Hello everyone,

35 days ago a block of iron from a roof fall on my head. I got a mild concussion but didn't lose my consciousness. I just felt really bad afterwards and thought that a good night sleep will make me recover completely, I was wrong..

Just a day after I started feeling the following symptoms:
- Headaches
- Head Pressure
- Some kind of fogginess in the brain I would even call it Derealization.. (the most terrifying symptom - never goes away).
- fatigue
- Great sensitivity to any noises especially subwoofer kinds of sound.
- ears popping.

I'm in the army now so I haven't been given enough rest ay start, but after it didn't go away I demanded to be sent to a hospital to do a CT scan. So I did. CT scan was perfectly fine and they have told me that the time will heal me sooner than I think.

I've rested for entire 20 days afterwards, even tried a week with no TV no computer no nothing just resting in a dark room.. helped a little but after I started stimulating everything was even worse.

6 days ago things have started to look better each day and i was optimistic.
Today I went to the doctor (first time I got out of the house for 14 days), had to drive for 2 hours (forth and back fro the doctor) and walk a little.. Now that I'm back home I feel awful again. The fogginess in the brain and derealization came back stronger like the start and I can't even sleep (When I rested I could even sleep 17 hours straight)..
I'm really frustrated and really scared I'm gonna lose my job at the army if I keep not coming..

There are even some new symptoms now as pressure in the sinuses, upper jaw and popping ears all the time when I yawn or swallow.

I'd love if some of you could give me some advices on how to deal with this, I think that all my problems might be caused due to ears issue from the concussion but I'm not sure.. sometimes it looks like sinus problem, then head, then ears..

I started to take vitamins right after the injury - B6 B12 C E Magnesium and avoided MSG and other unhealthy things to the brain.

I'm so frustrated, I just turned up 19 and I was a really healthy and happy guy, used to sleep like 6 hours a night and be awake and concentrated all day long, but now I can't concentrate for even a few minuted after 15 hours of sleep.

Please, I'd love any advice you could give me, and if anyone knows if the symptoms can be caused from the ears and not the brain (as they have changed).

Thanks In advance for you all and I wish we will ALL be healthy again as soon as possible.

Roy.

P.S. Sorry for my English, It's not the best but I think you will manage

Roy,

Sorry to hear about your head injury. You've come to the right place - this forum has a lot of very helpful people and information. Others will have lots to add, but here are a few basic pieces of advice:

- Avoid hitting or jarring your head a second time (try to avoid significant impacts to the body as well)

- Physical and mental rest is key (do your best to avoid exertion or stimulation that makes your symptoms worse - this will be a trial-and-error process)

- Hard as it is, try to stay patient and optimistic - recovery can take days, weeks or months, but most people do improve substantially over time - the brain often makes a good recovery if you give it a chance

- Develop and stick to a good nutritional regime (which, in addition to good food, may include supplements like omega-3 fish/algal oil, multivitamin, vitamin D3 and/or B-50)

- Keep stress to a minimum (again, easier said than done, but you can develop strategies to help with this)

...

Finally, you might take a look at this thread ("Things you wish you'd known when you first got PCS") when you're feeling up to it:

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread140214.html

Hello Roy, you have definitely come to the right place! There are quite a few knowledgeable and strong people who can give you tons of advice!

I wrote a bit, so if it helps, print this out and read chunks at a time...(advice I picked up from others)

I know exactly what you are feeling. i was training in the police academy here in Ohio and got body slammed to the mat by a training partner who I should not have trusted..(eh, comes with the territory right?) I struck the back of my head on the mat which was about 1" and on a concrete floor. Needless to say, I saw a flash of light and immediately rolled up to kick some butt...but found i was unsteady and feeling "not right."

I had the instructors check my eyes (they were fine) so I continued to train the rest of the day with some groundfighting and other defensive tactics. (Mistake one. I probably reconcussed myself a dozen times..ok not literally but i know i compounded my issue)

I also went home, went to bed and came back for more the next day (Mistake two) ended up in the hospital but also with normal CT scans and MRI. told I had a minor Traumatic brain injury and whiplash. I graduated the academy in February but now I had to take off work for 6 weeks as I am feeling the same symptoms as you.

Some ideas for you that I did: I did go see an Ear Nose and Throat doctor, but at this point for you as well as it was for me, those tests may show normal as well...damage may have been done but healed (as was my case). But i think you are on the right track as far as having that checked out.

Legally, I have not a lot of advice, since I had to sign a waiver when I entered the Academy...I am sure you had to sign one as well (goes without saying, right?)

I wear earplugs when I go anywhere public, which helps filter the noise and overstimulation a bit. Break out your Oakleys indoors, they are great help with the flourescent lights.

as many people will tell you, each brain injury is different with its own set of symptoms and setbacks, and i only have a very limited experience which is why i am giving you a little personal background.

Since you shared that you are in the Army, I feel a tad safe in saying that you, like me, will want to push yourself. (and i do believe there is a time and a place to begin slowly NOT resting , although after 4 months, I am not there yet!) It sounds as though that they are allowing you time to heal, which is good.

What worked for me, other than slowly making my way through threads (Mark in Idaho is a valuable resource...among others i cant spell correctly, but you will know) was something that goes against my very nature. REST...it sounds like you have begun that already. Realize that setbacks are normal, I too, when reintigrating myself, feel awful sometimes. Just listen to your body and realize when you have done too much. Easier said than done I know.

you will also be more fatigued; I cant even run like i used to ...something to do with bloodflow to the brain...but small walks help...even if it is down the street two houses and back. I still hope to take my physical test for OPOTA but I only have til August...i can't walk a mile and a half anymore let alone run it...so we will see.

