Traumatic Brain Injury and Post Concussion Syndrome For traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post concussion syndrome (PCS).


advertisement
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 10-15-2017, 10:53 PM #1
Susie1 Susie1 is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Vancouver Island
Posts: 33
5 yr Member
Susie1 Susie1 is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Vancouver Island
Posts: 33
5 yr Member
Smile 2 months post concussion with head pain

Hi Everyone - thank you for allowing to be a part of this community. I've been reading when I can and have learned more here than anywhere.

I fell 2 months ago when walking from my condo to my balcony and had something in my hand, I tripped, fell and hit my head directly. I'm not sure if I passed out but could of only very briefly for a few seconds. I sat down in a chair with a friends assistance and threw up for awhile.

Next few days I was just a little stiff but then the head pain just kept getting worse and I went to the hospital and they did a cat scan which came back clear except for existing cervical disc herniations and arthritis.

I was clearly having more and more symptoms, confusion, loss of appetite, difficulty following conversations, I was in slow mo for everything. Most have all gone but the head pain is the most persistent symptom now. It is on top of my head and I can barely sleep most nights and end up sleeping with pillows propping me up. This helps. I also have problems with conversations, making plans, remembering things and vision with some things looking like they are really 3d or rounded in funny ways.

I've taken some time off work and my GP hasn't been helpful. I'm seeing an osteopath and he's helped along with homeopathics. I see another osteoporosis who gives me Bowen Therapy and that was amazing with instant results for eye pain. I'm continuing with the exercises but I don't think thats enough.

I'm not sleepy in the day but feel fatigued easy and only like to be around people about 1 hr and then I time out and need quiet. I'm also taking B2, Omega 3, B complex, Vit C, double bio available Curcumin (learned that here) probiotics and I think that's it.

I'm not sure where to go from here. I can be on the computer longer than the original 10 minutes but time out fairly quickly with the "peaking head pain" the same one that comes when I am trying to sleep and keeps me awake. It feels like it might come out the top of m head but of course this can't happen I have committed to not working till Jan 1 but I need to plan carefully if this will linger. I feel quite alone with this and I feel I'm grasping at whatever I can find to help but that isn't enough. Everyone says time is what it takes but I'm bored, alone and I'm used to being extremely productive and useful.

I flew the other day from a higher altitude to sea level and later that day and night all the original symptoms came back, nausea, dizziness, severe head pain etc. Slowly getting better from that. I have intermittent pain in my right ear that was on the side I hit just above my eyebrow. I'm not too dizzy anymore but think it might be bothering me somehow.

Thank you for reading and being there and part of this supportive community. I know that I am very lucky to only have this head pain as others suffer so much more. Any suggestions for healing would be great
Susie1 is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote

advertisement
Old 10-16-2017, 10:38 AM #2
Mark in Idaho Mark in Idaho is offline
Legendary
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Somewhere near here
Posts: 11,416
15 yr Member
Mark in Idaho Mark in Idaho is offline
Legendary
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Somewhere near here
Posts: 11,416
15 yr Member
Default

Suzie1,

Welcome to NueroTalk.

I'm sorry to hear you are struggling so with pain. That can be the toughest to treat other than tinnitus.

Do pain meds help at all? I used a combination of aspirin and acetaminophen for my PCS headaches. The doc told me to combine them. Aspirin thins the blood and can be helpful if the pain is blood pressure oriented.
__________________
Mark in Idaho

"Be still and know that I am God" Psalm 46:10
Mark in Idaho is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
"Thanks for this!" says:
Susie1 (10-16-2017)
Old 10-16-2017, 12:21 PM #3
Susie1 Susie1 is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Vancouver Island
Posts: 33
5 yr Member
Susie1 Susie1 is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Vancouver Island
Posts: 33
5 yr Member
Default

Hi Mark in Idaho

Thank you for your reply. In the beginning the Dr wanted me to stick with Tylenol and I found it to be of little help. I took 2 the other night and it took the acute part out of the head pain but was still quite bad. He gave me a Rx for Naproxen so I'll try that.

I'm hoping to get to the source cause of what is causing the pain as this is what's stopping me from activities etc.

I find that when I walk heavy or turn quickly the pain comes. I have super runners that are really cushioned and that helps. Also turning quickly or with speed in a car really sends the pain up, I drive carefully but when I'm with others I can only ask kindly

I'll try mixing the two and see what happens. The osteo says my head is still really "jammed" and nothing is moving so I'll keep on with those treatments. Chiro caused me a lot of pain for about 10 days so I've cut that out.

I'm getting my eyes checked this week but wondering if vestibular therapy might help? I know that pain can be so elusive and has a mind of its own. It won't necessarily have a problem in that area but can manifest there - i.e. top of my head.

Thank you for your help, any suggestions for therapies or?

