First time poster. Just found this site and after reading some threads I suddenly dont feel al alone or crazy.
While at work in my police cruiser I was rear ended and hit my head on the steering wheel. The speed of the guy who hit me was sufficient to destroy my cruiser and leave the impression of the steering wheel cover on my forehead.
This was on January 2nd 2008 so I am going on 4 months PCS. Headaches. balance problems. light/noise sensitivities, concentration and attention problems. Also I have no patience anymore. Problems with depression and anxiety as well as a diagnosis of PTSD....the accident brought out a lot of things from my job as I deal with death quite a bit.

Neurologist has me on 30mg of Elavil at bedtime and 10mg of Beta blocker(nadolol) in the morning. Seems to have the headaches down to a 3/10 pain wise so I can function.

Not driving yet as I dont have the attention necessary to do so and get overwhelmed in any kind of "busy" environment, like even a room full of people.

Before accident I exercised about 3 hours per day.....grappling, kickboxing, running and weights. Since I havent been able to do anything as it makes the apin behind my eye hurt unbearably. Consequently I have gained about 15 pounds of fat....

I am not the same with my kids or wife. I feel like a different person and that no one understands why I am not getting better. I wish I had broken my femur so people could see a cast.

Hi Copper, welcome to this forum. Hopefully, you will be able to find some good info and support here. I recommend reading www.tbiguide.com - has been very helpful to me. I have had PCS for 11 months now, after being hit by a car while riding a bike. I am feeling a lot better now, but not completly well yet. Am taking 20 mg. of Elavil to control headaches which continue to bother me a few days a week, but are much milder now and some days I feel somewhat woozy and still can't do much exercising. Hope you get better soon.

Hello Copper and Welcome to Neurotalk.

I'm sorry to hear what happened and of your struggles.

This forum can be a little slow from time to time... but feel free to roam around and join in anywhere.

Depression Forum:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum37.html

PTSD Forum:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum98.html

Social Chat:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum35.html


You will find a great bunch of people here who genuinely care!!

If you have any questions or need anything... please let us know...someone will be along shortly to help you in any way we can.


I hope to see you around the boards. Again... Please join in ANYWHERE.

Abbie

Hello Copper and Welcome to NeuroTalk. I'm glad you found us. Please take a look around and make yourself at home. There are alot of caring members here, so please join in anywhere.

Hello Copper. I'm so pleased you found your way here. I too suffered from PCS after an accident some years back so I have some idea of what you might be going through.

Have a look at the other links that Abasaki kindly added, and don't be afraid to ask if there's anything we might be able to help you with.

Hi Copper,

I feel so sorry for you. I was so pleased to have found this site last year as well. I had spent 6 years struggling for some understanding of my condiition prior to that. Being told that you look good does not help either!!

Your symptons are exactly the same as mine. Nothing can prepare you for the changes that you need to make to be able to cope with your day to day existence. The noise and crowd one is big as that can prevent going out for dinner, a drink etc and effects so much in the way of family activity.

I would reccomend that you include your wife in everything concerning your head injury - take herwith you to all appointments etc. I made the mistake of shutting my husband out - but I now realise that that was me not being rational due to the head injury and we ended up divorced. He still does not believe the effects of the bangs to my head.

In 2001 I hit my head on a hanging basket and about 6 weeks afterwards hit my head on the door frame of a taxi when getting into it with an arm full of files. Since then I too have been rear ended in my car, fallen down stairs, hit my head again getting into a different car and on and on. Balance does not help!

I have only worked part time since the 2001 injuries, I did get back to 6 hours at one stage but was then rear ended and went back to about 3 hours per day. It is a constant battle with tiredness and as soon as I am tired all the symptons get worse.

I firmly believe and you will find that I have said this several times on this site that how your are treated etc in the initial months has a huge outcome on your recovery. I kept trying to work full time and it was terrible. You need to avoid ALL stress, rest BEFORE you get tired and limit noise and stimulation - do not force yourself to do anything or do anything if you don't feel like it. It is like the reversal of that you are used to doing and you have to get over thinking that you are lazy - it is not easy!

