After a serious accident in 2016, I developed persistent post-concussion and neurological symptoms that changed nearly every part of my life.

I experienced vibrating or jumping vision, dizziness, vertigo, balance problems, migraines, tinnitus and hearing damage that eventually required a hearing aid. I also struggled with brain fog, memory loss, reading, spelling, concentration and processing information.

Sometimes I would lose my words, freeze in the middle of a sentence or stutter while trying to explain what was happening. People did not always understand that I needed more time to process information, and being judged because of those difficulties was deeply painful.

I also lived with sensory sensitivity, numbness, weakness, severe neck and back pain, exhaustion, disrupted sleep, anxiety and depression.

Recovery was slow, but I was gradually improving. Returning to school gave me hope, purpose and an opportunity to rebuild the future I felt I had lost.

In 2021, I received a COVID-19 vaccine because it was required for me to complete my education.

I cannot independently prove what caused every change that followed, but my health later deteriorated significantly. By 2024, my condition had gone from difficult but somewhat manageable to constant and disabling physical suffering.

Today, I live with severe nerve pain that can begin near my tailbone, travel through my buttocks, legs and feet, and move upward through my spine, shoulders, neck and arms.

My symptoms include:

• Burning and radiating nerve pain
• Numbness, pins and needles, and crawling sensations
• Pelvic, bone and sciatic-type pain
• Muscle loss, weakness and difficulty standing or walking
• Extreme fatigue and insomnia
• Brain fog, memory problems and difficulty concentrating
• Nausea and worsening symptoms after physical activity
• Unpredictable temperature changes and fever-like episodes
• Freezing hands and feet
• Migraines, head pressure and tinnitus
• Weather-related symptom flares

Some days are more manageable than others, but the pain never completely leaves. So far, medications have not provided meaningful or lasting relief.

I have been diagnosed with post-concussion syndrome, fibromyalgia, sleep apnea, hearing loss, psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis and an autoimmune disorder.

One of the hardest parts has been living without a clear explanation or effective treatment.

Despite seeing numerous doctors and specialists, I still do not have a complete understanding of what is happening to my body. I want to recover, regain some independence and, one day, use what I have learned to help others who are struggling.

At present, the severity of my pain and the number of ongoing medical appointments have made it impossible for me to maintain regular employment.

This is not simply a list of symptoms. It is the reality of living in a body and mind that no longer function as they once did. I have lost strength, mobility, confidence, independence and much of the future I worked so hard to rebuild.

My experiences are part of the reason I became involved in nonprofit work with the Turning Point Canada Foundation.

I create logos, social media graphics, merchandise and public-awareness materials because I want people’s voices to be heard—especially fellow Canadians living with chronic illness, disability, medical uncertainty or experiences they feel unable to discuss openly.

Even while facing my own limitations, I want to create something meaningful and remind others that their lives, experiences and voices matter.

Real people. Real pain. Real stories. You are not alone.

Watch my video on X

You can also follow my work and advocacy:

Instagram: @mcoles.design
X: @mcolesdesign
TikTok: @tpcanmike