First off, I would like to say thank you in advance for taking the time to read my thread. Your forums here are a great resource. I will do my best to explain thoroughly my situation to help you guys get the best understanding for feedback. (Keep in mind I am going to my neurologist this Thursday....)

Okay, so my story begins January 5th, 2012:
I was playing a game of basketball w/ friends at my local YMCA when all of a sudden I collided with one of my friends in a head-to-head hit. It hurt VERY badly for only at matter of seconds (I was NOT knocked out) so I was able to continue playing for the remainder of the night with no pain/other effects. My friend was in enough pain so that he went home and took aspirin and had no prolonged effects. I have since asked other friends who observed the incident and asked them how hard it looked to which one responded :
"It was pretty f'ing hard."

January 8th:
Only symptoms were small tick/pinch-like feelings before I went to bed that night.

January 9th:
Looking back, here is where I was really foolish. I went snowboarding with a pal and took a couple of spills (and YES, I WASN'T wearing a helmet). However, I do not recall hitting my head directly but I do remember landing oddly with my neck bent forward.

January 10th:
This was the day I felt "not right". The best terms I can use to describe would be: tired, out of place, disinterested.

January 11th-January 25th:
Symptoms Persist/Worsen. Develop headaches (not specific to any part of head and are either very quick "flares" or longer/dull). Also, I started to feel like my eyes lost their ability to blink and that I had to do it manually.

January 25th (Important):
Visit usual physician, explain symptoms, etc... I TELL HIM I WOULD DESCRIBE MYSELF AS A HYPOCHONDRIAC/ANXIOUS PERSON. I tell him from mid-Nov to present that I was under a lot of stress at home (mom sick, dog being put down soon). He does routine neuro exam (eyes/ears): he says no bleeding in skull and no pressure in skull...

January 25th (CONTINUED):
I explain to him why I think I am anxious... This previous summer I was vacationing with a friend at his family's house in FL and he pointed to a picture of his cousin. My friend tells me she just had a BRAIN TUMOR...Fast forward to me in my doctor's office and I tell him that. He calms me down and tells me rest is the only solution.

January 26-January 30th:
Symptoms persist, anxiousness builds. Begin to feel random quick pains/twiches in body parts and an urge to move my legs because they feel "different".

January 31st-Febuary 1st:
I presume I had a panic attack this morning. Woke up with trembles, mind racing, contemplate calling 911.

February 1st:
Return to physician, he repeats neuro exam: again no pressure in skull or internal bleeding. We discuss my anxiety and set up a meeting with a psychiatrist.

February 3rd:
Appointment with psychiatrist, I explain all the details, etc, etc. She concludes that I have always been an anxious person(true) and that the stress and concussion(presumed) have made my anxiousness worse. She prescribes Xanax(.25mg twice a day).

February 4th-Present:
Overall quality of life is better I guess due to Xanax but still the thought of a BRAIN TUMOR is still on my mind. As said previously, going to neurologist this Thursday (2/16).

Current Symptoms (In Detail):
-Headaches: I never have any serious pounding/pulsating pain in any reoccurring/specific area but rather usually quick sensations in any part of the head. Sometimes I experience dull tightness in the back of my head.
-Legs: I think this is an anxiety issue, but I seem to have an increased alertness to them from my knees and below. I feel like I have to move them.
-Neck: I get neck pain in when I lean it backwards. This seems to come and go.
-Eyes: This symptom is an on/off thing. Sometimes I go a while without experiencing it. The best way to describe it is like I have to force myself to blink a lot on my own.

Other Important Information:
-I went snowboarding before my basketball incident (Dec 22 and Dec 29), again WITHOUT helmet and falling a lot, but didn't have any concerns in the days after.
-As briefly mentioned, I've been under a lot of stress since mid Nov with Mom's health (driving the house crazy, so far nothing found with her). I guess I get my hypochondriac mindset from her...

