Pcs?
 

Does anyone have or has anyone had any of these symptoms with PCS?

*Constant aching/burning pain on top of the head (sometimes feels like a stabbing pain)
*Sore spots on scalp
*Facial pain
*Tooth pain/gum pain (my front tooth hurts)

These are the symptoms I currently have. I was hit in the nose in mid June. I didn't lose consciousness. It just hurt and my eyes watered. I have been diagnosed with PCS. The Neurologist has prescribed me Nortriptyline. I've been on it for 4 weeks and don't feel much of a change. She increased my dose so I will see if that will help. I did have a CT and it was normal. I feel like something else might be going on with me. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Did your neuro say why she was prescribing Nortriptyline?

It is a tri-cyclic anti-depressant.

It use for PCS is questionable. Why many doctors prescribe antidepressants for concussion patients is beyond me.

There is a bundle of nerves at the base of the nose, right where the upper lip ends. This bundle is very very sensitive.
In fact it is an Acupuncture site. If you poke it with your finger nail...you'll see how sensitive it is.

I read a book about veternarians once and in it there was a
recommendation that dogs that go into cardiac arrest during surgery (from the anesthetic reactions) for the surgeon to stimulate this area of the nose, to undo a cardiac arrest! In dogs at least, stimulation of that nerve bundle may restart their hearts.

It seems that you were hit in this area, and your symptoms may be due to temporary injury to those nerves. Nortriptyline is typically given for neuropathies.

If that tooth continues to hurt...do check with your dentist.
Some injuries to the face may damage the nerves of the teeth.
I know a gal who was hit in the face and both her front teeth died and she had to have root canals and crowns put on them.

I hope this resolves for you quickly, in any event. The nortriptyline takes up to month to get working on neuropathies.

Thanks for the info. I am glad I found this website. The Neurologist gave me the Nortriptyline to block the pain. But it is not working. I was on 25mg and she increased it to 50mg. What are some common medications that help with PCS?

Also, the pain that bothers me the most is the top of the head (the area were the forehead meets the scalp). I know that probably sounds strange. Has anyone else had that? I am very worried and scared.

Thanks for any additional info anyone might have.

Hi There,
I've suffered from PCS for 9months and can relate to some of the symptoms you are talking about. I do also get pain in my jaw and teeth, also in the first couple of months I also had this weird pain on the top of my head. Although I still get headaches daily, this strange pain on my head has gone. PCS can also cause anxiety which I also suffer from, so try not to panic too quickly, it might be anxiety. Hope it helps. Good luck

Hey Alex,

I always have a headache at the top of my skull and that ache/burn at the back.

An earlier poster suggested you see a dentist. That's excellent advice. Your face suffered a major injury. You need to sort out the symptoms that might be skeletal/muscular from those that are the product of your brain injury.

The previous poster mentioned wisely that you monitor your anxiety. PCS can really impact your emotional and cognitive life. How are you feeling? Are you depressed, quick to anger or frustrated? How are doing at your daily tasks? How do those close to you think you’re doing?

Good luck with your recovery.

Maybe check this out...
 

Hi Alex123

Facial pain and some of this other stuff can be symptoms of something called trigeminal neuralgia, which causes really intense pain. There was a story recently about a chronic pain patient with this who was at the point of suicide when he visited Ben Carson, the Neurosurgeon at Johns Hopkins, who diagnosed it and made it go away. Given how many things can go out of whack when you get hit in the head, its just something to consider. Hope this helps.

Gershonb