I am a civilian pipe-fitter for the Canadian Navy, I got my dream job in July of 2011. After 5 weeks of training for a new DND employee, I was put to work in the shop. After only a few weeks my supervisor asked if I would give a Navy guy a hand on ship. I was only an apprentice and was never told that I was not allowed to do this. We had to do a test on a few drain pipes and the first one went well. when it came to the next one, I noticed oil in the pipe and told the navy guy about it. He had the pipe "cleaned" and he went to the other end of the pipe outside the ship and we continued. A 5" steal pipe plug was placed on the end in a hole, I had to squeeze in and place the air hose to the plug to pressurize it. My face was about a foot away and I had pipes over my head, at 30 psi I heard a squeak and barely turned my head before it exploded. I have no idea if I was knocked out, but the bang brought another sailor rushing to the hole. He asked me if I was okay and I put my hand to my face and pulled it back to find alot of blood. I managed to pull my self out and I started to spit out my teeth. I thought that the side of my face was gone. I was tackled to the deck and the next thing I know people were all around me. I went to the hospital and on my way I passed out. I was told that when I walked in nurses rushed me and put me in a bed. I was covered with blood and my face was swelled really bad. The doctor did an x-ray because he thought my orbital bone and jaw was broke. the marrow turned to mush my top side teeth were broke but I was sent home to see my own doctor. I had black eyes, bruises on my face, back of my neck, and behind my ears. I took 5 weeks off, had my teeth fixed, and went back to work. I was off balance, could not do my math or read. My head has been pounding ever since. in the new year I was not getting better and went to see a neurologist. I told him what was going on, personality change, nightmares, headaches, the hole nine yards. He patted me on my knee and said give it time, if i do an scan i'll find something wrong and you will just get upset even more. I went back to my doc and was put on meds for stress. My family and friends now have nothing to do with me, because im now different from before. I learned to "fake" normal for two years. But this last July it came apart. I could not do it any more. now I finally saw a new neurologist and failed his pysical and cognitive test. He want an MRI and more testing, he thinks I have a skull fracture and bruising on my brain. I now see a phycologest and was told I have PTSD and PCS with disabilities. I also go to a physiotherapist and she finds more issues and thinks that more was damaged. Work is harassing me to come back to work, threatening my pension and job! My docs say get a WCB lawyer but i know it wont help. just need to rant, thanks for listening and sorry my spelling is bad. : (

Hi there. Welcome!

I read your posting. I have such compassion for you I can't begin to tell you. It makes one realize that what they are dealing with is nothing compared to others. You have really been through it haven't you?

I don't even know what forum to send you too. But be assured, someone will come along and point you in the right direction. You will meet new people and make new friends. Many of the folks here walk in your shoes, please know this. You have had a horrible accident. I am so sorry that your family is not more sympathetic. People sometimes just don't know how to act.

All I can say is you will be in my prayers this evening.

Again, Welcome.

Sincerely,

Melody

thank you for your compassion, today was a bad day and ended in the hospital again. I'm not looking for sympathy, just need to be pointed in the right direction. I dont want to die, but sometimes it would just be so easy. Im just so tired, I was hoping that this site could put me in a positive place.

I can fully understand. About 10 years ago my husband was in the throes of a neuropathy attack so bad he was on the Fentanyl pain patch. Thank god for that patch. The only bad thing is if you are on it too long, you have to be weaned off of it. It's not a permanent fix for pain. Maybe for some people but not for my husband. He was in a dark place back then. And here we are today, still married to each other, he still has neuropathy pain but he's not in that dark place. I really do hope someone comes along and gives you the proper forum. Have you look at our forums? You might like to post on whatever suits your fancy.

Take care, Melody

Im only on a few meds: morning: paroxetine 40 mg,clonazepam 1mg night: clonazepam 1mg, prazin 2mg. I take a sleeping pill if I really need it, and Toradol for pain sometimes. I dont like meds even though they say I need them. they dont help much anyway.

Hi RP, and welcome. I am new too, just kind of wandered in here poking around online for some info to try and figure out some of my own issues and saw your post. Wow, you've been through a lot.. really wish your people could be more supportive for you too.

One thing I have been wondering if it might help is some craniosacral therapy. Sounds like in the blast you had some bones rearranged and there would be an imprint from the trauma too.. Craniosacral is a very subtle but powerful therapy that most conventional Dr.'s don't put much stock in, but it can be very powerful and helpful to reset the cranial and skeletal bones naturally, so they are more spacious in relationship to each other, and hopefully relieve some intracranial pressure that can cause headaches and other pain.

Another thing that could be really good is Osteopathy. I've suffered a few milder TBIs in auto accidents but any kind of brain injury or trauma just makes anyone's whole system so much more sensitive, and subtler therapies like craniosacral, Bach Flower Remedies or even "energy medicine" (aka "woo-woo" kinda ****) become effective and gentle enough to hopefully spare us the side effects of the pharmaceutical sledge hammers out there.. at least, this is what I am finding for myself and for a few others I know who have experienced TBI and have chronic pain or other chronic issues. I don't even talk to my doc about this stuff.. but I find it really helpful, and I hope that you might it and find relief. I wish you the best of luck, brother.

Blessings, G

I am doing craniosacral therapy with my physiotherapy. I was told that my skull is locked hard. If it lets go it would be a blessing. Being native, I have prayed to grandmother bear, (my totem) and she has sent me raccoon's. At dusk every night I sit on my deck and they come to me. One curls on my lap (gives healing) and one curls on my feet (takes pain). It may sound crazy, but it helps me relax and focus on healing. I hope some day soon I will allow myself to fully find my spirit again and not be so alone.

Hi Rabbit,

Glad to hear you are getting some cranial work done and that is a very beautiful blessing you are receiving through your totem grandmother and the raccoons! Anything that relaxes you and helps you focus on healing is a good, good thing!

One other thing I would like to mention is how important I have found it is to eat very clean and fresh food and drink lots of water, and to avoid any alcohol or other chemicals. These are very damaging to our systems, especially after such injuries, and if you are taking any other medication considered life sustaining, like anti seizure meds or what have you, your system's already got enough on it's hands dealing with this!

Eating lots of fresh, clean foods like raw leafy greens and other veggies and fruit, very deeply coloured stuff like berries etc, with lots of natural life force in them will help you to heal, as well as those rich, good fats and oils like extra virgin coconut oil, avocados, wild salmon and halibut oils, olive oil, etc. This is all SO GOOD for the brain and nervous system. I try to make a blended green drink with some berries in it most days.. it's kind of like a delicious liquid salad, and easier to consume without all the exhausting or painful chewing! A good way to get loads of vitamins in you.

It's hard to feel alone with something like this. I'm glad you are connecting with your spiritual supports system.. mine help me to feel not alone too, and being here also helps. Sending you a spirit hug!

<3 T

It doesn't sound crazy at all. It sounds very peaceful and healing. I have heard about these things. Hopefully your raccoons will appear tonight and make you feel nice and cozy. Believe me, we all need to do what we need to do to cope with all the stress that life gives us.

I like your style.

Have a great day.

Melody

Had a good physio today, she did cranial while i held my load stone marked with a bear paw, she asked me to visualize grandmother bear coming out of her cave and asked me what i felt, I cold feel the warm sun and sniffed the pine. my whole rib cage suddenly relaxed! Thank you for your support, its the first time in a long time someone knows what im going through, and it feels...safe.

Rabbit : )