Appreciate your input.
Susie1 is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 10-16-2017, 02:15 PM #4
Mark in Idaho Mark in Idaho is offline
Legendary
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Somewhere near here
Posts: 11,416
15 yr Member
Mark in Idaho Mark in Idaho is offline
Legendary
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Somewhere near here
Posts: 11,416
15 yr Member
Default

Most chiro is too aggressive. There are some gentle chiro techniques. Some osteos have gentle techniques. A physical therapist/physiotherapist may help. Some gentle head/neck traction with gentle mobilization can help. An upper cervical trained chiro or PT may help.

The walk heavy and turn quickly suggest upper neck. Try to learn to turn at your shoulders rather than neck. Roll your shoulders forward when riding in the car. This provides better bump absorption as the spine can flex to absorb vertical movement.

Mixing Tylenol and aspirin is safe. That is what Excedrin is except it adds caffeine. Caffeine should usually be avoided.

When my headaches were worst, max aspirin and max dose Tylenol were as good as low dose Norco or Percocet without the woozies. And, my doctor recommended the combination.

It is very important to sleep and nap with good head and neck alignment.

An elevated sleeping position can help some. I sleep in a recliner when my neck is an issue.

A regular vision exam will not say much. They test for acuity. A behavioral optometrist's assessment would be worthwhile. Few optometrists are trained in behavioral optometry. Check out NORA at https://nora.cc/healthcare-locator.html

If you are having balance issues, a vestibular assessment would be worthwhile. Many physical therapists can test for this. I'm surprised the osteo has not done vestibular testing.

It is usually best to understand visual issues before tacking vestibular issues and visual issues can cause vestibular issues.

My best to you.
__________________
Mark in Idaho

"Be still and know that I am God" Psalm 46:10
Mark in Idaho is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 10-16-2017, 06:48 PM #5
Susie1 Susie1 is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Vancouver Island
Posts: 33
5 yr Member
Susie1 Susie1 is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Vancouver Island
Posts: 33
5 yr Member
Default

Thanks Mark for your reply, I'll try that. I was on the computer this am for too long I think and had bad head pain so had to cancel a few things. I usually just go on for about 10 minutes or so. Feeling low after that.

The neck pain is increasing and it does feel higher up so perhaps thats it. I found a "vision development" optometrist this am and I'm going in 2 weeks. Hope that will help as my eyes are feeling "stiff" again. The exercises from the Bowen don't seem to be helping as much.

I think I need to go back to more rest but this whole rest thing is confusing. Some Drs say rest, no tv etc others say no go ahead and challenge your brain but stop if yet pain. Hard to find a middle ground. From what I read here most say to try things as well but stop if symptoms get worse.

Thank you

Susie
Susie1 is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 10-16-2017, 08:31 PM #6
Mark in Idaho Mark in Idaho is offline
Legendary
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Somewhere near here
Posts: 11,416
15 yr Member
Mark in Idaho Mark in Idaho is offline
Legendary
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Somewhere near here
Posts: 11,416
15 yr Member
Default

Susie,

There are many doctors and others who do not follow the latest research. The basic issue is to encourage blood flow in the brain. Rest does not encourage blood flow. Complete rest should be for the first 48 hours only, then low stress activity after that.

The 'challenge your brain' concept is not a mainstream protocol and is discounted by the experts.

Keeping active is good. For many, manual activities are best. The hands cannot move faster than a struggling brain can handle. In my early days, I had a rotation of activities. 10 minutes here, 20 minutes there.

If I started to lose focus at my computer, I went outside and took my dogs for a walk. I watched documentary style TV. Informative without a need to engage the subject. I read a bit but struggled to read fiction or overly complex or descriptive articles. I still struggle with some reading.

I've seen others try Bowen. Never seen a long term benefit.

You should try to recognize the early symptoms of overdoing an activity. A need to reread a line of text. A struggle to understand and sort through what somebody is saying. So, try things and shot at the first notice of struggle. Do not try to push ahead or through until you learn how to recognize the signs of increasing symptoms. You will find that some stresses are recoverable in a few minutes to an hour. Others will put you behind for a day or two. Avoid the latter.
__________________
Mark in Idaho

"Be still and know that I am God" Psalm 46:10
Mark in Idaho is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 10-17-2017, 10:45 AM #7
Susie1 Susie1 is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Vancouver Island
Posts: 33
5 yr Member
Susie1 Susie1 is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Vancouver Island
Posts: 33
5 yr Member
Default

Hi Mark

Thank you so much for your reply, I really appreciate it!!! I do rest sometimes more than I should but the head pain can be quite strong. Last night I read only a page and the "peaking" head pain showed itself so I quit. I had lunch with some family members and came home (cancelled a meeting I was supposed to go to) and slept for 12 hours straight. I think I really needed this as I have been up for hours in the night previously. I get what I think is anxiety, head pain etc and have to move, adjust, get up and so on. I'm going to take today as a new beginning

Thank you for sharing your experiences these are helpful. I know my trigger is the head pain and sometimes just mental exhaustion. I can feel the head pain quickly so I will stop. Disappointing as it might occur only a few minutes into an activity. Start and stop is what I will adopt more....