MY THOUGHT PROCESS WITH THIS ANXIETY
Regarding my story about my friend's cousin with the BRAIN TUMOR...I have been vigorously searching my mind/asking friends/recounting dates on facebook to PROVE TO MYSELF that I was NOT experiencing any of these symptoms (headaches,etc) prior to the dates that I have given. I keep coming back to the answer that it's unlikely a tumor developed between late December (when I was feeling fine) and being hit in the head but I keep doubting myself and even the severity of my concussion. Everyone I've spoken with says that I am highly over-analyzing the situation.

I've read on some sites that the occurrence Post Concussion Syndrome has little correlation with the severity of the concussion sustained. Can anyone confirm this and does it sound likely that I'm having PCS?

So, well, there is my story. Thank You so VERY MUCH for taking the time to read it. Please help me out with my thought process and if this all sounds normal in regards to the symptoms.

Yes, there is little correlation between "severity" of the injury and severity or duration of the symptoms. I have talked to several professionals who indicate that people who have "little bumps" often have very painful and/or enduring symptoms.

The symptoms you describe sound very much like my post-concussion symptom progression, including the increased anxiety.

Sorry to hear you're suffering. Glad you found us here, though! Best wishes for a speedy recovery!

Dalton,

Welcome to NeuroTalk. Sorry to hear of your recent experiences.

What you describe all can be due to a concussion. Add a predisposition to anxiety and you get a double whammy.

The concussion was on the basketball court. The snowboarding added to the concussion with sub-concussive impacts. Any time a concussed brain is shaken, it can act like a new concussion and make the symptoms worse.

To define you, I'd call you a cyber-chondriac. That is a hypochondriac who self-diagnoses from online (cyber) information.

A brain tumor will usually manifest with focal symptoms related to the specific area of the tumor. Your symptoms sound more global as in diffuse axonal injury. This is a subtle injury or stress to thousands of fine connections between brain cells.

I assume that your are a guy (Dalton) but your age may also play a part in your symptoms.
How old are you?
Have you played any contact sports or soccer?
Any prior concussions?

And, forget about the brain tumor. You are more likely to get struck by lightning than have a brain tumor from the symptoms you describe.

Anxiety is the enemy when recovering from a concussion. You need help with your anxiety besides the Xanax. I am concerned that you are taking a benzo (Xanax) while trying to recover from a brain injury. Your brain is already struggling and sedating your brain will not help it heal.

Do you drink any caffeinated drinks? coffee, tea, energy drinks?

You need to stop if you do.

Keep us informed how you are doing. We are here for you.

My best to you.

Thank you both for your kind words. I am 20 years old and I have never been diagnosed with a concussion but have hit my head plenty of times I'm sure. Just never any lasting symptoms. For example, I hit my head earlier in 2011 (late summer-beginning of fall) while rising up from a bent over position and struck a metal beam right above me at work. It hurt like hell for a few minutes but I took some ibuprofen and never had any problems after that. I don't drink coffee, etc at all.

I do understand your concern about the Xanax sedating my brain because my initial physician did seem to mention that he felt reluctant to prescribe something like that because of the uncertainty of my head. When I went to the psychiatrist, she seemed more concerned about assuming me being an anxious person in my life prior to this incident. She suggested that the concussion+recent stress manifested have resulted in an increase in an already present anxiety.

I never wanted to be medicated at first but I felt compelled to have 'something' just due to the overwhelming anxiety/panic induced by a belief in any possible 'scenarios'. I will say that I do become more anxious when I am alone/unengaged as opposed to being around my dad or doctor (someone who will listen/calm me down).

Sorry to be a pest but I have a couple more questions/thoughts:

1) I know exactly where I got hit playing basketball...Is it common to have these 'headaches' in many different areas of the head/neck besides just the area of impact?
2) Is it also normal for some days to feel okay for the most part with minor instances of headache and than some days I feel the headache as constant/dull or quick flares in different locations?
3) I can understand the twitching/random quick pains being from anxiety/stress BUT how does my leg issue sound... I really can't think of a term to describe it. The feeling isn't constant but when it does come, it lasts in episodes for a few hours and I just feel like I have to move them or else...

Like you said, the anxiety is a huge enemy right now. I just can't seem to stop doubting that I was feeling fine in mid-late December. Its as if I am minimizing my basketball injury and saying to myself :"That hit couldn't have been enough to warrant a concussion, right?"

