I had what I thought was a mild concussion on June 27, 2011. It's September 1st today and I'm still hurting and having to increase my pain medication weekly. I don't want to be dependent on medication forever and I'm getting really scared!!! Any suggestions on what to do and/or what to tell my neurologist???

Katie, we have all been where you are right now. My concussion was in January, and I didn't have any notable improvement until six months later. It is definitely scary and frustrating, to say the least.

What kind of pain are you having, and what kind of medication are you on? I was on vicodin for several months. At first it helped my headaches somewhat, but over time it became less and less effective. Also, taking painkillers regularly can actually CREATE headaches. Although there were several VERY miserable weeks in the middle, I have felt much better since switching to amitriptyline, a medication used for chronic pain.

Keep posting here. We understand where you've been, and there are people here with lots of great information.

I'm actually taking amitriptyline and titrating up as needed. What really scares me is that I become tolerant faster and faster with each increase. The fact that meds can create headaches is freaking me out. I don't want to be dependent on meds and I need to find a way to know if I still need them. Ugh!!!

The pain has changed alot since my accident in June. It used to be a combination of dull aches, sudden throbs, and stabbing sensations. Now, it's a constant throb at the impact site which travels down to my jaw.

I just don't understand why I can't beat this - my life has been a challenge and I've always come out on top!!!! This sucks!!!

Welcome Katiebell, you have come to a great board. Eowyn is right, we have all been where you are. I too still suffer from headaches at impact sight that travel down to my jaw and into my neck....it is no fun!!!!!

I am on Lyrica for jaw pain from a dental injury a few years ago. It seems to help some with the pcs stuff as well.

Please feel free to share your struggles, sometimes that can make this difficult situation more tolerable.

Take care

Thanks to everyone for their warm welcomes! I'm realizing that this is a new experience for me and can't be dealt with the way I have approached my past challenges. I'll continue to post my progress in hopes for the valuable feedback that I've already received.

I started weaning off my pain med because I don't have insurance right now and the pain hasn't come back! The only thing that is persisting is the difference in the size of my pupils. It isn't causing vision problems - should I be concerned anyway?

Has a doctor looks at the difference in the size of your pupils? Have you been tested for nystagmus (horizontal gaze where the eye jumps rather than moving smoothly) It's the test they do at roadside sobriety tests. it also indicates brain injury. I have a slight persistent nystagmus in my left eye.

Could you have a TMJ problem that has gone undiagnosed?

My doctors are well aware of my pupils, but are not concerned. My MRI indicated only vascular damage - no bleeding. I do have some dead or damaged brain tissue, but that was from an intentional overdose and oxygen deprivation in 2009. I did not know about this damage until last month and I do not feel that I have been affected by it.

Hi Katie. I had my last big jolt and relapse on June 28th, so we were probably freaking out at around the same time - lucky us!

This is the sort of attitude I had to start with, and which I have learned is generally detrimental to recovery. This is different from any other problem I've ever had, in that it isn't something you can 'beat' or 'come out on top of', if you try to beat it it just gets worse. The symptoms are your brain's attempts to heal, and you have to do what they want you to, which generally isn't very much. It's a depressing conclusion to come to but I think it's a true one.

I have similar view on pain meds - my pain gets worse when I move around too vigorously, and this is my brain's way of telling me it needs me to stay still so it can heal. I wouldn't want that pain taken away, as then I might start doing things which impaired my healing - and I want to get better.

Of course I'm saying that from the standpoint of someone whose pain is not so bad that I can't function without painkillers - if I didn't have that luxury and my pain was worse then I guess I would have to take them. It's worth thinking about the evolutionary purpose of pain when considering painkiller medication though.

Good luck!