Thank you again for all your help....it really helps a lost soul Head peaking now so I'll go

Susie
Susie1 is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 10-23-2017, 05:15 PM #8
chasann chasann is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 89
10 yr Member
chasann chasann is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 89
10 yr Member
Default

Welcome aboard Suzie1. Pleased you found this site, it is very helpful especially in light of what we sometimes experience from the so called experts.

For air travel I always use headphones or ear plugs, and inhale frequently on eucalyptus oil on hanky or better still a nasal Vicks type stick you put up your nose.

This works a treat also for when my ears have that fullness, echoing, balance feeling ( hard to describe) and blocking off airflow to nose and blow, so popping occurs which clears away or lessons the density of effect.

What works for one doesn't always work for another so anything is worth trying.
chasann is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 10-23-2017, 08:15 PM #9
Susie1 Susie1 is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Vancouver Island
Posts: 33
5 yr Member
Susie1 Susie1 is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Vancouver Island
Posts: 33
5 yr Member
Smile

Hi Chasann

Thank you for your reply and suggestions. I usually listen to music but this trip I talked a bit to my seat neighbour and sat quietly as I knew I was "done". I read a bit and it was suggested that going from a higher elevation to a lower one could of caused the response.

It's taken about a week before I felt better but today I went for a little walk and felt fine then we stopped for a light lunch, 2 samosas that were very spicy. I felt funny half way through and made it home feeling awful but had to lay down instantly and have felt very crummy since then with head pain and just not well.

Not sure if it was the spice or ? I know that I am more sensitive to almost everything including smell, sound and light and taste since "the event".

I'll just drink camomile till tomorrow morning and hope that its better. I start neuro rehab tomorrow 2x week and I also get my eyes tested in preparation to have an intake for a "neuro vision rehab" specialist. The initial consult is $230$ and I've heard the program is 7K!!! I will wait to see what the assessment is but my GP thought that 7K was extremely excessive when he thought it would clear up anyway. I was alarmed at the price but I had the initial assessment already booked. The oste who does the "bowen therapy" says the initial consult can be quite helpful so I'll go with that.

Best wishes to everyone,

Susie
Susie1 is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 01-19-2018, 03:04 PM #10
Susie1 Susie1 is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Vancouver Island
Posts: 33
5 yr Member
Susie1 Susie1 is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Vancouver Island
Posts: 33
5 yr Member
Smile 5 months pcs

I know my Dr will tell me to wait for a year as it will go away but I was doing quite well until Xmas with only dizziness when I moved my head in sleep and less head pain. I got busy over xmas and crashed hard after with symtoms coming back like before. Scary

I started slowly doing a bit of work but any kind of stress gives me head pain so I've backed off a bit. I went away for the weekend and have had vision problems that seem very odd, like 3D issues and sporadic weird spacial feelings. The head pain is back again too...does this indicate too much activity with weekend away and starting work? I'm self employed so really messed up with not working 5 months.

I went to my first meeting yesterday and there was a guest speaker and it was too hard to hold my vision on him and when they showed stats on the TV screen I couldn't read them fast enough and felt slow and stupid which I know I'm neither.

The psychiatrist did trigger point injection and prolotherapy on the neck and shoulder area and although terrible painful for weeks it helped for a short period of time. She won't do any more though and suggested I retire and go to a pain clinic as she doesn't know why I have pain.

Thank you for reading and any suggestions you might have, I feel isolated with this injury and try to act "normal" but really just want to be alone in my home with no distractions. The longer I am away from work the worse if gets as I know I'm loosing customers etc.

Thank you

Susie
Susie1 is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Reply

Tags
day, feel, head, pain, time

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
5 months post concussion. When will this be getting any better? SamG11 Traumatic Brain Injury and Post Concussion Syndrome 15 07-15-2017 07:12 PM
Hit head again few months after concussion. Brotisserie_Chicken Traumatic Brain Injury and Post Concussion Syndrome 2 11-11-2016 12:32 AM
Concussion 5 months ago having head and neck pain every day lov2laugh Traumatic Brain Injury and Post Concussion Syndrome 7 02-20-2012 02:41 PM
Does pain after head swing necessarily mean another concussion FarmerErnie Traumatic Brain Injury and Post Concussion Syndrome 3 02-12-2012 11:38 PM


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:42 AM.

Powered by vBulletin • Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.

vBulletin Optimisation provided by vB Optimise v2.7.1 (Lite) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.
 

NeuroTalk Forums

Helping support those with neurological and related conditions.

 

The material on this site is for informational purposes only,
and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment
provided by a qualified health care provider.


Always consult your doctor before trying anything you read here.