Thanks again, I'll be keeping everyone updated

Thanks for you good response. This helps me understand your situation.

Your age means you don't have to worry about the issues of adolescence and concussion.

The caffeine and alcohol are also good answers.

Your history of diagnosed concussions of just one needs to be updated with those head impacts that caused head aches and any other symptoms besides a simple swollen bump. This puts you in the spectrum of Multiple Concussion Syndrome.

There is a concussion specialist back east who suggests keeping record of any and all head impacts. He even suggests that ER doctors note possible concussion in the medical records of any patients who are seen in the ER from falls or other like of trauma. He considers it valuable information for future doctors to consider when PCS like symptoms may manifest.

What this means is your symptoms MAY be more prolonged with a lesser level of recovery. It also puts you at a much greater risk of more damaging head injuries. As concussion count increases, the damage caused by the same or even less intense impacts can be much more problematic.

You need to give very serious consideration to finding a way to resolve your anxiety issues and hypochondria. With your history, anxiety will likely follow you do to the weaknesses your brain has from your concussions. Doctors tend to dismiss patients with concussion like symptoms from what appears to be a minor impact. They frequently label the patient's symptoms psycho-somatic or somatoform. This ends up being a ball and chain that can follow the patient for years.

As far as getting on the road to recovery, there are some basic things to do. Get started on a supplemental vitamin and nutrition regimen. This means a B-50 or B-100 complex, 300 mgs of B-6, 500 to 1000 mcgs of B-12, D3, E, niacin, Omega 3's, folic acid, calcium and magnesium, a strong multi-vitamin like GNC Mega Men's. There are a few others that I forget (brain damaged).

Regarding your questions,

It is very common to go through a roller coaster ride with symptoms. After a while, you will start to notice triggers. Many triggers will not cause an increase in symptoms until the next day. Hard to understand but the truth. We can discuss triggers in a latter post.

The head aches in other areas of your head just mean that your injury was not a focal injury at the point of impact but a diffuse injury or coup contra coup (hit with a rebound hit as the brain bounces inside your skull). The head aches are usually tied to the brain's loss of its ability to regulate blood pressure in the skull. There are also head aches from the upper neck injuries common to concussions (the head bone is connected to the neck bones, hit the head and the neck is impacted by the head). These will usually manifest from behind the ears and move to other parts of the head as tension increases.

The restless feeling in your legs can be connected to the concussion for a myriad of reasons. I need to take an anti-seizure med to help my legs settle down so I can sleep without kicking my wife. Gabapentin (Neurontin) works well for this for me. It is well tolerated with minimal side effect, especially compared to Xanax

Regarding your anxiety and hypochondria, if you arm yourself with complete and accurate information, it is quite possible to exclude the many risks that are often obsessed on. There is a saying in medicine, When you hear hoof beats, think horses, not zebras. The idea is to consider the most common and logical issues (horses) and ignore the extreme or rare issues (zebras) until all the common issues are ruled out.

Understanding your concussion symptoms allows a simple, "Oh rats, I did that and now I have to deal with some symptoms for a bit." Download and print a copy of the TBI Survival Guide at www.tbiguide.com. As you read through it, you will have many 'ah ha' moments. Then, realize that concussions rarely ever kill anyone, and usually only when a second concussion happens within the first three or four weeks of a previous concussion.

So, no basketball or risky activities at all for a few more weeks at least. Even better if you wait until you are completely symptom free for two months. If you develop an excruciating head ache or lose control of your muscles or balance or focus or other extreme symptoms, get to an ER right away. But, that will be a very rare situation, again about as likely as getting struck by lightening. There is not much the doctors can do to help you except prescribe meds for individual symptoms. Amitriptyline (10 mgs) is often prescribed for head aches and insomnia. Propanolol can be used as an anti-anxiety med. It is fast acting and easier on the brain and body that benzos like Xanax.

There are lots of trick you can use to help tolerate your symptoms. Tell us about your worst and we can help you with them.

