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Traumatic Brain Injury and Post Concussion Syndrome For traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post concussion syndrome (PCS). |
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11-20-2013, 11:10 PM | #1 | ||
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7 weeks ago I face-planted from a standing position to the ice. I was wearing a helmet and full metal face cage. Other than my brain hurting like hell and a bloody inner lip, no other symptoms at the incident.
However, I can drive, ice skate, perform yard work, sleep like a champ, etc. I don't feel nauseous but am eating less. I visited my DR for the third time last week and he noticed I had some inflammation/ stuffiness in my sinus area and suggested this might have re-irritated my concussion recovery/ symptoms. I have no reason to doubt him and I don't; but I just feel like it's an easy answer. 10 days into this "sinus inflammation" and I still feel ill. Does this sound like a PCS symptom? Could the face-plant have caused inner-ear damage? Could this be a result of anxiety (no history of anxiety but this experience has been trying)?! What type of symptom does this most sound like? Would a visit to an ENT be unreasonable? I've been reading this forum for weeks now and have undertaken many of the recommendations for concussion recovery (thank to all who have made suggestions). I just feel like my situation is vastly different from many so I question if I even had a concussion or if this is some type of inner ear thing/ neck injury (I did face-plant without bracing myself). |
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11-21-2013, 02:16 AM | #2 | ||
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Legendary
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qwerty02,
Welcome to NeuroTalk. You said, "The most debilitating symptom, that I can't efficiently describe, is I feel spacey/ spaced out/ out of body/ like I'm on medication." This is a classic concussion symptoms. It is not uncommon for new symptoms to manifest 7 weeks after a concussion. You would be wise to take it easy like you did right after your injury. I think you returned to too much activity. It is a good idea to wait a week or two after feeling better before adding old activities back to one's daily activities. Then, add those activities one at a time with a week wait before adding another activity. Since you recovered so well already, taking it slow this time should serve you well. btw, The slightest bit of an illness, cold, sinus infection etc. can make concussion symptoms come roaring back. My best to you.
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Mark in Idaho "Be still and know that I am God" Psalm 46:10 |
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11-21-2013, 12:53 PM | #3 | ||
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Mark, thanks for your reply. I've read many of your posts and find them very helpful.
I made an error in my post, the most debilitating symptom for me is the motion sickness at rest aspect of my post. It's almost like a sensory/movement piece of me isn't working so when I make a movement, I get this ill feeling. It's so incredibly frustrating to describe because it's caused by my own movements/ motion and NOT by external movement (ie driving a car). So to call it "motion sickness" isn't fully accurate. However, it doesn't affect my balance, so I'm hesitant to call it dizziness or vertigo. It's like sea sickness but only when I move from a resting position. Once I get going (ie doing yard work, ice skating, etc) I don't notice it anymore. I'm just looking for that one keyword or phrase to accurately describe it. The "spacey/ spaced out/ out of body/ like I'm on medication" feeling is definitely it's own symptom however it's manageable for me. I just tend to group it in with the other symptom from above when I probably shouldn't. |
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11-21-2013, 01:23 PM | #4 | ||
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Legendary
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I think I understand your issue. I have had to be slow when getting up because a quick 'get up' can leave me tipsy. Some times, it is a low blood pressure issue but usually it is more live a motor control wobbliness. I chalk it up to a slow proprioceptive nerve response. These nerves communicate body and muscle position. If I have been still, it takes a moment for them to catch up. For me, It means I need to get up in two steps. First, I move forward to where my weight is ready to be picked up by my legs. After a couple second pause, it's like my muscles say, " Oh, we're on the move. Wake up and pay attention."
I developed this symptom after having orthopedic surgery with general anesthesia. For me, it has improved but never gone away completely. I hope this helps and relates to your struggle. My best to you.
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Mark in Idaho "Be still and know that I am God" Psalm 46:10 |
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11-21-2013, 10:44 PM | #5 | ||
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Mark, do you think a visit to an ENT would be wise? Is Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy something that could perhaps assist in this area?
I truly do hope this "cold" is to blame but I'm about 14 days into it and I don't feel much of a cold sickness anymore however the motion sickness/ ill feeling is going strong. Extremely frustrating. |
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11-22-2013, 12:38 AM | #6 | ||
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Legendary
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Vestibular therapy may help or maybe the Epley Maneuver will help. You can see YouTube videos of the Epley Maneuver and have a friend help you follow the steps. A therapist may be better if the do it yourself Epley does not work.
