Hey all,

A little over two weeks ago I hit my head on a diving board. They didn't think I had a concussion--I didn't black out and I responded well to the tests they did. I was fortunate it was a diving board and that it mostly hit the back of my head instead of compressing my neck. I had to get three staples.

I had no symptoms until last weekend. Last weekend I had an energy drink and helped people move. Now I am a little foggy and have equilibrium issues. They aren't horrible--I can walk without stumbling and such. It's as if I had a buzz from alcohol enough to have minor balance problems. It isn't vertigo--the room doesn't spin. I read that that can happen...inflammation can take a week?

I had a CT scan a few days after symptoms and it was fine. Doctor said it's Post Concussion Syndrome and should go away in a few weeks.

Anyone have similar stories? How quickly can I expect it to go away?

In the mean time, should I only rest, or should I try balance exercises like walking while tilting my head maybe? I am currently working a computer job, but I'm taking breaks frequently and working from home. I slept most of the weekend.

I know to follow up with the doctor again soon, don't drink, etc, but advice or encouragement welcome. I know that symptoms can last months, but I'm optimistic since I haven't had a concussion before and I had no blackout or symptoms after the event.

Many posts will follow I am sure. First if you are young and this is your first concussion Drs normally expect good recovery. Do not push yourself listen to your body.

There may be more symptoms to follow, possible not certain. Theres lots of info on the web don't let it frighten you. Not everyone has all the symptome or the severity.

Count your blessings and be patient with your recovery.

Hope you feel better soon.

Thanks! I am fairly young, 27.

I haven't had any concussion symptoms in the past. I haven't had a concussion before really. I have hit my head snowboarding and things like that in the past, but never hard enough to knock me out or cause symptoms afterwards.

I just hope I recover fully and after not too much time, I just started contra/swing dancing and tennis recently, and it's a shame that I probably won't be able to for months.

It is a little frustrating that I have only slight fatigue and slight equilibrium/balance issues, but just enough to keep me inactive. But I realize it could be much worse. I see many on here who have had 5+ concussions or major blackouts.

axs,

You may have suffered concussion in your previous head impacts. Loss of consciousness is not required for it to be a concussion. Any momentary symptoms from an impact means it is a concussion. Then, you also need to be concerned about sub-concussive impacts. They have a cumulative effect.

Quiet rest is the best way to recover. Quiet rest and time, time and more time if needed.

So, go easy for a while.

My best to you.

Repost links for concussion law and tbilaw hyperlinks. Very good info there.

Hey I know this post is old but I was just wondering did you make a full recovery and how long did it take and what did you do to help thanks

Brendon,

Welcome to NeuroTalk. I'll repost your New Members post so people see it.

[Good morning from the UK

I am a 26 year old male usually fit and well until November 15 last year I had a bump to the head I lifted up from bending down and hit the top of my head on a steel plate around 40mm thick I was wearing a hood so that softened the blow

it didn't cut and I wasn't knocked out I was slightly dazed after the knock but felt OK,for around 3 days after I felt really weird not myself so I had a drive to the emergency department at my local hospital to check if everything was OK

it was the doctor was very nice she explained that the knock wasn't anything serious I would be better in a few days. I took the information on board and went back to work the next day (I am a structural steel welder by the way)

I still felt funny when I went back to work o had a pressure feeling just Infront of were I hit my head sometimes it throbbed other times it was just there if I make any contact with my face it feels worse

I have had headaches here and there also along with dizziness. Anyway worked up until Sunday were I had abit of a funny turn I had a panic attack really bad which forced me to the hospital I have a slight history with Aniexty nothing too major though they performed a ct scan it came back clear and the told me I could have PCS.

Since then I have been off work not tremdously poorly but not myself at all my symptoms faded over Christmas so j went back to work last week I managed 3 days before having to come home I've been off again since I am so tired all the time and dizzy I don't feel like myself I keep having panic attacks I have been to the doctors 8 times in the past 3 weeks

I feel really down my partner is getting stressed because of money and me not being at work I am worried that I will get the sack I no there is no magic pill but will this get better and what can I do to manage the constant feelings? Any help would be appreciated

Kind regards ]

Your post is hard to understand. I tried to break it up so I could better understand you.

Did you actually hit your head or just your welding hood ? Or was it a steel workers hard hat ? Do you have a tender spot on your scalp at the skin ?

What were your immediate symptoms at the time of the impact ?

What have you done for your anxiety in the past ?

From the anxiousness evident in your post, I suspect that your symptoms are 80% anxiety and 20% PCS. This is not an uncommon situation. A work environment needs to be quieter and calmer for somebody with PCS. Welding fumes can trigger symptoms as the brain becomes very sensitive.

Does your job include a Workers Compensation program for work injuries ? I don't know how things work in the UK. In the US, Work Comp pays while the injured worker heals.

