[rreihart]

11/18/2014 - While playing racquetball with friends I fell backwards onto the floor, landing on my right buttocks area but my momentum carried my head into the back wall. A re-enforced, solid concrete wall. I immediately experienced numbness in both arms, believed to be due to a cervical spine strain, the left side of my neck was locked up tight with a spasm. When I couldn't feel my arms, I rolled to my stomach, at which time I experienced a rush of clear-ish fluid discharge from my nose, at the end was bright neon yellow.

After passing a concussion protocol administered by a certified athletic trainer at the facility, I still opted for an ER visit. I was (and still am) concerned about the fluid. At the ER, they did a CT scan, looking from the top of my head down to my clavicles. They said everything was fine, except for what they called an "incidental" finding of fluid in my Left Maxillary sinus. The fluid discharge came out the right side.

The ER concluded that I had a minor head injury, but insisted I did not have a concussion and that I strained my cervical spine. They gave me pain pills and muscle relaxers and told me to watch for concussion symptoms like nausea, dizziness, blurry vision, etc......all of which I had, but all of which were possible side effects of the pills. I'm convinced I did have a minor concussion, because along with all of the other signs, I also had light sensitivity for a couple of days.

11/19/2014 - It is not extraordinary for me to need to blow my nose in the morning when I first wake up, because I do suffer from some sinus/allergy issues. But, that next morning when I woke I felt like a REALLY needed to blow my nose. When I did, I had a mess in the tissue of a mix of bloody mucus, with more of the yellow fluid. It mostly came from the Left nostril, from what I could tell. For about 8 days post-trauma, I had a few instances of this yellow fluid coming out, but it only happened when I blew my nose.

11/20/2014 - As instructed, I followed up with my family doctor (actually his PA) who said that everything was fine and he was not concerned about the fluid. When I asked about the possibility of a CSF leak, he said absolutely not and didn't even entertain the possibility.

11/21/2014 - I went to my regular chiropractor to address the issue with my neck, whom after I described everything advised me to see an ENT.

12/01/2014 - I saw the PA at the office of an ENT I have seen off and on for a few years. She prescribed a course of antibiotics (amoxicillin), to clear up any possibility of infection and concern over the fluid in the Left maxillary sinus. She also gave me a specimen cup to collect any strange fluids, but the problem with that is other than at the time of injury, I haven't had a gush of fluid that I could collect. I just sometimes get clear liquid when I blow my nose, which is sticky most of the time. I am now scheduled for a front view CT tomorrow.

The issue that has me nervous about everything is the near constant salty tasting post nasal drip I am having, accompanied with the fact that my right ear feels like it blocks up with fluid, then unblocks. This is occurring all the time and is worse when I lay on my right side. I saw my chiropractor again today and for several hours after the visit, my ears were opened up, but I had the sensation of drainage and a warmth on the right side. I have also been having minor pins and needles feelings on my scalp, near where I hit my head but also toward the front. I don't get headaches or anything, just strange sensations. I am also having tinnitus that varies in intensity.

I am just really hoping to soon get some answers about the symptoms, because the pre-occupation of worry and concern is severely affecting my life. I am having trouble sleeping. I have trouble focusing on tasks or even enjoying TV or movies because I am in constant "on guard" mode with the stuff I am feeling, tasting, etc.

I do have a picture of the yellow fluid, but the board won't let me post it because I am a new user.

---
Regards,

rreihart

[Lara]

Hello rreihart,

Welcome to the NeuroTalk support groups.

As well as posting here regarding your head injury, I just wanted to tell you that there is also a
CSF Leak Forum
here and it may be worth posting your concerns about the potential leak over there as well as here.

There's also a
Forum Search Feature

There are also many other posts on this TBI/PCS forum regarding CFS leak so it's worth checking those out if you want.

[Mark in Idaho]

I'm confused. "The ER concluded that I had a minor head injury, but insisted I did not have a concussion" If not a concussion, what kind of head injury do they suspect, a bruise to the skin ?

The tingling is often due to soft tissue damage to the surface nerves at and around the impact site. Those nerve can take quite a while to heal since the injury is usually to the myelin sheath and it heals slowly. B vitamins help the myelin sheath heal.

Anxiety usually makes everything worse as it causes one to hyper-focus on minute details that were easily ignored before. It does not sound like you have anything serious to worry about.

[Kitt]

Welcome rreihart.

[rreihart]

Thank you for the replies. I am trying to remain calm and relaxed. Second CT is complete and I'm hoping to hear something tomorrow.

[_Ash_]

Good luck rreihart.

I also had a heavey CSF leak at time of injury, out of my ear. Since then I've had a trickle that is sometimes stronger than other times. I've also had a scab out out twice in this time: which at first relieved the pressure in my head then made it a whole lot worse.

Your lucky to be seen so fast, although I was given antibiotics as a chest infection settled in after injury I've not had further testing yet.

I'm dubious about tests that look for fluid. After my ovaries were rupturing regularily I'd have tests done. They'd find extra fluid and shrug it off even though it meant I was bleeding internally. Did you have one with the dye? As a CT scan is mostly an xray of skull ect.

[rreihart]

I'm sorry you've had to wait so long. I thought it was taking too long for me, but now I see I am fortunate.

I did not have a CT with dye, it wasn't ordered that way. I think the point right now is to check for any skull base fractures and look at my sinuses.

Thanks for the reply.

[rreihart]

Wednesday evening I started feeling weakness in my left leg. Sort of like it was going to sleep, but different. When I got up and moved around it felt better. But, I was getting upset. I was still having the salty tasting, watery post-nasal drip as well.

Yesterday, I woke up at 4 AM feeling nauseous, weak and cold. When I checked my temperature, it was only 95.7 and that was rising from bed covered up and wearing clothes. I got a little freaked out and had my wife take me to the ER, fearing something was wrong.

The ER doc basically said nothing was wrong and suggested I try Claritin or Zyrtec for the PND. Diagnosed as post-concussion syndrome.

I went home and took a Claritin and went back to bed. As the day went on, I did feel better. The weakness was better and the Claritin greatly reduced the PND.

This morning, I've felt similar to yesterday. I woke up early (about 4:30 AM) and wasn't as nauseous, but was a little light headed and the salty PND was returning. Feeling a little weak in the legs too.

I went to work today, but remain frustrated. I'm going to move around as much as possible and see if that helps.

[seabass123]

Originally Posted by rreihart

This morning, I've felt similar to yesterday. I woke up early (about 4:30 AM) and wasn't as nauseous, but was a little light headed

I had trouble with this as well for months rreihart, I was waking up with headaches and dizziness in the middle of the night, wasn't able to fall asleep after getting up. I found that it was partially due to lower blood sugar from fasting all night during sleep. I'm almost convinced that one of the symptoms of concussion is extreme sensitivity to lower blood sugar since I never had anything like this before getting my concussion.

What's worked for me is eating yogurt or a small piece of chocolate when I wake up feeling like this in the morning or in the middle of the night. Might be something that might help tone down the severity of your symptoms

[SuperElectric]

How come you had a second CT scan and not an MRI? I don't understand why doctors dismiss the idea of CF leaks out of hand without seeming to investigate them. Changes in CF pressure can make you feel nauseas as spinal tap patients feel it. With plenty of rest things will stabilise I'm sure.