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Mark in Idaho "Be still and know that I am God" Psalm 46:10 |
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11-27-2013, 08:57 AM | #7 | ||
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Quote:
So, I just keep busy. The one thing I do need to be careful of, is that I don't overdo it and make it even worse when I stop. Last weekend, I was in the middle of a whirlwind yard cleanup project -- really making good progress, faster than usual, and feeling great -- then I stopped to catch my breath and felt like I was going to pass out. Falling and hitting my head is not worth it to me, so I took a break, drank some water, and caught my breath. Then I went back to work at a more leisurely pace. You're the first person (other than me) I've ever heard describe feeling this way. It's very odd. So long as I'm active and engaged -- actually doing something -- I feel pretty good. It's when I stop that I feel terrible. Oh well... I guess that's what keeps my life interesting...
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---------------------------------------- What happened: Sustained mild TBI #9(+) in 2004 when I fell down a flight of stairs and smacked the back of my head on the steps. Knocked out briefly, then bounced back and resumed everyday life, as usual. Then things fell apart -- lost my job, friends disappeared, spouse became terrified of me, money flew out the window, and I had no idea it was all happening, or why. Finally put things together in 2007, when I was researching brain injury for a family member. Have been actively working with a neuropsych and recovering since late 2007, with amazing results I never thought possible. I blog about this at . . Symptoms: fatigue, tinitis, sensitivity to light and noise and touch, insomnia, general pain, headache, attention issues, emotional lability, panic/anxiety, anger/rage spikes, confusion, difficulty hearing and understanding, slowed processing speed, limited short-term working memory, balance & vertigo issues, difficulty reading and learning new things, nystagmus and tremors when over-tired. |
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12-05-2013, 12:18 AM | #8 | ||
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Junior Member
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Quote:
It's during these times, which encompass 75% of my day, where I have the most difficulties. I've trying describing it to my Dr. and it's just impossible. It feels like a motion sensor is broken inside me. So while the rest of my body is reporting accurately, this one sensor is telling my brain inaccurate information. It's not inaccurate enough to affect my balance or prevent me from being active but it IS inaccurate enough to me make feel ill when I'm just walking around the house. |
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12-05-2013, 01:15 AM | #9 | ||
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Check out BPPV or nystagmus....as the relate to brain injury. I have what you describe...it gets better with time and therapy
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What happened: Legs pulled forward by a parent's hockey stick while resting at the side of the rink at a family skate....sent me straight back. I hit the back of my head (with helmet) on the ice, bounced a few times, unconscious for a few minutes. September 11, 2011. Off work since then…I work part-time at home when I can. It has been hell but slowly feeling better (when I am alone☺). Current symptoms: Vision problems (but 20/20 in each eye alone!) – convergence insufficiency – horizontal and vertical (heterophoria), problems with tracking and saccades, peripheral vision problems, eyes see different colour tints; tinnitus 24/7 both ears; hyperacusis (noise filter gone!), labyrinthian (inner ear) concussion, vestibular dysfunction (dizzy, bedspins, need to look down when walking); partial loss of sense of smell; electric shocks through head when doing too much; headaches; emotional lability; memory blanks; difficulty concentrating. I still can’t go into busy, noisy places. Fatigue. Executive functioning was affected – multi-tasking, planning, motivation. Slight aphasia. Shooting pain up neck and limited mobility at neck. Otherwise lucky! Current treatments: Vestibular therapy, Vision therapy, amantadine (100 mg a day), acupuncture and physiotherapy for neck, slow return to exercise, magnesium, resveratrol, omega 3 fish oils, vitamins D, B and multi. Optimism and perserverance. |
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12-05-2013, 04:57 PM | #10 | ||
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I have the same symptoms. I have had them for 14 months to varying degrees. Today it's bad. I feel as if my brain can't understand the movements of my eyes or body.
One doc explained that my brain wasn't receiving accurate messages. Sometime I feel like my brain is just off by a second in picking up info. Someone else explained it like my gps system wasn't working. Lots of my problems are related to eye issues. Su
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Su Seb Slipped in puddle and fell. 10/6/12. Whiplash and concussion. 48 years old. Dizzy, balance, vision, taste, sound, light, cognitive, headaches, foggy, head pressure , irritability,.... |
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