Dealing with Post Concussion Syndrome
 

I suffered a concussion back on March 7th and my life has changed forever it seems. I was at work when it happened and I had a 40lb door fall on my head (I work @ FedEx Ground) and as soon I was hit it went dark and I still don't remember what happened. I remember standing up and looking around trying to figure where I was and what I was doing.

My manager asked me if I was ok but I couldn't really talk it seemed like. My manager and boss didn't take any actions the night it happened. I told my Dad what happened when I got home, and since he used to be a EMT he did all kinds of test on me. I went to bed and he stayed up the entire night and woke me up every half hour to make sure I was ok.

The next day I went to work was absolute hell. My boss refused to fill out an accident report, and my body felt like it was moving in quick sand b/c I couldn't go fast at all. Over the next couple of days symptoms started showing up. I started to become extremely fatigued, severe headaches, light sensitivity, balance issues, irritable, my eyes sight became really bad, lack of interest in everything, along with short term memory loss.

I had to call of work for 3 weeks b/c of this, if I had gone to the hospital I would've lost my job. My boss decided not to do anything til I called off and threatend that I would call OSHA to get them involved. He calls be back in about 5 minutes and tells me to go to the hospital. When I was in the hospital I was dealing w/ all the symptoms and my headache was a 10/10 on the pain scale. I had a CT scan done and it came back negative and they diagnosed me with PCS.

I've been seeing a work health doctor for about 5 months now and there really hasn't been any progress except my eyes aren't as sensitive to light anymore. Over the past 6 months my anxiety has gone way up and I've started to become depressed b/c I can't do anything. I'm not allowed to drive or go outside very much. I've fallen and blacked out about 4 times since the incident and ended up having to go to the ER back in August b/c of it.

That night my eyes were bothering me really bad and was dealing with a headache as always. I remember walking into my living room and my legs just gave out and the next thing I know I'm laying face first on my living room floor. My dad took me to the ER and they hooked me up to a EKG and did another CT scan. It came back negative which is good. The Dr. told me that my headaches have turned into Migraines.

Over the past couple of weeks I've been dealing with a Migraine along with the other symptoms everyday. I still have not seen a Neurologist b/c every time my Dr. sends a request FedEx shuts it down. It's been over 6 months since the accident happened, I just want to be healthy again....

B/c of what I happened I also had to fight FedEx and their lawyers . I ended up winning my case in July and all medical expenses are to be paid for and I received my back pay along with a disability check I get in the mail every week.

What an awful story. I hope that things get easier for you and that you are able to get the treatment that you need. Is there any chance that you are experiencing seizures when you have these blacked out moments. You really need a good neurologist to examine you and possible EEG studies. Wishing you the best of luck

Wow, What a story. At least you have somethings going your way with FedEx and their lawyers. Sounds like you need the same assistance you had in July as you go against FedEx to see a neurologist.

I suggest you check out www.tbilaw.com and see if you can find a good referral in your area. You need further legal support.

Think of it this way, Hope for the best but plan for the worst. This means expect FedEx to try to block your access to everything so take the steps to protect yourself.

Check out your state Work Comp statutes to see if you can choose your own doctor. In some cases, after a specific period, the injured worker can choose their own doctor.

Keep a daily journal of all of your symptoms including what you were doing before the symptom returned and just about anything that goes on in your day. You may find that you have triggers that precede your return of symptoms.

You need to do anything you can to get away from industrial medicine doctors. They work for the Work Comp companies and know who pays their bills. They are definitely not in your corner.

My best to you.

Thanks to everybody for the support.

As for the work comp issues, I had hired the best workers comp lawyer in the state of Ohio for this. His name is Phil Fulton and he wrote the book on Ohio compensation.

As for the first the reply, thankfully I have not suffered a seizure during one of my "episodes".

Maybe you should be asking him for more help and advice. Concussion is much different than most other WC injuries.

Why are you not allowed to go outside very much? Getting away from busy areas and crowds of people for a walk in the country or by down a river walk can be great therapy. The slow paced activity is good for your brain.

I really don't have the chance to go out and relax in the country, if I was able to I would do it everyday. I've gone and spent some time w/ my Aunt and Uncle who do live in the country and I felt very, very relaxed. During the time I was able to spend with them I was also able to sleep a lot better.

I've also begun to experience nightmares a lot recently. I haven't had them since I was a little kid. I don't know if this is related to PCS at all but, if it is it sucks.

Do you have anybody who can observe your breathing while you sleep?

I have nightmares (stressful dreams) if my breathing becomes abnormal. My wife sometimes notices me breathing irregularly. When I wake up, I will not feel rested and will also remember stressful dreams. It will be a bad day when that happens.

I was lucky enough recently to have a week away... no family responsibilites, no pressure, sun, sand etc... I was fine only 2 episodes in the week. Now back home, school run, ferrying kids to school, sports, lessons, + all the usual arguments and stress; I am having at least to episodes a day again.... slurring, incoherence, extreme tiredness...

Unfortunately no. I live with my Dad and he goes to bed around 10 and wakes up around 4. When he leaves for work he always asks me if I'm doing ok.

This past week I've almost fallen 20 times. My balance has become terrible as of late.

Flying with concussion symptoms
 

Hi Everybody :),

I passed out and then fell off my horse six months ago and sustained two internal carotid artery dissections and concussion. I wanted to know if anybody had experience of flying whilst in recovery from concussion. I still get quite severe symptoms from time to time, and am fatigued a lot in general but am making good progress.

I wish to make a journey which would require flying for an hour and a half in a commercial aeroplane.

Are there any doctors linked to this forum who may be able to advise and also has anybody had experience of flying whilst intermittently suffering quite strong symptoms from time to time. Things like nausea, being off balance, fatigue etc.

Thanks, Julie