Hi everybody,

I was hit in the head repeatedly about 7 weeks ago. I was very drunk at the time. The next day I woke up feeling fine. That evening I started having a headache but didn't think much about it, had a couple drinks. After about three days my headaches started increasing, and my right arm and leg started to feel strange. I read a lot about numbness or weakness, and these terms are not exactly what I feel.

I can pinch, etc. my limbs and they are as sensitive as before. I have full flexibility, and I can lift the same amount as before. But it takes extra concentration to use my limbs--it's almost as if they are not my own. They sort of feel heavy and light at the same time. There is also tingling that comes and goes. I often feel a pain deep in my thigh or bicep muscle. Other times there is a shooting pain. The pain is not severe, but it is upsetting because I don't know what's going on with me. Also, sometimes this muscle pain shows up in my left arm as well, but is more short-lived.

My headaches are now much more mild--I will generally just have a sharp stab on either side of my head for a few minutes ,and then it will go away. Sometimes it lasts a few hours. Occasionally I will start to feel dizzy, but nothing too extreme.

It's like a constant mix and match of the above symptoms. Though they are better than before, I feel like I've hit a plateau with my healing and I'm beginning to get really worried. I went to a PatientFirst and they said it was just tight muscles and they gave me muscle relaxers--this did nothing. The anxiety got so bad that I went to the emergency room because my leg began to tingle which was new. My CT scan was negative in all ways. The Dr. there said I would be fine, but to see a neurologist if the symptoms didn't go away. That was about a month ago.

So, I have full coordination, my memory is fine, etc. It's only the headaches, funny feeling arms and legs, muscle pains, and shooting pains, occasional dizziness.

I'm a public school teacher, teaching first grade, so it's really hard for me to take time from work. It's also difficult to reduce stress, since the classroom is so noisy and chaotic.

I've stopped drinking, because I can tell it was triggering symptoms. In fact, I thought I was better during the first week, but then I drank some strong beers and they returned and haven't left since. I smoke marijuana daily because it helps with anxiety and I've read that it helps with mtbi. I did not smoke for a week and could not tell a difference during that time.

I know that my symptoms are not as severe as many members here experience, but I am very scared that things will get worse or that I will feel this way forever. My whole life I've been really into playing drums loud, seeing loud music, and drinking alcohol--things that are now out of the question. So, I'm looking for advice and words of encouragement. I'm seeing a neurologist Tuesday, but I'm assuming that he or she will not be able to offer any concrete diagnosis.

Thanks so much for reading. This has actually been positive for me in some ways, because I value my health so much more now, and I really really want to heal so that I can use this renewed sense of purpose to better my life and the lives of those around me.

headmusic,

Welcome to NeuroTalk.

First issue. Marijuana is not good for MTBI except in very small doses, not enough to get high. It takes weeks to clear the body of toxins so just a week of no mj would not make a noticeable difference.

Second issue. You likely have injured your neck. It need not be painful or severely symptomatic to cause the problems you are experiencing. A subtle neck injury without other symptoms will still cause inflammation that can interrupt nerve signals.

You need to find other ways to reduce stress and anxiety. It sounds like you may be dopamine dependent and you may need the music, alcohol and mj to enhance dopamine. You need to find other ways to stimulate dopamine.

It will help to get started on a vitamin and supplement regimen to help your brain clear the toxins and help increase your tolerance for stress. B-12 and the other B's are most important but the whole regimen is valuable. Look at the regimen in the Vitamin's sticky at the top.

Have you studied any classroom calming techniques ? My wife used to be a teacher evaluation specialist and witnessed how well teachers can calm their classroom with the right technique used consistently. The lowered chaos will benefit your students greatly and make a better environment for you brain.

My best to you.

Thanks so much for the reply, Mark.

I am doing much better at staying calm in the classroom--mostly because I need to in order to keep the symptoms at bay. The kids are pretty well under control, it's just that an oversized first grade classroom is by nature a very busy and stimulating place

Not sure that I have a dopamine dependence, because not drinking alcohol has not bothered me a bit. I enjoy loud shows, but do them much less now that I am older (30). It's just sad to think that I may not be able to attend any more shows in the future.

I have been wondering if I have injured my neck, but there is no neck pain, and my head was stationary when my head was hit. I sustained a hit last year in the same spot, and had pain on both sides of the head, primarily the opposite side. The Dr. then said that it was likely because my brain hit the opposite side of my skull after the impact. (just mentioning this for extra info)

I am certainly open to quitting marijuana for the foreseeable future, but my biggest gains have often been after smoking (i.e. I smoke and wake up the next day with reduced symptoms). However, I will give it up for the time being. The main reason I like it is because it helps me go to sleep earlier in the evening, otherwise my natural inclination is to stay up until midnight or so, which means I'm not getting enough sleep due to work.

I have been taking a daily woman's vitamin (though I'm a male) because that's what's in the cabinet. I will certainly look into B vitamins. Right now I drink tons of turmeric and take 1200 mgs of fish oil a day.

Since my symptoms are relatively mild (currently), is it possible that I will make a full recovery? There's so much information to sift through here!

Question: should I be doing exercises? On one hand I feel that I need rest, on the other hand I feel that I need to stimulate my arm and leg or I will lose function in them.

Just a quick suggestion about those vitamins in the cabinet...

Women's vitamins have too much iron in them for men to use daily. Get yourself some Men's formula to be safe. Too much iron in men is linked to heart disease.

headmusic,

A single multi-vitamin is almost worthless unless you are taking an enhanced multi like GNC Mega Men. Even then, you want to add to that substantially.

Your reduced symptoms in the AM are likely due to sleep, not the MJ.

Nobody can predict what kind of a recovery you will make.

Mild exercise will help with brain blood flow but do not exercise to a level that causes a head ache.

So, you smoke MJ because you are not disciplined to go to bed at a decent hour ? Not a good excuse for me, especially for someone who is responsible for a classroom of 1st graders. But, enough of my soapbox as a father and grandfather.

btw, MTBI often leads to a risk to develop a myriad of psychoses. Add the MJ over time and that risk is elevated. That is well documented science.

Will definitely stock up on the vitamins you recommended, thanks.