You likely posted from a smart phone. If you have a laptop so you can see more of what you are typing, you will be better able to organize and present your issues. Many of us have struggles to follow long complex sentences due to persistent cognitive difficulties from PCS. Shorter sentences and paragraphs are much easier for us.

My best to you.

Thank you for the reply mark I appreciate it sorry I didn't make to much sense I will try and word it a little better

Nov 15
When I hit my head I was wearing a hooded jumper thin cotton I raised myself up from picking something from the floor and on my way up I hit my head it stopped me from standing up I hit it on a steel plate which was attached to a beam the plate was 40mm thick.

Straight after impact I just felt dazed and in a great amount of pain I did not black out I felt ok just very sore

After a few days I started to feel strange and off balance and rather dizzy when I sat down or lay down my symptoms would go. I went up to the hospital and the doctor gave me a quick examination and basically said I'll get back to normal in a couple of days rest.

I didn't rest and carried on as normal at work I couldn't really focus and I felt really ill not myself at all off balance slightly dizzy feeling sick and a god awful feeling in my head like a pressure spot it wasn't tender to touch but I feel a sensation there, sometimes it throbs other times it's just there like a nerve - if I touch my face on the left side I can feel it on the spot on the top of my head (sorry it's quite hard to get explain).

So 8 days after the injury I went back to the hospital I was very worried and all the bad google searches got me very concerned they gave me a ct scan told me it was all clear gave me a information sheet regarding pcs and sent me on my way.

Since then I have had all of the symptoms stated above every day for the past 8 weeks making it hard to work and do normal things I can honestly say I do not feel myself at all!

After the hospital I got told to follow up with my doctor and He told me that I will be ok in around 5-6 weeks take some time off work. I took 3 weeks off pretty much did nothing still the same went back to work for 2 weeks really struggled, I used to work 12.5 a day no problem I couldn't even manage my basic 7.5 hour day I was going home early taking long toilet brakes getting into a state of panic thinking I was going to faint.
It was horrible I broke up from work for the Christmas break and whilst I was off work the symptoms died down a little bit I felt about 75% which was really good.


Then the Sunday the 1st of Jan the day before I went back to work my symptoms returned bad I managed 3 days of work then last Friday I got sent home because I was in a bad way really dizzy bad headache genuinely unwell so I went to the doctors - I seen a different doctor and she prescribed me 50mg of sertraline anti depressant tablets - for my anxiety I took one tablet and it was harrendous I had all the side effects and it took me off my feet even worse


I went back I the doctors this Monday just gone and she told me to stop taking them because of the reaction and told me that I have to go for blood test to check my vitamin D levels and thyroid.

This got me even more confused my symptoms from my injury are
Dizziness
Off balance
Headaches on and off
Pressure feeling/nerve
Anixety (not as bad as it was in the first 6 weeks)
Head fog
Fatigue
Not feeling myself

I previously haven't done anything regarding my aniexty because it's not been a huge problem it's more health aniexty like a hypercondriac it's embarrassing I know like if I read something in a magazine I think I've got it sort of thing.


But with this the sensations what I am feeling are making me anixuous about them it's like a circle and it's not a nice one

I know it's only been 8 weeks and people say useually 12 but I have a little family and a house to run and whilst I am off work I do not get paid at all so another 4 weeks I'll be in a bit of a bad situation I am really desperate for advise of what to do and if there is any coping advice of recovery or anythin to help me


Sorry if I have not made much sense I don't useually do a lot of writing

Thank you for taking the time to read my post and re post it I appreciate it!!

Hi Brandon,

How are you doing and sorry to hear you had a concussion. I had one myself around end of October and i am still having daily headaches and dizziness.

What medicines are you taking for your symptoms?

So basically, you just had a fabric hood, not a welding hood or such. A fabric hood was a distraction and you said it cushioned the impact. Was it just a welder's cap/ It has no meaning in this situation. It is the same as if you had nothing on your head and hit a solid object.

Now, I can understand how hard you hit your head. Ouch. I did that 20 years ago under a wood beam.

You would be well to start the vitamin regimen listed at the top in the Vitamin sticky, especially the B-12, D-3, fish oil, Magnesium/calcium, folic acid (a B-50 Complex includes this)

Did you celebrate the New Year ?

You should contact an Accident at Work Compensation solicitor just to make sure you are doing everything to protect yourself and your family. You should be able to recover your lost wages.

You need to work at keeping stress low and avoiding anxiety triggers. Anxiety will make your recovery longer. You should keep your mind active with low stress activities so you do not get focused on anxious thoughts.

Try to maintain straight head and neck posture when you sleep or rest. Head impacts often include a subtle injury/strain to the upper neck that can make symptoms worse.

When you return to work, you should insist on wearing a hard hat when you are not wearing a welder's face shield. There are hard hat welder shield combinations. I'm surprised you weren't. In the US, hard hats would be mandatory due to safety regulations.

So, take it slow. Stay mildly active for good blood flow and distraction from your symptoms. You will improve with time.

My best to you.