I'm new to this and am hoping someone can offer some advice. Nine days ago my 7 year old was running and fell bumping his head on a metal door jamb. He required 14 stitches in three layers as he split everything down to the skull bone. A CAT scan showed no other injury. When it happened, he did not lose conciousness, or see any stars. He jumped right up and exclaimed that he hit is head, of course bleeding profusely. He was not groggy or dazed or anything that would indicate a concussion. In fact he was not diagnosed with a concussion at the time. Three days later he began getting headaches. The headache is on the right side of his head (his injury is dead center, in his hairline, above his nose) in the temple region and above. His eye on that side also gets puffy and redish as if he has been crying. The pattern is the same every day where he wakes up fine and within 2 hours the pain is unbearable. I have been giving him children's ibuprofen which takes the pain away after about 1.5 hours and then the pain stays away until the next morning. This is a very tough little boy that doesn't let anything get him down who has never experienced a headache before. The ER diagnosed him with post concussion syndrome but offered no information. My questions are how long do I let him suffer before I take him to a specialist? Does what's happening sound like PCS? Should I ask for an MRI? We've kept him quiet since it happened because of the stitches but could something have developed since the CAT scan? Should I ask them to look at the CAT scan again? I would appreciate any input on this.

hi and welcome tho so sorry tohear what has brought youhere

honestly, from what I am learning of PCS, you need toget your child in to a competent physician asap!

here is our PCS-TBI forum for more info and support. the members there will surely be able to give you input on this
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum92.html

Thanks for the link. I have been perusing other forums here as well and am scared for my son. I guess I should be thankful that his only symptom is a searing headache when there are so many more he could have. He got his stitches out today and his pediatrician says he'd be surprised if he didn't have a concussion with the gash he sustained. He isn't concerned with the headache, told me to look for congnitive issues since they are very common, and told me no sports for two weeks after the headache subsides. My son eats, sleeps, and breathes hockey so this may be worse than the headaches themselves. At least the motrin is still working, only one dose a day does the trick (so far). Am going to give it a little more time before I go mother-bear crazy and ask for more tests. I don't want him to be tramatized by my paranoia but I will be secretly vigilent.