I hope that wasn't discouraging to you...everyone is different. I have heard from others in their posts that they have heard of people waking up one day and being fine, while others take months or years. Just be kind to yourself.

I hope my long winded rambling has helped. and I hope that you got even just one helpful thing from it...even if it is the knowledge that you are not alone, and not crazy and not a wuss for being injured. (I felt that way)

Please keep me posted on your recovery...

-K-.

Also: here is a thread I started a while back about nutrition:

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread165807.html

GReat to see other people chiming in here! I am newer here as well, so I don't have much advice other than support....

I hit my head almost ten weeks ago... and I am still recovering! After finding this place, and realizing I really DID need to scale back and take it easy, or I might never recover... I did just that, and I have improved greatly. Today I am having a bit of a "disconnected day as well, and a hint of a headache. But, this is not the norm any more thank goodness... (well, I've been feeling better for a week so who am I to say what the norm is really!)....

all I can say... Take it easy, go light on the net, and on the TV. Eat well, and give yourself permission to actually be sick.

I don't know how the Army works... but civilians' jobs are protected for 12 weeks when something like this happens through something called FMLA. (The Family Medical Leave Act)

Basically, it says a person has 12 weeks to get better, or nurse their family member back to health. One can work 24 weeks, part time, to get better, or take 12 weeks off completely. One can take the 12 weeks off any way that is beneficial for one to get better.

I was lucky, my employer waited for over a year for me to return to work. And it's almost been a year since I started working again and I'm still only working part time.

Everyone's situation is going to be different.

You should discuss it with your Dr. and then with the HR department, or your Senior Officer. Like I said, I don't know how the Army works, but maybe your Dr. does, since I assume your Dr. is provided to you through the Army and probably has some experience with this. I don't even know if you are covered by FMLA, but I would hope that someone serving our country would have better coverage and protection than the average citizen, so I'm hopeful that there's something in place to help you through this while your job is protected.

If the American military is anything like the Canadian military, FMLA does not apply.... Military members here in Canada do not qualify for other government programs. BUT - He SHOULD be paid to stay home to recover regardless... As said, I am unsure about the US, but in Canada, (I am the ex spouse of an senior military officer here) any injuries sustained by a member either while working or while home is treated by military doctors, and they are usually on paid leave during that time. The military medical system (at least here) is pretty decent, and they make referrals to other medical specialists when needed....

I hope you are getting the care needed, and if you have to, speak with a military lawyer so you know what your rights are.

First, thank you all for posting and sharing that really helps
I wish you all the best and full recovery.

There was a slight improvement in the last 48 hours, but after allowing my self to watch T.V. for more than an hour the symptoms are fully back

About the army thing. I work as a programmer in a really small unit that works 12 hours a day and every man missing really affects the job. ( 20 days after my head injury 1 project was canceled as they couldn't keep up without me).
I'm really afraid that when they realize It could take sometime until I can go back and even then I'm pretty sure working 12 hours straight on the computer will be impossible for me, that they will replace me.. that's my main fear and it causes me a lot of unavoidable stress.

One more thing, pain relievers with caffeine has a negative impact on my feeling. I don't know if it's only me but I would recommend everyone else to avoid them as well.

Thank you all for the support.

Definitely avoid caffeine, it's a stimulant and can overstimulate the healing brain significantly. Also avoid alcohol and MSG and processed foods, like sugar as much as possible. (BUt I think you already mentioned that you'r doing that.

There have been studies that suggest taking BCAA's can help a concussed brain heal faster.

Some of us here like to take Acetyl L Carnitine to help reduce fatigue.

Since you are a programmer, you might call some of our remedies "hacks" since we don't really have anything proper and official in terms of a recovery regimen.

Every brain injury is different, so every brain will react differently to supplements and pharmaceuticals. It's a lot of trial and error and trying to do it with an impaired brain can sometimes just be overwhelming.

Avoid the TV for a while, since you already know that's a trigger. You should probably avoid video games and the radio too. Basically, the stuff that's edited with quick cuts,
bright colors and lots of fast-paced music is probably going to overwhelm your brain faster than something like a slow-paced, home improvement show.

You might try doing some crossword puzzles to help keep you busy and give your brain some therapy. Once you get that, I'm struggling too much, it's probably a sign that your brain needs more rest.

I totally understand your worry about losing your job. You have to try to take it in stride. I'm sorry to say that there's no predicting how long it will take you to heal. Sometimes people just wake up one morning all better, and sometimes it takes people months. Remember that worrying creates toxins in your brain that isn't beneficial for the healing process. And that doesn't mean you should worry about worrying. Just try to remember to stay as calm as possible as much as possible. Maybe schedule a cranio-sacral massage to help you achieve emotional balance or speak to a therapist - I got one to help me deal with my recovery and she's been a life-saver for me!

I had a lot of fear about losing my job too. Mostly because I really love my job and they're hard to come by in my field. (Generally speaking, I'm an audio engineer.) Anyway, I'm still worried sometimes that I'll lose my job. But I try to remember to deal with things as they happen and not before they happen. "Don't buy trouble for more than it's worth." Right?

I'm sorry I can't be more helpful. I know how hard it can be.