Hello all. New to the chat room thing, so apologies if I un-intentionally break any rules or commit any cyber faux-pas. I'll learn quickly. Promise. One warning, I'm long-winded.
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The reason I sought out a larger community, such as this, is due to the sort of random and complicated medical history I have and potentially face. I am looking to take a more proactive stance in recovery rather than my current, laissez-faire approach. Part of to me means listening to others and learning from their experience and knowledge. I have also had my fill of face-to-faces with doctors!!
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To put it in brief, my history is as follows:
Played competitive sports from age of 4 through 18, which included soccer and basketball. During middle school and high school, I incurred three separate head injuries resulting in concussions. (Athletes at my boarding school now have to sign a head injury waiver due to my experiences. You're welcome kiddos.) Continued to play soccer and basketball at University, where I got my fourth concussion in my first year. This one was due to clumsiness, rather than sports. I'm awesome in that way. Two years ago, I was in a MVA where I got a fifth. At that time, I also broke my sacrum, shattered my pelvis, broke my L5, hips and incurred a multitude of other non-Neuro, trauma injuries. I currently have titanium pins running through a space in my sacrum. I was in a coma for around 30 days following the accident and in the hospital for a further 15. Against all odds, I am walking again and, after a year, was able to combat drop foot/nerve damage and can jog at the slowest of speeds. I walked a 5K (cane assisted) in the fall of 2012 and am lucky enough to have a sympathetic brother let me come in second to last place. Kicked my first 20 yd. shot in August of 2013 and was able to half-jump and play horse too. I still have the pronounced symptoms that one might associate with multiple concussions as well as nerve damage running up and down both legs and feet.
Started seeing a neurologist after having headaches at work that included nausea, double vision, radiating pain and numbness, a 'stillness' or slowed-down awareness of things around me (sense related) while my thought-process was extremely acute and very quick, and muscle twitching / inappropriate spasms. After ruling out a couple of diagnoses, I am currently on what I describe as 'MS watch'. Having had a parent pass away due to complications associated with MS, this is a particularly scary prospect. I am in sort of a holding pattern, waiting for more nerve regeneration (if possible), less pain, or some resolution in terms of a diagnosis.
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If anyone has had a similar experience, I would love to hear about what you have done / are doing to move on with life. Life hacks, if you will. It has taken me awhile to accept that things aren't ever going to be the same, but am looking forward to getting on with what's next. I just am not sure about how I can get there! Any feedback / suggestions / information I can review would be awesome!
Scary sharing this much information on a thread, but new times require new approaches. Thanks for your understanding and attention!!