Hi everyone,

To preface my post: I'm sure you have all seen questions about this tons of times already, and you may be tired of saying the same thing over and over again. I totally understand, but would really love some input. I just had a concussion for the first time last Saturday, so I've been recovering for a little over a week, but reading through lots of posts is still very tiring on my brain, as I'm sure you understand.

So, I fell off a horse last Saturday, the 23rd of February. I've been recovering pretty well, I think, but I'm experiencing some weird things and I'm wondering if anyone else has had the same experience.

The story is: I was riding a horse, cantering, and was leaning pretty far forward. I knew I was, so I was trying to sit back, and the horse wasn't going where I wanted him to so I was steering him...and suddenly was on my back on the ground. I don't really remember falling, and I don't know if I was unconscious. I felt fine afterwards, just dazed, and I even managed to drive home.

I was on the phone for part of the drive and was mixing up words, saying "bridge" when I meant "tunnel," and at that point I knew something might be wrong. By the time I got home, I knew something wasn't right, and I was feeling very strange. I quizzed myself on my name, address, phone number, family members...I remembered everything.

I thought maybe I just needed to eat, so I had some lunch. Then started getting very sleepy and cold, even though I was wearing long pants and long sleeves. I curled up in bed and my boyfriend called me at my request about half an hour prior, and I was falling asleep. He said I should go to the doctor. I somehow got out of bed and took a shower and was falling asleep in the shower and realized I really did need to see a doctor.

I went to a walk in clinic down the street and he said I really should go to the ER. By that time, I was sitting in a chair with my head tipping backwards, falling asleep, and I was forcing myself to stay awake. I couldn't remember what time I had the fall, and could barely remember what happened. I still don't really. All I remember is the moment before and the moment after I fell.

And yes I was wearing a helmet! Thank god!

So I ended up going to the ER...The walk in clinic doctor gave me $10 for a cab, which was super nice of him. The ER observed me for about 4 hours and did a CT scan, which was normal. I took a week off work and did very minimal work from home. I went in today for the first time since the fall and did a half day. Then came home and took a nap. I set my alarm for 45 minutes later, but ended up turning it off and going back to bed for a total of 2.5 hours.

So, what I'm experiencing are some strange things...

1. I can literally feel my brain. At least, it seems like it. I was sitting in church the other day, and the right side of my head felt really tense and strange, and the left felt normal. It was like there was a straight line down the side of my head, and I could feel both halves. I thought maybe the right side of my head was feeling so strange because there was music being played and singing, and it was coming from my right.

And these kinds of things have been happening a lot. At work today, I was very aware of my brain needing energy to think. I'm sure I'm just feeling swelling in my head, but I'm wondering if anyone has ever had this kind of feeling before? Feeling the different areas of your brain?

My mom had a car accident in '94 and she said she could feel her brain in 3 distinct parts, not 2. I also know that your temporal lobes and your frontal lobes handle ”memory and hearing” and ”problem solving and judgment and motor function,” respectively (according to WebMD), so I thought that was kind of interesting.

2. My neck spasms. The weird thing is, I didn't really hurt my neck. My lower back was cramped for a few days because I seem to have landed on my butt, then my back, then my head bounced (according to my instructor who saw me fall). And my upper back cramped a bit. My neck was sore for a day. But that was it.

Yet, I'll just be sitting here, and my neck will spasm and my head will move involuntarily. Anyone else ever have that after a head injury? I remember it happening after I had a car accident in 2005, but that was whiplash, not a concussion.

3. I'm so tired. Like I said earlier, I came home and wanted to take a 45 minute nap but instead took a 2.5 hour nap. And my body feels pretty fatigued, and I'm yawning a lot. Sometimes walking up a slight incline is very tiring. Is this common after a concussion?

I feel like there are some other strange things I've noticed...I'll post them if I remember.

I'm also seeing my doctor tomorrow. I am working another half day tomorrow and seeing how I feel. I don't really have sick leave or sick days, so I feel like I might have to start doing full days again, but I'm worried about that, since it hasn't even been 2 weeks since I fell.

sorry for the long post. I really would appreciate any input. Thank you so so so much!