Hello everyone,

Fast approaching 40 years old. I unfortunately played H.S. and college sports and in total had 10+ years of year-round full contact.

A couple of years ago I had about 5 accidents (falls, etc.) over a 3 month period. None of them seemed too bad, but I ended up with pretty severe post-concussion symptoms. I have recovered from much of it but am still having many symptoms. I estimate that I have had 20+ concussions from sports, several car accidents, etc (and that is probably a lowball estimate).

I have frequent headaches, pressure sensations, sensitivity to light and sound, irritability, memory and language problems, occasional slurred speech, fasiculations, mental and physical fatigue, trouble concentrating and lots of pain. There are a number of other symptoms as well.

I have only 'mild' arthritis (which is surpising) but if I push myself I will get to the point where I am incapacitated- hurt so much that I can't do anything at all, like barely walk a quarter mile. I have pain along much of my spinal column and when things are bad it is as if I can feel every injury that I have had; when things are really bad I can feel every injury that I have ever had like it just happened... Difficult to describe to people what it is like.

I have trouble with NSAIDs and related OTC meds as many years of taking them leaves me with more side effects than they are worth and they do little more than nothing to help.

I have had difficulty tolerating many meds like Nuvigil. I have tried amantadine lately with some benefit.

I was unemployed for a while, but am trying to go back to school as the field I am in is 'drying up.' The job itself is also detrimental to the healing process. Going to school will be quite a challenge given the disabilities that I have now.

It is difficult to see how things will work out long term but I am trying to be optimistic.

The 'science' of TBI recovery and physicians in general leave much to be desired. The path is quite frustrating to say the least.

Any suggestions are appreciated.

Hi, and welcome.

The science is out there and has been out there for quite some time. Most times its been ignored or pretty much passed over by many due to the effects it would push onto insurance companies to actually do something for people suffering with concussion injuries/pcs/mtbi.

These links may be helpful :

Brainline

Sports Legacy

Dr. Robert Cantu

Dr. Julian Bailes

The above being favorites of Mark's and many others for articles, and both of the Doctors being very active in the past and present with Concussion / PCS / mTBI investigations and care.

There are many current retrograde and current ongoing NIH studies ongoing also, now that so many professional sports figures are involved in current issues with CTE - all studies looking at Concussions / PCS / mTBI. FINALLY.

Mark, and others will be on later, and will offer more, especially links on supplements and Ice therapy , etc. All very useful information.

What doctors are you seeing or have you seen?
What therapies are you having or have you had?
What studies have you had, or planning to have?

I have a concern about your use of Nuvigil - did you have a Sleep study before being placed on it? It has side effects and contraindications that could be detrimental dependent on your health profile, which you have not shared (cardiac history, elevated blood pressure issues, mood swings - since you are experiencing irritabiity, others that you could find out about at WebMD or RxList ).

I ask about Nuvigil, because its new enough to be one of those drugs some practitioners may use because it is new, and worth giving "a try " for those problems they haven't had much luck with other meds, with some troublesome issues some of their patients have; and its already on the Tort Lawyers list of "Bad Drugs".........just asking.

FTN......

Welcome to NeuroTalk. Sounds like you have abused your body beyond its tolerance.

have you tried enteric aspirin for the arthritis and inflammation ?

I take it daily. The enteric coating prevents stomach damage.

Check out the Vitamins thread. I agree about the Nuvigil. The "try this" is more appropriately termed, Be my Guinea pig.

The links in Concussion's post do point you to the best in the concussion industry but they are still limited in how to help with recovery, especially in cases like yours and mine. My neuro suggested that my concussions have pushed my brain past the point where it has much ability to recover left.

Most of my current recovery since 46 years old have been learning work-arounds and accommodations. As you head into your 40's, you will need to focus even more on work-arounds and accommodations. The struggling brain does not learn work-arounds as well as the younger less struggling brain does.

There are plenty of natural anti-inflammatories available. Cumin (Turmeric) is good. http://www.liveinthenow.com/article/...ents-that-work
Getting a strong vitamin and supplement regimen going will benefit your greatly.

Tell us more about your cognitive and memory issues. There is lots of experience and knowledge here.

My best to you.

Hello,

Thanks for the replies. I have been reading this forum for a while so I am familiar many of the things that you have mentioned.

Over the years I have seen many doctors (alternative and mainstream) for a variety of reasons. I would say that only lately with the increased concussion awareness my situation is making more sense.

I have seen a physical medicine doc and a sports med doc lately. I initially saw them after a rash of injuries in early 2011. I could not tolerate anything they tried then. I recently went back to the sports med doc who referred me back to the physical medicine doctor. I will not get into to see him until late July. I am supposed to see an endocrinologist in June. Not really sure how I will make it to then with lots of pain, headaches, insomnia, and just about zero support from family (to them, everything that is going on is explainable by untreated ADHD...) It is really quite depressing.

I have had MRIs and CT scans of my head, MRI on spine, etc. I have had a variety of neuropathy like symptoms. The pain and fatigue I feel is often bad enough that I really don't do anything. I had a severe fracture/dislocation of the distal radius a few years back which has resulted in continual pain (if I actually try to do more than the basics my hand gets to the point where I can't move it). The hand specialist I last saw told me to take tylenol/aleve etc... Do these doctors even know how worthless they are?

After my injuries in 2011 i developed aphasia for a while. My interpersonal interactions are often forced and I feel distant in many social interactions. All of these things, however, go up and down. I was at one time a highly talented writer but things are more difficult now. Developing ideas, word choice etc. I feel as though I have lost most of my 'higher' vocabulary. At this point I am struggling to remember much about my high school and college experiences. I don't remember too much about sports (maybe because I am bitter about the whole thing and it really doesn't mean anything to me). I was 1 question off from 100% on the math section of the IQ when I took it at age 19 but now doing math in my head is more problematic.

I developed stage 2 hypertension after my accidents in 2011 (was normal/borderline) prior to that. Sometimes I feel ok, usually I feel like crap. Someone has told me I should apply for at least partial disability. I am going to try to go to school to get into another field. It seems like a difficult proposition.

ft.......

I can understand your struggle with your distal radius fracture. My wife crushed hers 3 weeks ago. It required surgery to put back together. That is a difficult fracture to recover from even with a good hand surgeon. My wife needed the TriMed buttress system to fix it. We are still waiting to start OT.

Have your tried enteric aspirin ? It has a coating the prevents it from dissolving until it gets past the stomach. It is much easier to tolerate.

I have a similar problem with math in the head.

I use the keyboard and monitor as my short term memory and just write and then edit. As people will tell you, I can get started and go on and on. Use the computer as a support system. Write then go back and tweek vocabulary, etc.

btw, Avoid Tylenol. Use ibuprofen instead. Tylenol is not good for the brain. Do you do any icing of your wrist ?

Hello again.

Sounds like you have been through it a bit.

Hope your Endocrinologist is a Neuro-endocrinologist , or at least has experience with TBI injuries, and the effects of those injuries on the Thalamic systems of those patients - quite involved possibilities occur from mTBI's and Major Brain Injuries; and more research is finding information. Mark posted a link in another thread - he might post a link, I am having some focus problems currently.

Also, have you seen a Neuro-Psychologist regarding your cognitive issues? They are very useful in finding where you currently stand Cognitively and working with you and your family / caregivers to plan any worthwhile course/plan of therapies for you....

Sorry, I have to go.........meant to spend more time, but wife insists My time is up on the computer todya.......