Why Pushing Through a Concussion Can Make Things Worse

Kelly Tuttle thought she could shake off her concussion and return to normal life. She even went back to work the day after the car crash. But her brain was not fine. Before the accident, Kelly was a cardiology nurse practitioner, mother, martial artist, Brazilian jiu-jitsu instructor, and self-described Energizer Bunny who regularly managed 16- to 18-hour days. After another driver pulled into her path, she initially focused on her visible injuries and expected to recover within two weeks. Instead, Kelly developed headaches, irritability, difficulty speaking, problems with movement, emotional changes, and overwhelming neurofatigue. She continued pushing herself until she fell asleep behind the wheel and nearly struck a tree. In this episode of The SwagAbility Show, Kelly joins Stephen Wagstaff to explain the invisible effects of traumatic brain injury and why “mild” does not necessarily mean insignificant. She also shares practical guidance for survivors returning to work, managing money, requesting accommodations, communicating with caregivers, and learning to live within a brain’s changing capacity. Stephen and Kelly discuss: • Kelly’s demanding life before her brain injury• What happened during the car crash• Why Kelly declined transportation to the hospital• Returning to work the following day• The early concussion symptoms she misunderstood• Falling asleep behind the wheel because of neurofatigue• Why a concussion may require specialized rehabilitation• The role of a physical medicine and rehabilitation doctor• How healthcare experience complicated Kelly’s acceptance• Recognizing that her condition was getting worse• Why returning to work too quickly affected her recovery• What neurofatigue feels like in everyday life• Waking up with only a partially charged “brain battery”• Why rest does not always resolve cognitive fatigue• Irritability, overwhelm, communication, and caregiving• Helping children understand a parent’s brain injury• Early, middle, and late stages of recovery• Neuroplasticity and continuing to challenge the brain• Grieving the life and abilities you had before an injury• Celebrating small victories and using humor during recovery• Financial planning following a disabling injury• Workplace accommodations available through AskJAN.org• Why survivors should not make every major decision alone• The value of counselors, financial planners, money coaches, and support groups Chapters 00:00 The brain injury people may not recognize00:29 Welcome to The SwagAbility Show00:45 Meet Kelly Tuttle01:10 Who Kelly was before the accident01:38 Nurse practitioner, mother, and martial artist03:40 The day another driver pulled into her path04:19 Returning to work the next day04:35 Diagnosed with a concussion05:15 Falling asleep behind the wheel05:41 Kelly’s dangerous roadside solution06:11 “Kelly, that’s not okay”06:16 Finding the appropriate rehabilitation specialist06:40 Neurologist or rehabilitation doctor?07:51 Why Kelly declined the ambulance08:16 What she remembers from the crash09:26 The first weeks after the accident10:17 Mistaking brain-injury symptoms for physical pain11:07 When Kelly realized something was still wrong11:46 Did working in healthcare complicate recovery?12:15 Expecting to recover within two weeks12:54 Journaling revealed that she was getting worse13:49 The early warning signs Kelly wishes she understood14:22 Returning to work too quickly15:13 When work consumes all your available energy15:28 The hidden financial effects of brain injury15:51 What is neurofatigue?16:22 When the brain and body shut down16:45 Why Kelly fell asleep while driving16:59 The partially charged brain-battery analogy18:02 What caregivers misunderstand about recovery18:47 “Don’t take it personally”19:32 Why multitasking caused emotional overload20:01 Explaining a “bad brain day” to family20:53 Early, middle, and late brain-injury recovery21:37 Neuroplasticity and continuing to rebuild21:52 Encouragement for someone newly injured22:39 Journaling, patience, compassion, and humor22:58 Giving yourself permission to grieve23:15 Becoming comfortable with uncertainty24:02 Stacking small wins during recovery25:05 Financial wellness after an injury25:34 Cancel unnecessary expenses early25:53 Preparing for reduced or delayed income26:39 Finding workplace accommodations through AskJAN.org27:38 External tools that can make work manageable27:56 Can you trust your decisions after a brain injury?28:57 Why you should not make every decision alone29:14 Counselors, financial planners, and money coaches30:05 Protecting your employment after an injury30:28 Getting help managing bills31:04 Finding the right brain-injury support group32:20 Connect with Kelly and find her book32:41 The Mindful Return Podcast33:01 Kelly’s final encouragement33:53 Closing The SwagAbility Show Kelly Tuttle is a neurology nurse practitioner, traumatic brain injury survivor, advocate, and author of After the Crash: How to Keep Your Job, Stay in School, and Live Life After a Brain Injury. Connect with Kelly:https://kellytuttle.org Find Kelly’s book:After the Crash: How to Keep Your Job, Stay in School, and Live Life After a Brain Injury Listen to The Mindful Return Podcast: From Brain Injury to Back at Work on Apple Podcasts and other podcast platforms. Explore possible workplace accommodations:https://askjan.org This conversation is provided for general educational purposes and does not replace personalized medical, legal, employment, or financial advice. Seek guidance from qualified professionals concerning symptoms, rehabilitation, driving safety, workplace accommodations, disability benefits, or financial decisions. Support the SwagAbility mission:https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/donation-form/donate-to-change-lives-today Want to be a guest on The SwagAbility Show? Connect with Stephen Wagstaff through PodMatch:https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/swagability #PodMatch #SwagAbility #ConcussionRecovery #TraumaticBrainInjury #Neurofatigue #InvisibleDisability