Hi everyone,

I would like to introduce myself.

I have been hit in the head a total of 7 times in the past two years. Most recently, I was hit in November. Then Again this January and then again middle of February. It was the February hit that has changed my life. Since then I have suffered from constant daily migraine headaches with light sensitivity in the left eye, pain in the head and pins and needles feelings as well. I've had to stop marathon training and my M.A program. The pain has improved a little bit but it's still there. I also had a normal CT and vision check. I haven't gone on any medications as I want it to heal naturally. I've been on a vitamin Regimen and have gone to acupuncture once a week which hasn't made a noticeable difference. I saw a neurologist for the first time last week and she prescribed a course of predisone. I haven't taken it yet as I'm a little bit afraid and still prefer to let it heal naturally. But I can't take the daily constant pain and just might start it tomorrow.

Can anyone please give me some advice or thier own thoughts on my story?
Why would a concussion cause daily constant migraines?
Is a migrane due to inflammation from my concussion?
Can predisone really help me? My neurologist told me that she has seen success with it with her other patients. So if i take the week long course will the daily migranes just really suddenly stop?
I'm so confused and scared and reading a lot of the posts here just scared also that things won't ever get better

Thank you everyone for your support.

I had pain above and behind my left eye and it was due to a gap between my c2 and C3 vertabrae after my fourth concussion in 2 years. My physical therapist fixed the gap using the mulligan technique (google if interested) and taught me how to fix it myself if the Problem were to reoccur, which I have done several times. Before it was fixed, I had terrible daily headaches--ranging between 4 and 8 on a scale from 1-10 (with 10 being mind-blowing migraine). I'm not saying this is what is wrong with you, but it could be worth getting a ct scan or seeing a spine specialist.

The tingling could also be from a neck injury. It sounds nerve-related.

Lastly, don't lose hope! You can get better! Read the hope and healing thread at the top of the board. My story is in there, but I'll have to add an addendum because my recovery is even close, to finished now! I basically went from memory loss and other cognitive problems, as well as severe vertigo and terrible daily headaches, to pretty close to fine. I'm sure I will recOver completely.

Hi Blue,
Welcome! I have also taken numerous hits to the head. The life changing one being in feb of 2006. I also suffer from extreme migraine headaches. I would try the prednisone if it is only for a short period of time. This medication is a powerful steroid that is hard on your liver and can cause major bloating, water/fluid retention. I have heard it is very helpful for those that can tolerate it. I would not use this as a long term remedy. It may reduce inflammation enough to relieve the problem for quite a while. I have found meditation to be the number one most helpful thing and it is all natural with no side effects. Meditation helps with all the symptoms especially the anxiety and insomnia. Try it out while you are in bed trying to go to sleep. Just try concentrating on your breathing. Also sunglasses for light sensitivity, earplugs for noise sensitivity and eating a well balanced diet are crucial. You can find a wide variety of guided meditations or just relaxing meditation music on u-tube. I have found that nature sounds like water or whales singing help for relaxation and meditation. These can also be used as "white noise" to block out unwanted noise. Above all you need to REST. Give yourself and your brain a break. Keep out of crowded, noisy environments. You can and will recover. Some do not recover to what their past life was but find a new way of living that can be equal to or greater than the level you were at prior to your injuries. You just have to adapt and learn new ways to live and enjoy life. Listen to your body. These headaches are telling you that you are doing too much and need to change things. Good to have you here with us. Don't give up. Things get better. This is a slow recovery.
Brain

Bluehiroko,

Welcome to NeuroTalk. It sounds like you have had a rough two years.

Your head aches can be directly related to the impacts or can be related to an upper neck injury.

Please tell us more about how you got your head impacts. What have you tried to help with your head aches ? have you tried icing your head and neck ? Icing the back of your head and upper neck will likely show some improvement.

Taking aspirin or ibuprofen may be important to give you a break from the pain. Tylenol/acetaminophen/paracetamol should be avoided due to negative impacts on the brain.

What is in your vitamin regimen ? Please feel free to tell us about yourself , your daily activities, where you live, etc. so we can offer better support. Are you in the US ?

My best to you as you deal with your head aches.

I don't know what to advise about natural remedies.

From my own experience I had very bad headaches with light sensitivity for the first 2-3 months of PCS which wouldn't go away with over the counter medication. I was then prescribed a migraine medication called Imigran and this took my headache away.

Thank you everyone for your replies!

I was in a very abusive relationship for three years So I was punched in the head But I'm out of that relationship now and just trying to recover physically and mentally from it.



Let me tell you the whole story and the progression of my symptoms .I was basically punched in the head on February 21st. I felt fine that day. Then i began to feel dizzy for two days. After two days I began to get intense headaches on the top of my head. Then a week later I began to feel numbness and light sensitivity in my left eye as well as pressure. The pressure and light sensitity in my left eye has improved and the headaches have also improved. Then I went hiking last weekend. Then since coming back from hiking, the headaches and pins and needles feelings suddenly came back. Now i'm left with
migrane headaches mainly on the left hand side of the back of my head with numbness and light sensititivity in the left eye and left part of face. Sometimes the pain will spread to my whole head and I've also had pins and needles pain all over my head as well. I think it has improved overall.

Sometimes I feel really depressed knowing that my injuries not from an accident but something done on purpose to me and I could've prevented it myself by leaving but I wasn't strong enough. Anyway just trying to be positive.

I haven't tried icing. Just been trying to eat healthy and take a vitamin regimen and now on my first day of predisone. So I pray that this wil work.
Have also been doing weekly massage and acupuncture.

Do you think I should see a chiropracter?

Thank you everyone again for your advice and support.

Welcome to the board. Everyone has a different story. I just slipped and fell. But most of us understand the similar symptoms. You can get lots of good advice here.
Frankly, I'm not a doctor but I wouldn't go on prednisone again. I just don't like what it does to me.
Migraines are common. I take topomax to help prevent them. That is the only med I take. The rest are supplements. I also try to prevent the headaches by not overdoing it. If I feel symptoms coming on, I take a step back and rest.
Good luck
Su seb

I'm so sorry to hear of what you've been through, but glad you had the strength to leave!

I honestly am not sure which specialist to recommend for a potential neck problem. I went an unconventional route I wouldn't advise. Maybe someone else can recommend who to see