hi folks. Ive just joined this forum because i could do with some advice. About 2 weeks ago i fell off my bmx onto the back of my head down 10 stairs, i wasnt unconcious but pretty disorientated and shaky. I went to the hospital at the time and they did the usual kneejerk tests etc and seemed to think i was ok. The next day i woke up with the following symptoms which have remained ever since: extreme tiredness, low-pitched rushing in ears, feeling like pressure in my head/popping ears, feeling very disconnected and spaced out and inability to concentrate or process information. Also when i first got up after the fall, i felt a loud crack in the back of my neck. I developed a very sore neck later, which has since gone away, although now i frequently feel clicking/cracking in the vertebrae at the back of my neck. i know i havent had these problems very long compared to some of you on here, but i thought it would be good to ask sooner rather than later. Anyway any thoughts/ advice would be much appreciated.
cheers, Duncan

hello Duncan

sorry to hear you are going through this, did they do xrays at the hospital or a ct scan, if not get your doctor to have them done or you can or go to A and E 2 weeks is not long post a bad bang to the head, but if its worrying you, you best get your self checked out, have you told any one, that you feel this way , it is common in all concussions, to have after effects but 2 weeks is long enough for you to be concerned. welcome to n.t we will help you all we can

thanks vini,
no they didnt do any xrays or scans at all, just took my blood pressure(which was normal) and checked my reactions. The nurse said i was concussed but could probably ride my bike again the next day, which in retrospect seems pretty irresponsible. I called the doctor after having to go home from work last week and she said my symptoms were probably nothing to do with falling on my head!!! i was starting to feel that no-one is taking me seriously about this so its good to talk to people that understand. I think im gonna go and demand a scan tomorrow...

duncan you need to get your self looked at I know its hard with some docs, at least an xray will show up any fractures I think thats the least they can do, keep your self hydrated

good luck with the docs take some one with you, that have noticed the changes, thats worked for me

yeah, i will do. ill let you know how i get on. cheers

You had a concussion. And then later a post concussion.

So that is what you are probably still suffering from, so the doctor
needs to work with that information too.

Donna

well i went to the doctor. she also mentioned post concussion. She spoke to the hospital and they basically said theres no need for scans or x-rays based on my symptoms. on the plus side i did have slightly more energy today for a bit.
The thing im a bit concerned about is the cracking in the back of my neck, has anyone else experienced this? the doc seemed fairly certain that i didnt have any fractured vertebrae but there must be some reason for it.. anyway thanks for the advice.

hi duncan
glad you are feeling a little better and you have seen your doc, I remember when I was young, I had one of those 1970s chopper bikes with the small wheel on the front I went down a pot hole , and over the handle bar and hit my head on the pavement I think it was a month or so before I felt back to normal, you probably have whip lash coz your head bounced down the stairs ( I know they an,t cool but cycle helmets are worth waring if you are jumping down stairs ) I have a bad head injury, so dont worry you will most likely keep improving with time please keep us posted on your progress

kind regards Vini

hi,
yeah youre probably right, i always felt indestructible but it appears not to be the case! Feeling a bit slow today but it comes and goes so i must be on the mend.. if it took you a month to feel normal then i have hope! Sorry to hear about your injury, ive only had a concussion and it scared the crap out of me so i can only imagine how hard a serious head injury must be. I really wish you all the best.

Try checking out www.sportsconcussion.net
Good place to start...get plenty of rest and give yourself time to heal. Contrary to what we found most doctors advised, pushing to get back to the normal routine only proved to worsen and prolong symptoms. The treatment course you take now can have long-term effects, so try and research as much as you can and be your own advocate.

Good luck!