Hi!I just read this thread and you are a wonderful mother and support for your son's best interest to get him on a regimen that will give him some of his life back.I can relate as well with the doctor/healthcare problems.It is a severe struggle.I cannot comment to much on the issue because I suffered more from waiting a year and half to finally find a few M.D.s that diagnosed me with a concussion.

I can only put my input on the subject of why your son's head looks swollen, with his head, and eyes hurting.I had a closed head concussion and I had soooo much swelling in my head that now after the swelling went down my eye's and head started feeling better.

The swelling and inflammation in the brain has a hard time to release because it has nowhere to release out except the vestibular system.With that being said I found that it takes longer for the inflammation to go down. Sometimes I think of it like a balloon, if we could poke a hole in it then the inflammation would go out faster. But we cannot, so we have to do anything for inflammation ice & heat compressions, 20min showers daily few times a day etc.I am left with wrinkles now in my face.

I might also suggest getting myofascial massages, infrared to the head that puts oxygen in brain, and I would gently massage my own head all the time.I feel this is another way to help the inflammation get out. You can most likely get these services from a physical therapist. These are just my suggestions that I had to use while being in the "unknown" diagnosis.

I as well have mental/emotional problems from this concussion.Not the same as your son.These changes happen with a concussion sometimes from the central nervous system being moved around and disoriented.

These are just my findings in my journey threw concussion/PCS. Your son is very blessed to have you for moral support. I hope you guy's get a regimen that works for him soon. Take care Mia

Thanks Mia for your suggestions! I know it's not fun having PCS and the other side affects that come with it. But you seem to be finding your way around it pretty good! We'll try the myofascial massage and infrared, the physical therapist has it?? Who knew! Take Care! Mom

So now it's been a year. My son is now again in the psyc ward in our city. He's been there now 5 weeks going on 6...We spent the summer together and I tried everything I could do to get him on track...We've run into a really bad health system for people with any mental problems that includes concussions and the problems Ben has...seems if you have mental health problems the healthcare and society doesn't recongnize it and therefore we've applied for assistance and then and only then can you get some help...bad really bad that we had to wait that long to get help with a mental health issue! If he had a broken leg or a heart attack no problem!... So...I still believe that damn concussion was most of the blame for his problem. And will still search to find an answer to this!

Mom~
I am so sorry to hear about Ben. Hopefully this stay at the hospital will get him on the correct medication to help him. You are a great mother and you did what you could to help him. This illness is a very min condition for any self control or control at all. Yes the medical systems are a gamble!

When I was at a year that is when everything got horrible and I was out of control with life and then slowly after I started taking baby steps to improvements. My thoughts on this is that this was the breaking point when the mental illnesses established and my brain shut down completely. I believe this is because the closed head injury has ran it's main course and the rest is left to be treated and learn new survival skills etc!

I know that you are a concerned mother and this is a step to help him to get on a recovery track. You need to thank yourself for doing what is best to get your son the help and you are so strong for keeping up the fight with the medical system to get him help. Please keep in mind that you did what is best for your son and keep your head up Ben will pull threw in time. Please keep us posted on Ben and you try not to worry yourself sick. I know it is hard! You are strong enough for you and Ben! Mia

momwhocares, did the concussion trigger other mental health issues in your son, or are you still working from the assumption that the concussion is the one central issue?

I have a 19 year old with ADHD and Autism, and he headbangs to that awful music. I worry so much every time I see that behavior; I can't even watch someone hit their head on TV without feeling it in my own, lol.

You are 'lucky' in one respect; your son's issues were not work related; that adds at least 2 years to the wait for actual treatment.

Hi Scott thanks for the reply. Ben doesn't wanna face he's mentally ill so that's the biggest problem right now. And thinking about your son, maybe buy a cool helmet and call it a cool name like "the headbagger crown" well that's not that cool but you get the idea. lol!

Too bad I didn't think of that one sooner!

So now it's been well over a year, Ben wouldn't take his meds and is back in the hospital since 12/28/13. He will be going to the state hospital now. I have to work and won't be home to care for him. It all started from a concussion... this is not right. He did have issues before this but, never saw this coming! Or even new it was possible! The health system is slower than Washington! I'm very annoyed!

momwhocares,

I can tell you the mental issues from concussions are real. I struggled through my youth. The brain is going through tremendous changes until age 25. The lack of maturity to commit to medications sounds like the problem. I hate having to take meds and even my vitamin regimen but know that my life depends on them. I wish I had a suggestion to help you with your son. Maybe in time, he will learn the value of meds.

My best to you.

Thanks Mark for admitting you CAN have mental issues with a concussion. So the President has put some money to try to solve these mental issues. Glad the government is finally addressing this important issue, mean while...it would be good if people would know ahead what could happen when they have a concussion and what to watch out for...get help fast...and to the right doctor...there needs to be some procedures in place. Just thinkin' out loud...