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 recognize 00:29 Welcome to The SwagAbility Show 00:45 Meet Kelly Tuttle 01:10 Who Kelly was before the accident 01:38 Nurse practitioner, mother, and martial artist 03:40 The day another driver pulled into her path 04:19 Returning to work the next day 04:35 Diagnosed with a concussion 05:15 Falling asleep behind the wheel 05:41 Kelly’s dangerous roadside solution 06:11 “Kelly, that’s not okay” 06:16 Finding the appropriate rehabilitation specialist 06:40 Neurologist or rehabilitation doctor? 07:51 Why Kelly declined the ambulance 08:16 What she remembers from the crash 09:26 The first weeks after the accident 10:17 Mistaking brain-injury symptoms for physical pain 11:07 When Kelly realized something was still wrong 11:46 Did working in healthcare complicate recovery? 12:15 Expecting to recover within two weeks 12:54 Journaling revealed that she was getting worse 13:49 The early warning signs Kelly wishes she understood 14:22 Returning to work too quickly 15:13 When work consumes all your available energy 15:28 The hidden financial effects of brain injury 15:51 What is neurofatigue? 16:22 When the brain and body shut down 16:45 Why Kelly fell asleep while driving 16:59 The partially charged brain-battery analogy 18:02 What caregivers misunderstand about recovery 18:47 “Don’t take it personally” 19:32 Why multitasking caused emotional overload 20:01 Explaining a “bad brain day” to family 20:53 Early, middle, and late brain-injury recovery 21:37 Neuroplasticity and continuing to rebuild 21:52 Encouragement for someone newly injured 22:39 Journaling, patience, compassion, and humor 22:58 Giving yourself permission to grieve 23:15 Becoming comfortable with uncertainty 24:02 Stacking small wins during recovery 25:05 Financial wellness after an injury 25:34 Cancel unnecessary expenses early 25:53 Preparing for reduced or delayed income 26:39 Finding workplace accommodations through AskJAN.org 27:38 External tools that can make work manageable 27:56 Can you trust your decisions after a brain injury? 28:57 Why you should not make every decision alone 29:14 Counselors, financial planners, and money coaches 30:05 Protecting your employment after an injury 30:28 Getting help managing bills 31:04 Finding the right brain-injury support group 32:20 Connect with Kelly and find her book 32:41 The Mindful Return Podcast 33:01 Kelly’s final encouragement 33:53 Closing The SwagAbility Show Kelly Tuttle is a neurology nurse practitioner, traumat...