A few years back I slipped on a wet floor at work. My feet went from under me and I landed on my back, hitting my head on the floor. I'm told that I bounced so I hit twice, and as the floor itself was concrete covered by vinyl, I hit pretty hard.

After the accident I was taken to the hospital by ambulance but discharged home very quickly. They said for me to only come back if I got dizzy or nauseous. Hey, I was already dizzy. I couldn't even sit up on the hospital stretcher without feeling dizzy.

I'd fractured my sacrum in the fall and I had a diagnosed concussion but no-one at the hospital seemed to care one little bit.

For the next 3 days I could not sit up. Every time I tried I just fell down again. It was like I was on a spring or something.......Push me one way, and I'd topple over the other way. Two days in a row we went back to the hospital because the dizziness was so bad. Two days in a row they sent me home again and told me to rest!

I was off work for a total of six months because of this ordeal. This is the very first time I've heard there was even such a thing as Post Concussion Syndrome. Thank you for the thread.

I'm over it now, but there were times where I got so depressed with all the carp I was going through, that you just wouldn't believe.

I just wish I'd known before about this syndrome. Maybe I would have sought help in some way. I don't know if anyone could actually help me, but it would have been nice to know just the same.

You poor little Koala! That's just plain mean that they weren't more caring in the hospital. Hello? What were they thinking?

I've never heard of Post Concussion Syndrome either. Wow, 6 months off work! Glad you have recovered. Of course, it hasn't been smooth sailing for you with your health issues. Hope your cute little Koala nose is all better!

Thank you Ro. You are such a sweety for replying. Yes I did go through a rotten time them, and yes my little snub nose is recovering, thank you.

What about you? Your operation and stuff? How are you managing?

THANKS for sharing . Good to hear of Recovery.
I'm still struggling with "all the crap" .

I can relate to many of your experiences ; sadly many have reported poor or absent treatmt/intervention for TBI and the persisting affects.
I was very disappointed w/ most DRs I'd gone to seeking help after TBI last year. esp. "Brain Injury Specialist".
also many Negative experiences w/ going to ER/Trauma units
most don't understand TBI --even so called "mild" head injury, concussions - can be devastating.

it's been hard for me to understand - how complex & pervasive , how many levels (physically, mentally, emotionally, behaviorally, etc) and areas of LIFE/Living affected ..... personal, family, social...
and how to find way thru all...


it's too bad you didn't know about PCS then. I learned of it last year after TBI accident; eventually got formal but "controversial" DX :PCS(not all agreed w/ this DX but for me was a needed validation] having a name enabled more research & education -
and a reason[ "blame" ]for the numerous problems, dysfunctions persisting ....
finding NT & new forum --for TBI/PCS--support, sharing & more - helped me get thru "unbelievable crap" - then and now

I am very grateful to all--esp. those who created this place @NT
where we can come w/ questions, for support, validation, information & more. to share our experiences, advocate/ educate ourselves & others

wishing ALL the BEST

PCS (Post concussion syndrome) or TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) are difficult to diagnose, difficult to treat, and even more difficult to live with.

Because of the nature of the brain, normal diagnostic measures (x-rays, CT scan) cannot always determine the extent of an injury.

And of course, two people can have the EXACT same injury, in the EXACT same place and have very different results.

If you feel like you haven't completely healed the way you would like, there are some things that you can do to help yourself. None are a guarantee, but might be helpful.

Therapy is something to look into. Antidepressants help some. Neurobiofeedback may be useful. Many communities have support groups (my husband and I joined one at the hospital he did his rehab at. I find this group to be inspirational for ME than for my husband).

Hi I'm Donna and its definately hard to handle all the issues you have been
through.

I have to say though if you happen to still be dealing with any of the issues,
because they have always been part of your life. Say like dizziness please
see if you can find a Neuro that deals with that in particular

They are called Neurologist- Neuro-opthamologist and deal with balance,
dizziness and vertigo. That is what I have been doing for the last almost
year now. I can say that even though I still have some and at times all
the symtoms. I am doing lots better and can say that I am very pleased
with my life now.

I am also very pleased with the fact that my life isn't getting any worse.

I'm dealing with my life very well and with all my health issues.

I'm just glad that things are looking up.

Donna

Hi Donna.

That's so sweet of you to chime in. I am doing OK now, but it took quite a while to get over that incident.

I have MS so I see Neuros very frequently. Funnily enough (or unfunnily really), the neuro was really not interested at all with my head injury. Not one doctor, or anyone at the hospital I went to, cared two hoots about the concussion I sustained!

I had a really bad time after the fall..... XRays, CTs, .....trips to the hospital and lots more to my local GP. There were days when I was far too dizzy to function at all. I could not even get to the toilet....my husband had to take me.....wash me.....dress me.....feed me......etc! And that went on for ages and ages!

All through the worst of it my GP was just wonderful. Even so, he didn't even tell me there was such a thing as a Post Concussion Syndrome.

I'm not sure that anything could have been changed at the time, but I suffered for 6 terrible months from the effects of this fall.

Surely some-one could have helped me through the worst of it. It would have been nice to know that help was available.

Koala,

The funny thing is, the "neuros" that we see for MS aren't the same ones that we see for head injuries.

The MS neuros are neurologists specializing in disease.

Someone who sustains an injury will first see a neuro surgeon, then a neurologist while in the hospital, then most likely a psychiatrist if meds need to be prescribed, and a neuro psychologist for talk therapy or biofeedback.

That's probably why your neuros weren't interested. Not his expertise.

As far as I'm aware we only have neurologists or neuro surgeons in Australia. I've never heard of an MS neuro here, but at the same time, I do believe that some of the major hospitals now have MS Clinics.

Hopefully these clinics will be the start of us having neuros who only see MS patients, just like the MS neuros in your country.