Traumatic Brain Injury and Post Concussion Syndrome For traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post concussion syndrome (PCS).


advertisement
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 06-30-2011, 12:12 PM #1
parraline5750 parraline5750 is offline
New Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 5
10 yr Member
parraline5750 parraline5750 is offline
New Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 5
10 yr Member
Default Setbacks in recovery

Hello,
My story in short:
August 2010, crashed racing a motorcycle and hit my head. Reportedly lost consciousness for 10-15 seconds. Taken to ER, CT scan was negative, and was released the following day. Persistent headache still present in September '10, my PCP started amitriptyline, which seemed to take the edge of it. I had an MRI done in September, also negative. I tried to wean off the amitriptyline in December due to the side effects, but the headaches just got worse.
Per two neurologist's advice, I have also tried prednisone, indomethacin, and gabapentin. None of these medications eliminated the headache entirely, and all had side effects that were worse than the headaches. Exercise with a heart rate above 160 initially, and 180 now, seemed to worsen the headache, but it would subside upon ceasing exercise and I would feel better for usually 30min to an hour after exercise. I had a neuropsych evaluation done in May, was told I am still above, or highly above, the cognitive capabilities of my age group. That is all well and good, but I still feel slow. The neuropsych read me like a book, and seemed to immediately grasp my personality, and the problems I was suffering from.
Fast forward to June 26th, and I had been nearly headache free (still on amitriptyliine) for almost 2 weeks prior. I had seen a chiropractor that helped my neck it seemed, and was in great spirits, really felt I was on the final road to recovery. Then I went to Colorado for a trackday, and the temperature and humidity were very high. Easily 90+ in the shade, plus the added radiant heat off the asphalt. Suffered from what must have been heat exhaustion/stroke for most of the afternoon, and headache was suddenly the worst it has been since last year, accompanied by an odd sense of vertigo, or that my balance wasn't "right".
Now for a week I am back to the debilitating headache that is at or above the level it was at in Sept/Oct of last year, and it is now accompanied with odd sense of dizziness/vertigo/balance issues. Neurologist claims there should be no poor interaction between heat/autoregulatory functions and the amitriptyline, PCP said that the small dosage I am taking should not have been an issue, but all the same, if I am going to continue playing in the sun, I should take myself off the drug. I am going to an opthamologist this afternoon to get my eyes checked, something I should have done last year anyway due to pre-concussion low light vision issues, but I don't have much hope that this will make my head feel better.
I am so anxious and tired of the emotional roller coaster I have been on since last Sunday, or the last 10-11 months. I fell 95% normal last Saturday, and now today I feel a shell of my former self, it is draining the hope from me like a firehose from a hydrant. It is affecting my relationship, my friends, and my capability to work. I feel on the verge of tears nearly all the time now, the tiniest things set me off. I am scared to death that the heat stress episode has now fried something else in my head. I am sorry to add yet another less than positive post to this forum, but I am tired of being negative about my condition and quality of life around the people that I love. I don't know what else to do at this point. The urge to just run away, anywhere, and just be miserably by myself is overwhelming, despite the obvious realization that it would accomplish nothing.

Thanks,
Here's hoping there is an answer for me, and you, somewhere.
parraline5750 is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote

advertisement
Old 06-30-2011, 12:46 PM #2
SmilinEyesMs305 SmilinEyesMs305 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 242
10 yr Member
SmilinEyesMs305 SmilinEyesMs305 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 242
10 yr Member
Default

I'm so sorry to hear you are still struggling through all this.

As for heat and potential post concussive syndrome, this is one of my BIGGEST triggers. My previous neurologist tried to tell me that they couldn't be related and that I was just imagining it. (Needless to say, I found another dr.)

The concussion clinic I currently go to has been wonderful. When I asked about the heat, they said that people with head trauma often have the blood flow to their brain effected. This can lead to feelings like hot flashes, being extremely cold or an inability to regulate temperature.

So if you were still having some symptoms and over did it with the heat, maybe your brain is no longer as equiped to help your body endure such high temperatures and activity, due to a blood flow problem? I have no idea if this is the case for you, but it seems to make sense based on what my dr. told me yesterday.

Hope you are feeling better soon! You aren't in this alone.
SmilinEyesMs305 is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 06-30-2011, 07:08 PM #3
Mark in Idaho Mark in Idaho is offline
Legendary
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Somewhere near here
Posts: 11,421
15 yr Member
Mark in Idaho Mark in Idaho is offline
Legendary
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Somewhere near here
Posts: 11,421
15 yr Member
Default

Smilin was right about the brain's struggle to regulate blood flow and blood pressure for many with PCS. You should buy a blood pressure kit and check you blood pressure during head aches and other strange head sensations. You will likely find some connections.

I am surprised that you have not been advised to stay of the track, at least until all of you symptoms are gone for a month or two. I suggest you consider leaving the track all together. It appears that you brain either is or has become very sensitive to stresses. The vertical and horizontal G forces transmitted to your head during riding and hard turns is likely too much for your brain, at least for the present time.

I am curious about your Neuro-Psych Assessment. Was it a full day of testing or an abbreviated test of an hour or two? The psych's interpretation sounds common. When they test someone with a higher intelligence than the normal for their age, the psych tends to discount many other indicators of brain dysfunction. Knowing more about the individual scores/ percentile rankings could help shed some light on what is happening with your brain.

Otherwise, you need to spend some extended time in a low stress environment to let your brain continue healing. What kind of work do you do?

Day to day work stresses can hamper your brain's ability to heal.

My best to you.
__________________
Mark in Idaho

"Be still and know that I am God" Psalm 46:10
Mark in Idaho is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Reply


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Comparing notes on setbacks greenfrog Traumatic Brain Injury and Post Concussion Syndrome 6 06-28-2011 05:51 AM
Recovery DontPlayFootball Traumatic Brain Injury and Post Concussion Syndrome 11 07-25-2010 12:02 AM
Recovery triviafriend Peripheral Neuropathy 0 10-15-2009 10:23 AM


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:28 PM.

Powered by vBulletin • Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.

vBulletin Optimisation provided by vB Optimise v2.7.1 (Lite) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.
 

NeuroTalk Forums

Helping support those with neurological and related conditions.

 

The material on this site is for informational purposes only,
and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment
provided by a qualified health care provider.


Always consult your doctor before trying anything you read here.