There, I gave you the full flow fire hose treatment. Print this post out so you can read it later and show your parents.

And, get some quiet rest.

My best to you.

Wow, thanks again. Sorry about double posting; I didn't know the first had went through. You mention the horse/zebra and psychosomatic topics and I think these may be playing a large role in my anxiety. I'm the type of person who needs all the information available so I think hopefully having a CT scan and an MRI (if needed) will do a lot towards reducing my anxiety (assuming the results confirm I have no serious illness).

You may also want to ask about something like Prozac for anxiety. I was on it before my concussion, and increasing my dose afterwards helped with the increased anxiety I was experiencing.

I also have the restless leg feeling off and on, especially when I am lying down and trying to go to sleep. I think it is just part of your nervous system being a little haywire. I also have random arm twitch/jump things sometimes.

I want to welcome you to Neuro Talk. I am sorry you are experiencing the pain and anxiety. This site will help you through it. There are alot of individuals who have suffered this kind of injury. Hope you get alot of responces and help. You found a good site to help you with this. I hope you get better soon. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers. ginnie

Hi Dalton,

With anxiety and obsessions, our natural tendency is always to run from or resist the thing we are fearing. With OCD in particular, this manifests itself in the form of compulsions that include checking, seeking reassurance, counting, washing, and a number of other behaviors, some of which are quite bizarre.

What you describe here sounds like a classic obsessive-compulsive thought process (I'm not diagnosing you with OCD--just talking about this thought process). An obsession (intrusive, disturbing thought) gets stuck in our heads, and we go around looking for information in order to prove to ourselves that our feared consequence (e.g. brain tumor, something bad happening to a loved one, etc.) will not happen or is not true. But this is a losing battle; no matter how much evidence we produce (those of us with OCD, anyway), we can never achieve absolute certainty that our feared consequence will not happen, and we still feel anxious thinking about that tiny chance that our feared consequence could occur.

The idea here is that reassurance, in the short term, does help to alleviate the anxiety; all compulsions do, and that's why people engage in them. But as a long-term strategy, it is not likely to be helpful. The general rule of thumb with any type of anxiety--which is much easier said than done--is to go toward what you fear. With a brain tumor, this might mean working on accepting the possibility that you might have a brain tumor and that there's nothing you can do about it, rather than looking for more information to try to achieve certainty. This is very hard at first, and it is best done under the supervision of an anxiety or OCD specialist (depending on your diagnosis), or at least with a very good self-help book.

Can you get a referral to see an anxiety specialist? Medication alone will only take you so far with anxiety; lasting progress requires an understanding of the condition, as well as changes in behavior and thinking. If what you have is OCD, then the best treatment is Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). Anyone who claims to be an expert in OCD and is not using these techniques is probably misinformed and out-of-date. Again, I'm not trying to diagnose you; let the therapist take care of that. I'm just trying to say that once you are diagnosed, it is very important to get a therapist who is an expert in whatever particular anxiety disorder you have (if you have one).

If you are able to read with your current head injury, you might look into getting the following books:

Dancing With Fear, by Paul Foxman

This one focuses on anxiety in general, and is more relevant for disorders like Panic Disorder, Phobias, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder.

Freedom from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, by Jonathan Grayson.

This is an up-to-date and fairly comprehensive treatment of OCD by one of the foremost experts in the field. It may also be of some benefit in helping to understand and cope with other anxiety disorders.

When in Doubt, Make Belief, by Jeff Bell

This one also focuses on OCD, but may also be helpful for other forms of anxiety such as Generalized Anxiety Disorder and maybe Panic Disorder.

There are some good Yahoo groups for people with anxiety disorders. Some are general and some focus on specific disorders. It might be best to first see if you can get a diagnosis, but some of these Yahoo groups are extremely helpful, and they are moderated by experts on these conditions.

Please feel free to PM me if you want to discuss your anxiety further, or if you have any questions that you don't want to ask in public.

Thanks for your informative post! I just want to let everyone know that the MRI results came back NORMAL! Thanks for all your support and vast amounts of information. I just have one further question, Since the MRI came back normal, there is no point in having a CT Scan correct?