I swear I do not have any cognitive issues (if you see mistakes in typing --its because I type 100wpm being a past legal secretary) and I rarely check for typos when writing quick things.

I have no word finding issues, no speech problems, no memory problems, no real brain fog or concentration issues. I can read and completely understand everything etc., I can drive with no problems...just pain later.

I just get intense head pain...down my neck, at the temples, ears ring --sometimes very loudly (yes...tmj is being considered...wearing an orthotic) I get this after being around a few people for an hour (or even just one friend ...talking on phone or lunch etc). Sometimes I notice reading will make me feel the pain, but could it be head position? Head feels weird after watching too much tv too.

And god forbid I do too much in one day -- computer, drive the kids somewhere, forget going to the mall...then all the symptoms start! And...suffer the next day. If I go out to dinner ...bam..suffer the next day like I was beat up!

Today I feel like crap -- seriously pain from top of my head straight down to about my bra strap.

so..can this really be brain related if I have no real cognitive issues?....or should I put more emphasis on the neck/tmj issue (I am seeing a chiropractor).

thoughts???

I totally get where you're coming from! I can't understand it either. The only thing I can think of is that it could be due to where the trauma occurred in your brain...

I dont really have any cognitive issues either. I was highly functioning when i was working and taking care of sick patients. I might have trouble thinking of a word, but i knew what action i was going to take. My main symptoms are pain, dizziness, and fatigue at this point. My memory is great (except i have no memory of my accident....which is normal).

Could your pain and other non-cognitive issues be related to head and neck movement? Also possibly due to the normal fluctuations in Blood Pressure and Pulse from being active?

Have you had any traction therapy? It is definitely not a normal part of chiro. There are some PT specialists who have traction devices that can provide a regulated level of traction.

One article I read spoke of a problem where C-2 jambs into the skull and caused a restriction in the the foramen magnum. I have yet to understand how C-2 can jamb into the skull. It causes a problem similar to a Chiari Malformation. I know that if I spend too much time turning my head from side to side, I am in for a world of hurt.

As much as the pain is painful and disruptive to your days and life, don't forget to count your blessings for having all of your cognitive functions. It can help relieve your anxiety a bit, even if that bit is miniscule.

Remember the old saying, I complained that I had no shoes until I met a man who had no feet.

Or, as John says in his YouTube presentation, When his ears are ringing, if reminds him that God is still there with him.

My best to you.

yes...the chiro occasionally does traction. He didn't do it since last fri ...it hurt so much since I got the orthotic in that day. Sometimes he manually does traction too.

And again today I woke up tried to do a few stretches and my arm right down to my fingers went numb...anll tingly.

I know -- thank you for reminding me. I am thankful for what I have ...just so sad all the time for what I'm missing...and the pain I"m in constantly.

Good topic. I've been in the same boat: no cognitive/memory issues.
All pain issues.

Hope yours drops. I haven't tried traction yet- should look up what that is.

I have found when it comes to traction. It matters how its set up and were the pain is as to if it helps me. The are many other types of PT we can use, and I’ve used quite a few. You might even try a tens machine . It was very beneficial to me. I need to figure out how to get it useable for me again. And when it comes to the cognitive issues. My problems with cognitive started after the second head injury. I think it just makes a difference were your injury is, and how bad it is.

Cognitive can be more than the things you have listed. I have been told that many of these symptoms come from damage to parts of the brain and possibly neck. Vestibular, oculor-motor, etc. Tinnitus is a big symptom for brain injury. I would get vestubular therapy and or vision testing by a neuro opthamologist.

My IQ whatever that means was not affected but i feel horrible and can't function well. This apparently is good news.

Good luck!!!!

Hi All,
I can also relate to this issue. I have experienced some cognitive problems but, frankly, given how bad the pain has been I have been surprised that my cognitive function is as good as it is. If the brain is generating such devastating pain, how come it works as well as it does?

I believe that the nociceptors giving rise to pain are located in the membranes surrounding the brain, rather than deep within the brain. So perhaps the functional bit of the brain is not the same as the bit that is giving rise to the pain. Could the membranes be inflamed, scarred or damaged in some way? That doesn't mean that the inner workings of the brain are not damaged at all. If the inner part of the brain is generating molecules that give rise to pain or electrical signals, these could perhaps give rise to pain in the membranes but not great functional problems. I don't know how much this idea has been investigated by scientists but it seems plausible to me.

Wtrpk, I would not say that you have NO functional difficulties. It would seem from what you write that the pain can be triggered by what your brain is doing. So, even if you are not noticing any loss of brain performance, the fact that you are feeling lousy the next day does surely mean that your brain is not functioning perfectly.

I have come across the idea that those who have greater pain might have retained more function rather than less after a brain injury. This seems counter-intuitive. I think of it this way: If tissue is generating pain, then it proves that it is alive. So more pain might mean more tissue that hasn't died and therefore less loss of brain performance.

As for what you do about it. I would say - Do everything you can. So, vestibular therapy, if you have a problem in that area. Chiro/neck therapy if that might improve some aspects of your situation. But if all that fails, it doesn't mean that there is nothing wrong with your brain just because you can still use it to do things well even though you lack mental stamina. Lack of mental stamina is surely not coming from the neck. So, you also should be thinking about what you can do to alleviate the stress on your brain. Also, I think that medication just for pain should be considered. So also contact a pain specialist, if you can find one, and try drug treatments such as gabapentin, pregabalin and amitriptyline.

I have tried pregabalin and it has helped to make the pain a lot milder. I am still experimenting with dosage. At the moment 125 mg, three times a day.

Good luck to all who have this problem.

CS