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.