Hockey,

How long have you been experiencing the tingles?

I had head tingles regularly until a year ago or so. I think it was tied to poor blood flow because of my neck injury.

If your tingles started recently and you got a H1N1 vaccine, they may be related. There have been many tingling side-effects from the H1N1 vaccine, usually in the legs but sometimes over other areas of the body.

Eddyshead,

I can get bad concussion symptoms from just shaking my head as in 'No.' Bumpy roads can also do me in.

The spinning motions could have caused such a problem.

Did you ever get checked out by a chiropractor?

Yeah, I got checked by a chiropractor for a month. First meeting started the day after I got my head hit again (the pain started in February) When I first had the head pain it was centered to one singular spot. Now afterwords it feels more spread out.

I don't know if that's from the chiropractor or the second hit.

Hi Mark,

I've had the tingles since the beginning. The accident did loads of damage to my neck. I saw a gifted chiro I really respect, but he said it was too dangerous to work on my neck, because there had been so much shifting and swelling. I came within a hair of being paralysed from the neck down.

I know what you mean about head nodding and bumpy roads. I'm always begging my husband to slow down as we navigate the potholes. He looks at me like I'm nuts - so I'm going to show him your post.

At the moment, I'm having a vicious flair because I pulled my head out of the way when a kid decided to try out his new football at a Christmas party. Of course, as I have an exaggerated startle reflex from the TBI, this sort of thing happens all too often.

I need to follow my own advice and retreat to bed. However, with a small child I have keep going so I don't ruin her Holiday.

I HATE BEING THIS FRAGILE!

I hate the fragility too. I feel so emasculated being this delicate. Or how I can't wear hats or anything.

Anyways, it's been a week - my logic seems pretty sound. But my head feels more pressure than usual. My balance seems a little off again. I've been able to sleep, so I don't think I gave myself another concussion.

I dunno, maybe my stress is freaking me out. I'm kinda scared about it, y'know? How awful that I've had to put up with this concussion all through this semester, memory lapses and all, only go get worse through vacation?

update: Okay, I think insomnia is kicking in. Not good. Symptoms coming in a week after the incident. Does this mean I have another concussion?

Yeah, I couldn't get to sleep. My head's throbbing.

That's not the worse thing. I'm with my family and my mother notices, she seen me with my previous concussions and nerve problems and what it's doing to me. She tells me "I feel so sorry for you. A year ago you had the world by it's tail..." I cut her off and walked away.

I'm now in a private room sobbing uncontrollably. God.

Oh Eddy, PCS attracts insensitive comments like an outhouse draws flies. I'm so sorry you're having to go through this all at the Holidays.

I've also retreated to a private room. I'm trying to escape my uncle's questions about when I'll be strapping on the skates and getting back to work since, "I look so healthy." I felt like saying, "When your hair regrows and you lose the man boobs."

Eddy, let's take a deep breath together...

It's true though, I think about where I was before all this happened and it's heartbreakng

It's not fair, I had to suffer through this semester getting by, thinking "oh, I'll have the holidays to rest." Now this happens! If symptoms appear a week after all of this, that means my brain is swollen again i.e. another concussion, right? God, I'm going to have to nurse another concussion during the Holidays, I don't how much can my brain take.

I get flair ups all the time from things as simple as a big sneeze. I'm not sure, but I doubt mine are new concussions. Of course, a car accident is no sneeze. Someone like Mark would have a better understanding of what's actually happening. You might want to PM him as he might not be watching the board as closely over the Holidays.

Of course, I know the frustration of dealing with a brain injury. It's been three years, and although I try to always look forward, I still have moments when I get angry or just weep for what I've lost. And I lost a lot: I was a serious athlete a professional and the world's most patient Mommy. In contrast, the loser who hit me, who walked away with nary a scratch, is just wasting his life at the bottom of a bottle.

Clearly there's grieving process involved in having a serious TBI and I haven't reached the "acceptance" stage yet.

Eddy,

Most likely you are experiencing a decompensation rather than a new concussion. Your brain is very sensitive to any form of stress. The anxiety of the spin out could be enough. Or you could have a bit of whiplash.

Have you consumed any alcohol? It can also cause problems. You need to stop all alcohol, even a simple glass of beer or wine.

You also need to accept that your life is different now. Some of your old life may return but worrying about it will only delay healing. Many of the drugs prescribed for concussion are to treat the anxiety and depression that is common with PCS. They can help reduce the anxiety/stress levels. Amitriptyline and Nortriptyline have been beneficial to some, and usually in smaller than normal doses.

Some of my best life decisions were to not push myself so hard. I have made these choices many times. There are many ways to be successful. Not all of them require that you drive yourself nuts with stress.

Remember, from now on your are living with an injured brain. If your non-violent spin-out can cause trouble, think of the other stressors you are prone to.

If you are struggling with school, go visit the disabilities department. There are systems to help you lower your stress levels and study under less stress. You quite possibly qualify for extended time for taking timed tests. Maybe a quieter testing environment too.

Hockey, Your uncle deserves a smart answer. I like your suggestion. Or maybe, "Does poor body condition make one incompetent? If so. your man boobs are lowering your IQ daily." LOL

If anybody walks past a lost and found, check and see if anybody has turned in a mind. I think I have lost mine. LOL

When we have to absorb people's ignorant criticisms, I like to think of what Winston Chruchhill once said. At a social function, a woman approached him and said, "Winston, you are drunk." To which he responded. "Ma'am, you are ugly. Tomorrow, I'll be sober."

Thanks Mark. I've stopped Alcohol all together since September.

Feeling better, I managed to get some sleep. I've been googling Nuerofeedback and saw a place near me. I think I'll check it out. Get some therapy. Also yeah, college, I'll check out their programs as well.