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Originally Posted by FTNFLACPOS
Hello everyone,
Fast approaching 40 years old. I unfortunately played H.S. and college sports and in total had 10+ years of year-round full contact.
A couple of years ago I had about 5 accidents (falls, etc.) over a 3 month period. None of them seemed too bad, but I ended up with pretty severe post-concussion symptoms. I have recovered from much of it but am still having many symptoms. I estimate that I have had 20+ concussions from sports, several car accidents, etc (and that is probably a lowball estimate).
I have frequent headaches, pressure sensations, sensitivity to light and sound, irritability, memory and language problems, occasional slurred speech, fasiculations, mental and physical fatigue, trouble concentrating and lots of pain. There are a number of other symptoms as well.
I have only 'mild' arthritis (which is surpising) but if I push myself I will get to the point where I am incapacitated- hurt so much that I can't do anything at all, like barely walk a quarter mile. I have pain along much of my spinal column and when things are bad it is as if I can feel every injury that I have had; when things are really bad I can feel every injury that I have ever had like it just happened... Difficult to describe to people what it is like.
I have trouble with NSAIDs and related OTC meds as many years of taking them leaves me with more side effects than they are worth and they do little more than nothing to help.
I have had difficulty tolerating many meds like Nuvigil. I have tried amantadine lately with some benefit.
I was unemployed for a while, but am trying to go back to school as the field I am in is 'drying up.' The job itself is also detrimental to the healing process. Going to school will be quite a challenge given the disabilities that I have now.
It is difficult to see how things will work out long term but I am trying to be optimistic.
The 'science' of TBI recovery and physicians in general leave much to be desired. The path is quite frustrating to say the least.
Any suggestions are appreciated.
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Hi, and welcome.
The science is out there and has been out there for quite some time. Most times its been ignored or pretty much passed over by many due to the effects it would push onto insurance companies to actually do something for people suffering with concussion injuries/pcs/mtbi.
These links may be helpful :
Brainline
Sports Legacy
Dr. Robert Cantu
Dr. Julian Bailes
The above being favorites of Mark's and many others for articles, and both of the Doctors being very active in the past and present with Concussion / PCS / mTBI investigations and care.
There are many current retrograde and current ongoing NIH studies ongoing also, now that so many professional sports figures are involved in current issues with CTE - all studies looking at Concussions / PCS / mTBI. FINALLY.
Mark, and others will be on later, and will offer more, especially links on supplements and Ice therapy , etc. All very useful information.
What doctors are you seeing or have you seen?
What therapies are you having or have you had?
What studies have you had, or planning to have?
I have a concern about your use of Nuvigil - did you have a Sleep study before being placed on it? It has side effects and contraindications that could be detrimental dependent on your health profile, which you have not shared (cardiac history, elevated blood pressure issues, mood swings - since you are experiencing irritabiity, others that you could find out about at
WebMD or
RxList ).
I ask about Nuvigil, because its new enough to be one of those drugs some practitioners may use because it is new, and worth giving "a try " for those problems they haven't had much luck with other meds, with some troublesome issues some of their patients have; and its already on the Tort Lawyers list of "Bad Drugs".........just asking.