Well I got my concusion on the new years 2012. Its been a year and 25 days. Im 20 years old and have recently stopped all drinking. I didnīt take that part as seriously as Iīm beggining to now. I wouldnt drink everynight but ,you know, Im 20 years old and when parties would be happening Iīd engage in drinking. Now, However, I refuse to drink anything until I feel completely better. Am i gonna feel completely better though? Am I gonna one day move past this injury and somewhat forget about it ever happening by these symptoms such as headaches and distortions or smell going away or are TBI injuries something that changes you forever and you always have to fight through it.

Right now I feel as if my brain is still healing. I sorta feel like its swollen or as if thereīs inflamtion going on still. The headaches have gotten better but I just wake up everyday and can feel the results from the concusion that happend a year ago.

Is it that Iīm not taking care of mytself enough. Is the way to heal this really just rest, Is there no treatment able to be done? Iīve been stressed everynow and then through the road to recovery over a breakup with my first love. Is it stress thatīs prolonging the recovery. Is that whatīs going on? Is the recovery becoming Prolonged? My loss or rather distortion of smell is one thing that really messes with me because I wake up everymorning with this strange unpleasant oder. My back keeps cracking all the time, about 25 times a day, its really strange. Might that have something to do with it?

Using the computer or watching tv seems to make a mild sence of headpains come. Sometimes i feel this sence of mild head shocks or brainshocks I dont know how to describe it. Itīs like things in my brain are working like stuffs going on. Will I ever feel normal again or Is TBI with bleeding in the brain going to be a little like loosing a arm. Iīm gonna have to learn to live with these permanent changes. Are these head pains going to go away? Will my smell come back?

Thank you

I completely understand everything that you have written and have had similar experiences. It really is awful. no two ways about it. I am 16 months past my injury and those electric brain shocks come less and less often. I can use a computer for longer, I have less headaches (although when they come they are bad!!), I have worked a bit more (academic work), I have exercised a bit (played some tennis!!), walked through DisneyWorld for a few hours with my kids, etc. So much progress...I felt little progress at one year but since then some good things.
No one knows where your recovery will sort of stop, but the brain in amazing and you need to believe in a great recovery. I try lots of different things, but it is difficult. neuro-opthamology is SO important, so if you haven't been checked, you should do that asap. I made huge progress when I got prisms in my glasses. Eyes that don't work together after a brain injury will ensure you never feel better.
I think my sense of smell is returning...so there is hope there!
I think what is so difficult but so necessary is to see progress in longer periods ....I have adopted 6 month chunks! And know that your brain will continue to heal as time goes by if you take care of yourself.
I am dying for a nice cold beer or a glass of red wine, a gin and tonic, but NOTHING since Sept. 11 2011.
Found some nice australian non alcoh wine
Day by day, and take care of yourself!

Be sure to have your computer screen dimmed as much as possible. On a PC, you can do this with 'FN' and 'F6'. (To brighten it again, use 'FN' and 'F7'.)

Try setting your computer to high contrast black. If you have a PC, you can do this by right-clicking on your desktop, choosing 'personalize', and then clicking on 'windows color and appearance'.

I also recommend downloading and installing f.lux, and wearing sunglasses whenever watching TV or using the computer. f.lux filters the blue light out of your screen, making it easier on the eyes. You can download it for free here:

http://stereopsis.com/flux/

Finally, you can magnify the screen on a PC by holding down 'CTRL' and clicking the '+' sign. You can make it smaller again with 'CTRL' and '-'.

Im sorry to hear that you are still having trouble. I am 17years old living with PSC and chronic nerve pain triggered from my concussion. I got my concussion in September of 2011 and i am still healing. The healing for a traumatic brain injury takes very long for some. I have been to numerous doctors, been on soo many medications, done acupuncture/yoga/meditation, gotten injections in my head. SO far nothing has worked. I get sharp pains in my head as well, along with headaches 24/7. It has been a year and a half since i have gone one day without a headache. I have had 2 surgeries on my head to implant a neurostimulator in hopes of calming the pain down. So far nothing has worked for me but i am not giving up. Keep your head up, things will get better. your not alone in this.

Stopping alcohol is a really good step toward getting your brain in the state it needs to be in to heal. There are a lot of other natural things you can do to strengthen your brain as well. Take a look at Mark's post on vitamin supplements, for instance. Your brain needs good nutrition.

Have you had your vision evaluated? Many of us experience difficulty with our eyes working together after a concussion. You can find practitioners who will evaluate this at http://www.braininjuries.org or http://www.nora.cc

You may also want to consult a physiatrist. They are specialists in rehabilitation and can often connect you with physical, vestibular, occupational, and cognitive therapies that can help get you back on track. You can find some physiatrists listed here: http://www.aapmr.org/patients/findph...s/default.aspx

I will make a separate post with other natural things you can do to strengthen your brain.

Here are some natural things you can do to strengthen the brain:

- Eat a whole foods (clean eating) diet high in omega-3s and tryptophan. Take 3 tbsp of ground flax seed in juice every morning for a complete daily dose of both and then whatever you eat during the day is bonus. I also switched to a vegan diet, which is optimal for getting the nutrients you need across the blood-brain barrier. Not everyone wants to go vegan, but the most important thing is that you are eating whole foods and not processed or sugary foods.

- Be sure to stay well hydrated. Drink half your body weight in ounces of water daily (i.e. if you weigh 100lbs, drink 50 oz. of water).

- There are also hot and cold water treatments you can do to increase circulation to the brain. In the shower, alternate 3 minutes of hot water with 1 minute of cold for at least 3 cycles. The greater the temperature contrast, the greater the benefit (just be sure not to scald yourself). Don't get the very hot water on your head, but do get it on your shoulders. Cold water is okay to get on your head. Always end on cold.

- Sunlight through the skin is good for vitamin D and through the eyes is good for melatonin (sleeping at night).

- Listening to baroque music (such as Bach) can help strengthen frontal lobe function (provided it does not increase symptoms).

- Exercise (even light exercise such as walking) can reduce harmful biochemicals and release endorphins. Again, be sure you are keeping it gentle enough to avoid symptoms.

- Avoid caffeine, alcohol, tobacco, and other non-prescribed drugs.

- Avoid or strictly limit television, video games, smart phone, and computer usage.

- Get fresh air daily and take 10-20 minutes specifically to do deep diaphragmatic breathing.

- Try to have regular times for sleeping and waking.

- Connect with spiritual practice, even something as small as making a list of 3-5 things you are grateful for.

These things will strengthen the brain naturally and shouldn't interfere with any medications or treatments your doctors want to use.

Thanks so much everyone.