Not exercising is awful, I can no longer play tennis etc and walk now. Pushing yourself also brings on headaches - which I had to find out the hard way of course. Doing anything with my head down also gives me a headache and makes me fall over.

Noise is shocking bordering on painful and feels like it sucks my energy out of me. In short it feels like everything I do takes 10x the energy that it used to. I think that is why I used to eat more - I gained weight as well more food as for a short time it feels like you have gained some energy - at the moment I am walking an hour a day and have lost all that I gained - thank goodness - gaining weight does not help the depression part of it.

The depression is very common with head injury - initially I thought that I was weak for becoming depressed but with pcs head injury it seems to go hand in hand.

Gosh I hope that I haven't made you feel worse - but it is wonderful knowing that there are others the same. I would prefer to have broken bones etc as well as at least there is something to show for it!

Lynlee

Melek - I should have said all this to you as well.

So very sorry Copper to hear of your wreck. I blacked out and hit the rear end of another car, which thankfully did not hurt them or mess up their car. Messed up mine though and gave me my mild brain damage. Now I can't drive anymore either, I can do fine near home since it is just a right turn then one more right...reverse coming back. Still get confused in lots of traffic or big intersection. UGH, at 65 probably will not ever get back to driving more than the little not quite 3 miles from my house to a walmart or general dollar.
Hate this has happened to a young person like yourself and pray you will heal competely. The pcs does change your personality quite a bit. I still have some meltdowns if too much stress or get tired.
Take it easy and rest alot...just don't push yourself to much. Gaye

Hi Copper. to NeuroTalk. I'm glad you found this site but sorry for the reasons. My son is a police officer and everytime I see a cruiser while I'm out I say a little prayer for that officer ("God bless this officer and keep him/her safe"). Thank you for your service and I'm so sorry you were injured while on the job.

Hey,
Your story just sound so familiar. I fell of a horse and also suffered from a concussion. I get headaches everyday, whenever I read, watch tv, use a computer, are in a busy room, stress too much or worry about stuff. This means I can totally understand your problem. I can't concentrate either and feel very sorry for you. Try to avoid headaches (easier said than done!)

I totally get your frustrations and the thing you said about the cast. People want to be able to see your hurt, they want to make sure you don't fake the whole thing.... This can be horrible!

I don't have a lot of tips or anything, I jast wanted to let you know... YOUR NOT ALLONE!!!!!

Hello Copper,

Sorry to hear that you are going through the results of a concussion as well. Our youngest daughter has been dealing with concussion mild brain injury symptoms for close to 3 years now. Can relate to what you are describing. Some things may get better over time but some symptoms may remain depending on how injured you were.

For our daughter, who was in college during this time studying towards going to medical school, her injury from the car accident caused things to come to a screeching halt for quite some time. We didn't understand what we were dealing with because the physicians were telling us that she would get better over a matter of months which in her case did not happen. I would say the best things you can do for yourself is educate yourself as much as possible on the subject and let your family and friends know about how this problem is affecting you.

For us, our daughter was acting strangely, grades dropped alot, depression hit, no focus, loss of insight, constant crying, short term memory loss, fragmented speech among many other symptoms and we didn't understand the situation and plenty scared. We were not educated about the condition. She is a different person in a lot of ways than she used to be and has had to make adjustments and is still currently making changes to better allow her to adjust to situations that are before her. It took about 2 years before she finally accepted that the person she was before is no longer her inside. She feels differently inside now and is learning different ways to accept that.

My advice is don't give up and try to include your family in your care, let them know what you are feeling and thinking about even if it sounds crazy and fragmented, the worry they will feel will be much greater if they don't know what is going on.

As far as exercising, our daughter has the post concussion migraines and exertional migraines now. brought on by overheating or strenious activity. She has had to lessen her level of activity to stop before the point of getting overheated. This also means keeping cool on a hot day etc....
Good luck to you and many blessings.
Sal