Traumatic Brain Injury and Post Concussion Syndrome For traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post concussion syndrome (PCS).


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Old 04-09-2013, 07:38 AM #1
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Default Clogged Ears

I've seen quite a few old, unresolved threads on here where people have complained of clogged ears after recieving a concussion. I too have these symptoms, and have been pulling my hair out over the past few weeks trying to find a story with some closure to it.

I cannot, for the life of me, answer these questions:

1. What causes ear congestion after a concussion?
2. How long does it take to resolve?
3. Does it resolve over time, or is chiropractic or pharmaceutical assistance needed?

Any success stories? Mine appears to be caused by fluid in the back of my throat. As to what's causing it, beats me. CSF? Damaged sinus? Pinched nerve? I NEVER had ear issued prior to my head getting hit, and they flared up almost immediatley after the incident.
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March 3, 2013: Directly hit top of head while jumping, impact went straight down neck and spine.

Symptoms: Congested/plugged ears (along with post naasal-drip and drainage down back of throat), increased tinnitus, sound sensitivity, minor imbalance, difficulty concentrating, difficulty reading and focusing on words and moving objects.
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Old 04-09-2013, 08:13 AM #2
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Default Tinnitus

I had this really bad at the beginning that it felt like a ear infection that was constant.It will turn to tinnitus in time and calm down after time.But the only thing that will help it is change in lifestyle like caffeine, sugars, alcohol etc.M ENT told me there is no cure just to learn ways to live around it.Sorry you are going threw this.Have you done quiet rest for awhile?
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What Happened: In 2011 I was in a MVA
.


Symptoms: Physical: I am always cold in any season!!I cannot tolerate anything pressure on my head(sun glasses,hats)longer then a hour,Lock jaw/Displaced TMJ, Dropsey, Hands go numb, Arms go numb, back of head numb (when asleep),Muscle spasms in face & upper body,migraines, concentration headaches, dizziness, nausea, neck and back trauma (from accident), tinnitus, extreme light sensitivity, noise sensitivity, EXTREME fatigue, impaired vestibular system, balance off, Pupils NEVER equal, disrupted sleep cycles,speech problems.

Cognitive: Cognitive Behavior, Brain fog, impulsivity, speech problems, word finding problems, slowed processing speeds, impaired visual memory, impaired complex attention

Emotional: Unable to handle stress or overstimulation without getting extremely irritable or angry, easily overstimulated, MAJOR depression, major anxiety, Panic attacks

Treatment so far: Treatment for PCS,PTSD,Depression & panic,Vestibular therapy, Physical therapy, Vitamin Schedule,Walking,No Dairy, No eggs, No caffeine, No artificial coloring, Sleep with 2 pillows, Very little sugars consumed, Eat healthy,No alcohol, Medications, limit stress and overstimulation.

~*~Learn to treasure yourself and your Divinity. Be willing to accept yourself completely. Be yourself, be graceful, be kind, be wild, be weird ... be true to yourself~*~
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Old 04-09-2013, 08:54 AM #3
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You are still really early in your recovery! Don't worry, it will go away. I had the plugged ears really bad and messed up sinuses with post nasal drip too. The plugged ear comes back every so often but is mostly gone. You really need to focus on quiet rest with limited stimulation from tvs, computers, conversations, etc. Until you can get rid of your main symptoms.

The big thing is...don't worry! You will get better it just takes time and worry makes it worse!

Hope you're feeling better soon.

CC
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I'm a 39 year old, female, accountant. On July 2, 2012 I crashed my bike at the end of a 65KM road ride. I was fine that day but woke up the next morning to my current world.

Ongoing symptoms include: dizziness, blurred vision, light and noise sensitivities, cognitive problems, uncontrollable emotions/depression/anxiety, headaches (but they're getting better), mental and physical fatigue, difficulty communicating and sleep disturbances.

Currently seeing a fabulous Neuro Psychologist and vestibular physiotherapist and hoping to soon see a neuro ophthalmologist. I am currently doing 20 minute stationary bike rides daily, 20 minutes of meditating, 15 minutes of Lumosity and lots of resting. I have not been able to work or drive since the accident.

