[Tmarie23]

I've been lurking on here a while and figured I'd make an account and maybe get some answers/insight/support. I'm 23 years old, and I've been working (worked) at a grocery store for the past two years. I had my accident on January 10th, 2014 (Approximately 3 months ago).

I was stocking merchandise off of a U-boat. There was one of those hard plastic milk crates on top of everything. I was rushing while working and had my adrenaline going. I turned around and put my fingers through the holes of the milk crate above me, and was going to just fling it onto the floor real quick. But while I was doing that, I turned my face into the serrated corner of the crate. It hit me right on the corner of my left eyebrow bone.

I'm not exactly sure if I lost consciousness or not. I guess I may have "blacked out" for a second or two? Maybe more stunned? I remember holding my face and pacing in the aisle trying to walk to walk the pain off. When I looked at my hands I saw they were covered in blood. I didn't know if it hit my eye or not. I ran to the bathroom panicked to stop the bleeding. It looked like a chunk was missing out of my head and was swollen for about a week. It scared me but I actually went straight back to work afterwards and tried to blow it off. I started feeling funny a few days later and went to the hospital.

The concussion produced so much anxiety in me that in my second month, I was convinced I was going to die and I ended up running to the hospital 8 times, twice in an ambulance (in the same day)

I'm seeing a neurologist, and I've been going to physical therapy for the past 8 weeks. Aside from the anxiety calming down a fair amount, I barely feel like I'm improving at all. My main symptoms that bother me include light/noise sensitivity, horrific fatigue, and the feeling of being in this dream like state 24/7. I don't know if this is what you would call a brain fog or not, but it's really disturbing and has been driving me absolutely insane. I was wondering mostly if anyone had any information on this and if you've ever had it/ has it ever gone away for you?

Other symptoms that still persist are occasional lightheadedness, and these really bizarre pressure sensations behind my forehead, bridge of my nose, and near my ear. My ear and nose also sort of feel like they're 'inflamed' almost. I don't even know how to accurately describe it. I was just getting over the flu though when I had my injury, so I'm wondering if this makes me more susceptible to a longer recovery, or if this may have something to do with an ear problem or something? Since I will randomly get muffled hearing. The muffled hearing will go away if I lay down for a few seconds. Its really annoying. But that I've had before the concussion.

As for tests, I've had a CT scan without contrast a month after, an EEG 2 weeks ago (both came back clear) and I just had an MRI without contrast a few days ago that I'm still waiting on results for. My neurologist is confident that it's going to come back clear. He said he would order it if it would make me feel more comfortable that nothing was seriously wrong. He also has me on a low dose of Zoloft. I was reluctant to eve take it, as i'm the type of person who pretty much refuses any kind of medication.

I just want to feel like myself again. I want my life back. I'm not working anymore and I had to drop out of college. Every night I go to sleep and pray that when I wake up I'll find that it was just a nightmare. My neurologist originally thought that I'd be better in a month. Then when I saw him again on the 14th he said I would be feeling MUCH better by summer for sure. He's confident that I'm going to make a full recovery, but how the hell can he know that? He's apparently a very well respected doctor around here. I don't know...Finding hope and positivity every day is a serious struggle. I'm terrified that I'll be stuck like this for the rest of my life.

If anyone can answer any of my questions or give me any sort of insight, advice, or hope I would REALLY appreciate it.

[Tmarie23]

A couple things I forgot to mention:

I've also been doing vestibular therapy for the past 8 weeks as well.

My appetite is not what it used to be. I used to LOVE food. I have to remind myself to eat now. I had horrible nausea for the first two months but that has pretty much gone away for the most part. And getting to sleep is incredibly difficult no matter how exhausted I am. When I do get to sleep, I'm waking up every two or three hours most nights. So any tips you may have that will actually let me get a normal nights sleep would be nice as well.

Like I said, in month two when my anxiety was in full blown chaos, I literally got about 6 hours of sleep that month. It was bad. Do you think that may have permanently affected anything?

I don't know, any thoughts are appreciated.

[NormaW]

The pressure you feel on your forehead is what a lot of people describe as block. Mine goes from my forehead to my temples and sometimes feels like there is a pipe from one temple through to the other.

The ears are quite common too. I feel like they should pop, but they don't, although the I do not have ringing all the time now.

I have had this pressure for more than 2 years but it has gotten better and so has the brain fog.

It sounds like you have a lot of anxiety and you have a right to be anxious, all of this is really scary and unsettling. However you have to get the anxiety under control. I have tried a meditation tape which I did every day for about 3 months. If I can not sleep I turn on the tape and I have condition myself to relax and empty my mind. It is amazing how much easy it is to sleep.

Having support and supportive people around you is important. The one piece of advice I can give you is to respect the healing process. No one is going to be able to tell you for sure how long this will take since every injury is different.

I use to be a planner and a very goal oriented person. I have had to let a lot of this go. The more relax and better rest you get the better you will recouperate.

Good Luck, we are all here for you and I am sure others will add in more advice.

[thedude58]

Welcome to the group! Try checking out the vitamins and supplements regimen sticky for starters. I wonder if taking a quiet walk outdoors may be helpful with your sleep troubles. A little exercise can go a long way for sleep, but keep it light, you don't want to overtax your brain.

My symptoms are different from yours but I have anxiety and depression. My neurosurgeon has me on a regimen of vitamins, minerals and a couple of other supplements. The regimen works, no brain fog, anxiety or depression and no drugs. That is definitely something worth investigating.

