I've been reading online and they record mild, moderate and severe concussions/traumatic injuries based on LOC (loss of consciousness). I had another source tell me that brain injuries with ZERO LOC can actually be far more severe.

Any insight on this topic?

Brief LOC, unless it is followed by low Glascow Coma Scores, is not important in grading concussions. In fact, unless there is a reduced GCS, there is no valid way to rate anything over mild to moderate. Many believe it is a meaningless distinction because only symptoms are treated, not the initial presentation to doctors.

Why do you ask ?

I'm trying to figure out what camp i'm in. I'm likely in the moderte/severe as not all my symptoms have faded.

I still struggle with Tinnitus, head pressure, severe insomnia and fatigue.

Accident: Fell over a staircase and landed on my side. Contused pelvis, back, broken thumb and wrist. Although i believe Pelvis hit first, the head collided with the cement perhaps jaw first followed by right temporal. LOC likely under 1 min, very dazed and disoriented upon standing up.

Although i'm able to exercise a bit 8 months after this accident I don't feel anything near what i used to. I feel i've lost my identity, personality and energy.

Don't even be concerned with severe vs moderate. It's a waste of time, especially considering your current symptoms. My last concussion would be termed mild but my symptoms have lasted 14 years. Research shows that severity level has no bearing on whether there are persistent symptoms .

Martin,

I think we might have joined the club around the same time...4/12/14 for me.

I find I am on a pretty short leash for exercise as of yet. I have been walking 1.2 miles for about a month. Yesterday I went 2 miles and had a tired head....not sore or disturbed but definetly tired and needed to rest it after.

Any neck and back exercises are quite limited in reps and weight, 2 lb. is the most I use. Starting today I am going to be trying 15 reps 3 times a day for neck/back stuff...total of 6 different moves.

Running is out of the question, my head will not tolerate the jarring.

I am going to start back to work in three weeks, one half day a week to see how it goes. I hope it works out. I work 22 miles from home and thus far the 8 or so drives home since June has been pretty hard on my head and results in a day or two down.

Best to all of us here.

Bud

Martin, when you say "they" I'm not sure who you mean but with head injuries consciousness is assessed on a scale rather than a yes or no answer.

The Glascow Coma Scale is something I've had experience with again this past week. Hit my head badly, assessed by ambulance, taken to hospital.

When the ambulance first arrived my GCS was a 14 because it was noted that I was not making normal verbal communication. I was apparently confused and disoriented and repeating myself over and over. Eye and Motor obs were apparently fine. It was observed that I had no actual LOC.

After 2 and 1/2 hours my GCS was good at a 15. It just measured that my verbal communication, my eye opening response, and my motor response were good.

I was stitched up, observed for a time and then sent home thankfully with the paper work and handouts for a Mild Head Injury and given all the warning signs to look out for in the days and weeks ahead. (I knew all that because it's not my first head injury)

You may have had a much lower GCS when first seen by ambulance or ER doctors but those scores aren't necessarily going to determine how you recover.

It really is a scale to allow those first responders and doctors to do their job in the moment. To watch if you improve or decline.

There are other obs that are important after a head injury including blood pressure, heart rate etc. Sometimes they're more important than anything because of risk of haemorrhage and other things.

You also sustained some other nasty injuries, so your body as well as your brain is going to need time to recover.

http://www.brainline.org/content/201...oma-scale.html
What Is the Glasgow Coma Scale?

Hi lara!

Thanks for your feedback. I didn't go to the doctors until the next day because i was unaware of how severe my injuries were (i was coming from an event).

When i was unable to get out of my own bed hours later i knew it was very serious. I then immediately went to urgent care but the doctors were not concerned with my head even though i said it was hurting ALOT. They were mostly concerned with my broken finger and lower back since i was unable to walk.

it was not until a few days later that i realized things were really off. That's when i became extremely sensitive to sound and the ringing in my right ear ignited (side of impact).

I was not diagnosed with a concussion until weeks after where the doctor ordered an immediate MRI and CT after explaining my problems. Call it poor medical help! It was my first major injury and frankly i was unaware just how serious a head injury could be.

I also think i triggered more symptoms because i went into work a few days later on crutches and worked on a computer all weekend following the injury. I had no guidance and no help, simply doctors who did not think much of the bumps on my head from a severe fall.

You can get better. I know it's difficult but try to keep positive.

Your lack of energy and your feelings about losing your identity and your personality are not uncommon, but some of that could be because you're in a depression. People change after any sort of illness. Patients who've had heart attacks for example can become seriously depressed. It's very common.

After a head injury with persisting symptoms, it's very hard and confusing to feel so different from how we used to feel and to not be able to do the things that were previously easy. It's also difficult for people in general to understand what can't be seen, so educating those around you can help you feel less hopeless and helpless as well. Seek professional help if you feel depressed.

Just take care of yourself.