[hundredand]

Hello! Just found this forum today. Not completely sure where this post should go, as I'm not completely sure what the problem is. I'm just hoping someone can point me in the right direction.

Eight years ago, when I was sixteen, I was wrestling with a friend. I got into a position where the temple of the right side of my head came to lay against a rock. It was then that my friend rested almost all his weight on my head, pressing my temple against the rock. I remember hearing a strange rush in my ear right after it happened. About an hour later, the skin over that area became very hot and and irritated. I didn't think much of it and eventually went to bed, hoping it would just resolve on its own. I woke up feeling strange and foggy. It's a hard feeling to describe and something I've been trying to put into words for years. In the end, I just didn't feel right. The next day, the headaches started. Big, throbbing, headaches that made my head feel like it was full of pressure. Though my entire head hurt, the worst of it would lance from my temple to the back of my eye. All the while, the feeling of not being myself persisted and got worse. I felt like I couldn't enjoy anything as I once did, the world didn't feel as vibrant, and I became depressed. I still become a little teary-eyed when I think back on what life was like before this all happened...I miss it a lot.

Obviously, I didn't know what this injury was. I didn't really hit my head, so I don't think it was a concussion...it felt more related to the nerves somehow. Either way, I got a CAT scan and had a few tests done a month after the incident. Everything appeared normal.

The worst of the headaches lasted about six months, with occasional headaches popping up for about a year after that. I had a few instances of further issues. I remember taking a five hour energy that lead to a night of massive headaches with me waking up the next day feeling even more out of touch with reality. One day I woke up with a clogged left ear and an altered sense of smell. The ear problem went away after a few months. I'm not completely sure if these issues have anything to do with the initial problem.

The years went by and although my mind has never returned to its original state, I've managed. I've tried a few anti-depressants to help with the depression, but none of those seemed to have helped. Either way, I can function alright for the most part, and for that I'm thankful. I understand many of you have it much, much worse.

So that brings us to now. About a week ago I was running out the door and smacked my head right on the frame, over the top of the right side of my head. I fell down and sat there a moment and immediately knew that something wasn't right. I could feel that same spot in my temple firing up again. Days later the headaches began, and today I woke up with a clogged ear. Now I'm just praying I don't slip further into this foggy state of mind I've been trying to get out of for years.

So obviously this has reignited my interest in my problem, that maybe there's a solution, or someone else that has gone through something similar. If you're out there, it would bring some level of comfort to know....writing about the worst, life-changing event in your life has an air of catharsis about it.

Anyways, sorry for this wall. Thanks for reading!