Keep checking here, I'm sure more good advice from other members is forthcoming.

Good luck with your recovery. Get lot's of rest if you can and don't over do it.

Jamie

[Sitke]

Hello and welcome,

I had all the symptoms you describe, had a severe concussion in a car accident over a year ago.

The cognitive stuff was awful, I seriously felt extremely brain damaged, felt like my brain was so slow and I was in a fog all the time, memory gone, words coming out wrong, took forever to "take in" what someone was saying, anxiety, severe headaches, pressure in my head...it upset me a lot as I thought I'd always be that way.

About 10 months later I remember feeling things felt a little clearer (people are different though) it all takes time unfortunately.

Don't think anyone can tell you how long the healing process will take, you've just got to take things slowly and calmly, don't try to do too much that's for sure.

It is hard, I understand the sleep business too, I worried so much about that I think I made it worse.

I make sure the house is quiet especially in the evening, take Magnesium in the AM and PM, take epsom salts baths, don't go on the computer before bed, read in bed....

I was in vestibular therapy too, it did help.

Best thing to do is try not to worry too much (I know it's hard)

I remember trying to do things too quickly and ended up going backwards.

I take a regimen of Vitamins etc, you can find a thread on this, very, very helpful.

I used to be able to remember 8 different things at once, now I do have to write everything down, it can be a slow process.

Take very good care of yourself!

[Mark in Idaho]

Tmarie,

Welcome to NeuroTalk. Your situation is very common. Your biggest problem is your anxiety levels. All of your symptoms can be attributed to anxiety, the nausea, spacy feeling, lack of appetite, etc are all anxiety symptoms.

Personally, I don't think you suffered as much of a concussion but more of an extreme emotional trauma. You will likely benefit from some counseling. Even a short course of anti-anxiety meds may be helpful. The Zoloft was likely prescribed for its anti-anxiety value.

The vitamin regimen in the Vitamins sticky at the top will help your brain tolerate stress.

From your post, you sound like a Type A personality. Type A's often struggle when their world changes like after a trauma like you suffered. Getting control of your need to be in control of everything that comes along each day will be beneficial. Try to take life a bit slower. You will see improvements if you slow down and let time heal.

Is your injury being handled as a Worker's Compensation case ? It sounds like it should be.

I doubt any imaging will show anything. It takes a serious impact to cause damage that will show up on imaging. Plus, from what you say, it does not sound like you manifest any neurological symptoms that indicate a need for further imaging.

So, please try to relax and take it slower. Anxiety is the worst thing for a person recovering from a concussion, even a mild concussion. Anxiety can seriously delay any healing. A counselor with experience treating people who have undergone physical trauma may be a big help.

My best to you.

[Tmarie23]

Thank you all for your replies.

Mark, thanks for the information. It is being handled by workers comp.

My anxiety has calmed down a lot, although I know it's not down nearly enough yet. I'm trying to get into counseling but I need to do that on my own somehow because workers comp is already giving me problems about seeing a neuro optometrist (recommended by my physical therapist), and I don't have any health coverage or income to pay for it. I applied for Medicaid so I'm waiting on that.

I know anxiety is definitely contributing to all of this, but I honestly don't think this "fog" is all anxiety. I'm really not sure to explain it but I've never felt anything like it before. It's like....I can see perfectly fine, everything technically looks normal (the first two months my vision was kind of blurred though) however everything is just totally "off" and dreamy. And it's super hard to focus. Similar to a mix of being buzzed or if you've ever smoked pot, but not exactly either. It's very unsettling.

I notice it's also extremely hard to concentrate on more than one thing, when previously I was always able to concentrate on multiple things without even really thinking about it. And like, if I'm looking through one of those metal fences, it's really hard for me to focus on the fence or whats beyond it and my head gets all weird. I don't really get too many headaches anymore though.


I'm by no means trying to knock anything you said or say it's totally wrong, I know my anxiety is an issue, I just know it's definitely not the only issue going on here. I also get this really strange feeling where my head will feel totally empty. I'm guessing that's all just part of this whole process as well?

I'm expecting the mri to be normal since the ct scan was. I just wanted it to be on the safe side

Again, thanks for all the imput so far

[Tmarie23]

And about taking life slower, yes I agree. Thanks It's something I was working on even before the concussion. I do have a control problem.

[Mark in Idaho]

Tmarie,

My concern about the anxiety being a major factor is due to my personal experience over the past year. I have not suffered any head impacts in this past year but my symptoms have been very similar to yours. They have all been the result of a severe emotional trauma I suffered last August. That experience rocked my world like I have never experienced before.

I do not discount the severity of symptoms that a very minor head impact can cause. Do you have any history of concussions ? Do you / did you play contact sports , soccer, basketball, etc ? A prior concussion history can cause a brain to be very sensitive to even minor impacts.

I have heard good reviews of the Anxiety program developed by Lucinda Bassett.

I would expect it to be all but impossible to multi-task/concentrate on two things. The healthy brain is stressed by such actions. The injured brain is just not up to the task of multi-tasking. Studies show that multi-tasking is detrimental to good brain health.

[Tmarie23]

I've never actually been in any sports or had any diagnosed concussions but I may have had a few minor ones without realizing it? I'm not sure. I remember once in high school we were playing basketball. A basketball sailed across the gym high in the air and came straight down on top of my head. I was dizzy when I was hit but then I just ignored that it happened. There were also some instances where I've hit the same part of my eyebrow bone pretty hard on the corner of walls, roof of the car bumps, things like that.