The things that have helped me the most since the accident are vestibular therapy, gel eye drops (for blurred vision, sensitivity and dryness), amitriptyline (10mg), and meditating. I am finally starting to see some slight improvements and am hopeful!

My brain WANTS to heal itself... I just have to let it and stop trying to get better!
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Old 04-09-2013, 11:28 AM #4
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You may want consider an Osteopath. I've had great success with my no-longer-twisted pelvis that chiropractors could treat, but not fix.
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Brain Fog, Short Term Memory, Depression, Anxiety, Sleep Apnea
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Old 04-09-2013, 05:55 PM #5
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Can't answer your questions. But I'm at month five of this without resolution to the clogged ears, painful swelling feeling deep inside them.

I did hear a physiotherapist once say that it's all related to muscles from the neck up the back of skull, that tension can cause all these symptoms. No idea if that's true.

Resting, cognitive rest especially, helps. Along with icing the upper neck regularly. (I do this twice to three times a day while off work)
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About it: October 26, 2012 I fell backward on an icy parking lot at work. I was on Workers Comp for 9 months. My PCS : everyday headaches became once in a while headaches, and neck pain became manageable. Still have occasional mild dizziness, sometimes fullness in the ears, convergence insufficiency, sequencing struggles, short term memory struggles, verbal processing delays. CT neg, MRI neg. Therapies: prism glasses, acupuncture, icing neck, resting, supplementing, Elavil 20mg at bedtime.

NEW: Completed 12 weeks of physical therapy and returned to work full time.

About me: I'm a marketing manager, a mom with a blended family and wife to a heart attack survivor. I believe my brain injury taught me more than it cost me. I'm grateful to still be me!

Last edited by MsRriO; 04-09-2013 at 05:56 PM. Reason: Spelling error
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Old 04-09-2013, 06:34 PM #6
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Default Ear problems are starting to clear up for me

Sorry you are going through this most uncomfortable symptom. It does get better with time/rest. I only have earache and Tinnutitis on some days now. Not every day. It is improving so hang in there. Ear plugs have helped me quite a bit. Try to stay out of noisy environments and when you must use the ear plugs.
This symptom takes some time to calm down. Have your doctor check your ears just in case. I did have a bunch of ear wax one time that helped with the clogged feeling after removal. Every other time I have the doctor check he says ears are fine.
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Had MVA in 2006 resulting in post concussive syndrome manifested by cognitive impairment, chronic pain/ fatigue. Chronic pain of head, neck, back, left leg.
Other problems include REM sleep behavior disorder, nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy, chronic migraines associated with nausea/vertigo, episodes of passing out, hypoglycemia, liver dysfunction (had accidental overdose of acetaminophen in 2009) had liver and kidney failure, hernia, degenerative disc disease with compression of nerve root, PTSD, and other problems associated with functioning problems from traumatic brain injury (light, sound sensitive, easily overloaded, easily distracted, cannot focus, anxiety problems etc.)
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Old 04-10-2013, 05:50 AM #7
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So am I correct in saying that for many this is a long term, potentially life-long thing? Mine have improved over time, but are still a long ways off from being normal, and I spend some days thinking that the airplane that my head feels like it is stuck inside of will never land.

Keep em coming, I'd still like to hear from more with the same issues!
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March 3, 2013: Directly hit top of head while jumping, impact went straight down neck and spine.

Symptoms: Congested/plugged ears (along with post naasal-drip and drainage down back of throat), increased tinnitus, sound sensitivity, minor imbalance, difficulty concentrating, difficulty reading and focusing on words and moving objects.
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Old 04-10-2013, 06:19 AM #8
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I would hope that this isn't a life long symptom for people with PCS. In my case I experienced noise sensitivity, hypercusis, ear pain, and clogged ears. It takes time to heal, but now I just have occassional ear pain, very minor tinnitus and noise sensitivity once last week. So I would think that if the symptoms are diminishing/changing that they will go away. This should be the case for all of us hopefully. If you have these symptoms you need quiet rest, avoid noise and use ear plugs.
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PCS following head injury November 2012. Experienced dizzyness, light and noise sensitivity, hypercusis, fatigue, insomnia, migraines, facial pain, problems concentrating, irritability, sensory overload, exercise intolerance.

