injury—13 sessions over the course of several weeks. The results were encouraging, and even my son joined me for some sessions, emphasizing the importance of HBOT for recovery. However, six months into the protocol, some of my symptoms still lingered. That's when my concussion doctor from the Amen Clinic—who is now a trusted advisor here at Monarch—recommended I increase the frequency: five days a week for 30 days, aiming for a total of at least 20 sessions. While I’m still on my recovery journey, one thing became crystal clear—HBOT is critical for recovery, not only from concussions but for any injury athletes may face. Whether you’re recovering from surgery, a hard fall, or a post-exertion "bonk," we’ve integrated HBOT into Monarch’s offerings to help athletes accelerate their healing process and optimize their performance. The Science Behind HBOT:Why Medical-Grade Chambers and 2 Atmospheres Are EssentialHyperbaric Oxygen Therapy works by delivering 100% oxygen at increased pressure inside a medical-grade chamber—in our case, set to 2 atmospheres (2 ATA). This high-pressure environment allows oxygen to dissolve directly into the plasma, enabling it to reach inflamed or damaged areas more effectively than at normal atmospheric pressure. For concussion recovery like mine, this was a game-changer. Oxygen penetrated the inflamed tissues in my brain, reducing swelling and promoting faster healing. For athletes recovering from injuries or surgeries, HBOT works similarly by enhancing the body’s natural repair mechanisms, reducing inflammation, and promoting cell regeneration. At 2 ATA, the body's ability to absorb oxygen is exponentially higher than at sea level or in non-medical-grade chambers. This is why the protocol I followed was so effective: medical-grade chambers allow your body to access and use oxygen more efficiently, speeding up recovery for everything from brain injuries to muscle repair. From Concussion Recovery to Athletic PerformanceIt wasn’t just about treating my concussion—it was about discovering a new pathway for optimal recovery in the athletic community. I realized the power of HBOT not just for concussions but for post-surgical recovery, muscle repair, and overall performance enhancement. The therapy can benefit anyone—whether you're recovering from a tough race, rehabbing a sports injury, or needing a recovery boost after a hard training block. As my experience with HBOT deepened, it became clear that Monarch needed to integrate this powerful therapy into our offerings. Athletes deserve access to cutting-edge recovery tools that go beyond traditional methods. HBOT is now an essential part of our post-injury and performance enhancement protocols. As Dr. Tara Shelby, our integrative health expert, explains, "HBOT doesn’t just address the immediate symptoms of an injury—it enhances the body's ability to repair and regenerate tissue long after the event, making it critical for long-term recovery and athletic performance." Why Medical-Grade HBOT at Monarch?It’s important to note that not all HBOT chambers are created equal. While some wellness centers offer soft-shell or portable chambers, they typically operate at lower pressures and don’t use 100% oxygen—which makes a huge difference in outcomes. Only medical-grade chambers operating at 2 ATA provide the necessary oxygen saturation to reach deep into injured tissues and reduce inflammation at a cellular level. At Monarch, we’ve invested in medical-grade chambers because we believe in offering our clients the very best for their recovery and performance needs. Interested in exploring how HBOT can enhance your recovery or performance?Book a personal consultation with me and let’s design a customized HBOT protocol tailored to your health and athletic goals. Whether you’re recovering from a concussion, post-surgery, or simply want to maximize your performance, we’ll find the right plan to get you back in the game and feeling your best. New to Monarch...Get in the know with all our tips, tricks, hack and special offers for all things aesthetics, performance & longevity.
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AuthorBlair Lauren Brown, published author and founder of Monarch contributes to our blog regularly with original content about integrative medicine and wellness. We also feature other guest experts to share a diversity of thought leadership. Archives
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