Hi Mark!
Thanks so much for answering. Didn't want to over-share initially. Here are answers to the questions you asked:
Concussion: Hit my head twice in 48 hrs; unsure if both were concussions, however the second definitely was. We're renovating our house and both blows were caused by hitting a wooden support beam just put in. The first incident on Mon, I walked full-speed into it not even realizing it was there. Hit across my forehead. It was enough to ice and stop for the day but no other symptoms. Then 2 days later on Wed I dropped a tool and as I came up with all my force, rammed into the same beam; where my hairline meets my forehead. That one I knew was different instantly. Was nauseous, disoriented and said some strange things (kept saying the opposite word I meant without realizing it). But felt better by that night and assumed that was the end of it.
Diagnostics: I pushed through until Fri, when I finally had to leave work for urgent care because I was so sick. Until then I was thinking maybe I was getting sick or a migraine. They first diagnosed concussion, and connected the fact that there might have been two in a short period. Symptoms kept increasing over next couple days, so went to ER. They did a CT scan and showed no “acute findings” (CT Head without contrast). Since then I’ve seen my primary care dr every 2 weeks; no ENT or other specialist. I live in a fairly small town, so when I hit the 2 month mark and was referred to neurologist, I asked for anyone in the SF Bay Area who specializes in PCS. That’s who I’m seeing on Feb 8.
Sinuses: Unfortunately cannot take anti-inflammatories. Have an ulcer caused by anti-inflammatories from when my discs first started going out and was still competing. But I’ve been doing daily saline rinses and using a vaporizer at night since Nov, just in case it *could* be more directly sinus related.
Blood pressure: I’m not sure how to check my BP, but will google it. I tend to have low BP (usually 95/70 or something like that). Unsure if that’s relevant.
Please let me know if you have any other questions or suggestions. I’ve learned so much reading everyone’s posts the past few weeks, and am so grateful to be able to talk to someone about this!
Maggie
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark in Idaho
Magpie76,
Welcome to NeuroTalk. Sorry to hear you are struggling so.
You don't describe your concussion impact or say what diagnostics you have had so trying to find a way to explain your symptoms is difficult. I can take a few wild shots.
There are concussions where the bones in the sinus have fractured. This can even happen when the face or front of the head was not the impact zone. A CT Scan or MRI may image this. Have you been checked out by an ENT?
There are some conditions where the injury to the sinus causes pressure to build because the sinus gets inflamed and plugged. Again, an ENT may be worthwhile. Do anti-inflammatory meds make a difference?
This same area can be an impact area for the brain, either directly or contra coup (bounce back inside the skull).
Have you ever tried checking your blood pressure when this is happening? Elevated BP can be part of these symptoms.
It you are seeing a generic neuro, many of us would not be surprised that you leave the neuro baffled. A headache specialist may be better.
There are also some vision system issues that can cause problems. Behavioral optometrists may have an assessment system that can help.
Regarding relating your symptoms to the neuro, I think your description is about as good as it gets.
Please feel free to tell us more about your injury and treatments. We have heard everything.
My best to you.
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