Symptoms mostly resolved, working full time and I am now mostly better. I wake 6am daily since my injury. Was experiencing daily Neuralgia which was controlled with Cymbalta 30mg, Lyrica 200mg daily. Now only on 30mg Cymbalta.
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Old 04-10-2013, 06:19 PM #9
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Default Now that I thought about it

When I did my neuropsych testing the M.D. told me if I hold my nose close and blow out threw my ears it would help.I told him I was always scared because I thought I would pop my ear drum or something, he assured me it would not hurt me. Well I did it for awhile and it did help me. Then after I started going to my TBI vestibular therapist she also said to do this when I felt clogged up.You should try it out
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What Happened: In 2011 I was in a MVA
.


Symptoms: Physical: I am always cold in any season!!I cannot tolerate anything pressure on my head(sun glasses,hats)longer then a hour,Lock jaw/Displaced TMJ, Dropsey, Hands go numb, Arms go numb, back of head numb (when asleep),Muscle spasms in face & upper body,migraines, concentration headaches, dizziness, nausea, neck and back trauma (from accident), tinnitus, extreme light sensitivity, noise sensitivity, EXTREME fatigue, impaired vestibular system, balance off, Pupils NEVER equal, disrupted sleep cycles,speech problems.

Cognitive: Cognitive Behavior, Brain fog, impulsivity, speech problems, word finding problems, slowed processing speeds, impaired visual memory, impaired complex attention

Emotional: Unable to handle stress or overstimulation without getting extremely irritable or angry, easily overstimulated, MAJOR depression, major anxiety, Panic attacks

Treatment so far: Treatment for PCS,PTSD,Depression & panic,Vestibular therapy, Physical therapy, Vitamin Schedule,Walking,No Dairy, No eggs, No caffeine, No artificial coloring, Sleep with 2 pillows, Very little sugars consumed, Eat healthy,No alcohol, Medications, limit stress and overstimulation.

~*~Learn to treasure yourself and your Divinity. Be willing to accept yourself completely. Be yourself, be graceful, be kind, be wild, be weird ... be true to yourself~*~
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Old 04-10-2013, 08:59 PM #10
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Clogged ears are mostly from tension. If you want a second opinion, visit an ENT and have him look into your ears, nose and do the larynoscopy. Mine found that acid was draining into my sinuses creating ear fluid and pressure. Eeek!

In the beginning though, I did have ear pressure, and had my ears cleaned and it relieved some of the pain.

Pain from the neck to the head is tension type headache. Icing the neck is important to relieve inflammation. For pain in the ears, ear pain drops eased me for a while. Anti-depressants got rid of it in the end. Oh and for pressure, Claritin-D works! Just check with your doctor first before using as it can interact with certain medications.
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College Student in Information Technology and avid PC Gamer, hit the back of my head against a bunk bed and went unconscious for 3 minutes back in 10-28-2012.

Symptoms: Occipital Neuralgia.
2 MRI's and CT normal.

Currently going through Paxil withdrawals, and psych has me on L-Theanine, Benadryl for zaps, and Lemon Balm. It has eased it by a bit, so I am continuing the treatment till 1 month from now.

Made a 98% recovery on April 8, 2013 with only symptoms of pinched nerves/Occipital Neuralgia in the head and is being treated with injections and physical therapy.

Was experiencing:
Migraines, Headaches, Nausea and Vomiting, Panic Attacks and Anxiety, Depression, Major Insomnia, Brain Fog, Tinnitus, Lethargy, Loss of appetite, Major Heart Palpitations, Occipital Neuralgia has eased a bit.

Vitamins and Medicines: , L-Theanine, Omega 3 Super DHA 900mg, Stress B-Complex Extra Strength, Potassium Gluconate 1000mg, Magnesium Malate 1250mg, Vitamin D3 2000 IU, Methylcobalamin B-12 5000 mcg, Vitamin C 500mg, Lemon Balm.

Things that helped me: My Vitamin Regimen, Medication, Earplugs (Love these!), Nature Sounds, Hydrotherapy, Neck Pillow with Heat, Heating Pads, Resting, Being Outside!
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