Different, but still whole: A young scientist reflects on his journey back from a brain injury | Life | Dallas News

This is my story.

I haven't been on neurotalk in years, because I found it did more harm than good for me in fueling my anxiety. Even after years away I still had a pang of anxiety logging in.

Anyway, I'll be logging off forever after this, but I wanted to share my story, because I think it shows we can improve and rebuild a life.

You can get better too.

I am 17 years old and in my junior year of high school. I have suffered around 6 minor concussions playing football, the last of them being the worst. In this last one, I believe I got a concussion one day in practice and then continued to play for about a week, receiving hard blows throughout that week. I have had a constant headache and dullness for 5 months now. It has become very depressing and I am worried that it will not go away. I've been to several doctors who tried prescribing medicine but none of it helped. If anyone has a similar story please share!
thanks

Hi. Have you had a full recovery, and if so how long did it take and what did you do. My son is suffering with almost the exact things you have been through-- 6 minor concussions--then the last one was a doozey. It's been 42 days. Thanks for all of your help.

Last week, out of the blue and coming up on two years after my accident, I received a call from the trauma surgeon whose team put me back together after my accident November 2010.

I’ve been asked to speak at the “Miracle Tour” medical conference at St. Joseph’s hospital in Phoenix next March. The audience will be doctors and other medical professionals, hospital staff, community leaders, and donors. While realizing this is partly a fund raiser, I'm nonetheless grateful to be able to give back a little to the hospital and doctors that saved my life and facilitated my TBI recovery.

Hi
I am desperately looking for skull fractures that included an open wound and success stories, or even risk % of getting meningitis after initial treatments are over-down the road. I feel 'normal', a week later, except I can't live with this constant fear
The neurologist that treated me at the hospital , was just not someone that would talk about anything but immediate present treatment, and after reading several information sites on skull fractures that include an open wound, I am plain scared, and this is affecting everything in my life, including the relationship with my husband, who just wants we to assume I;m fine and have life go on as before. If I even bring up my fears, he just does not cope and even with draws, which makes me even more depressed

hi i have had a csf leak for 5 years and lucky have not contracted meningitis you can ask for a vaccine people who have had strep throat maybe at higher risk if your dura has not been opened the risk is very low

reading this thread gives me great hope in my recovery from PCS. i'm 17 and i've been struggling continually since i was 14 years old when i got my first concussion. having chronic migraines sort of covered up the fact that i had PCS.

it wasn't until december of 2012, 4 concussions later, a psych eval, being told i'd never play a contact sports again, and turning down three universities for soccer had i finally been told i had PCS.

Due to the fact that i often lack emotion due to my PCS i never really grieved about loosing the thing i was most passionate about. most days i do experience a lot of hopelessness and depression, but reading that people have overcome this is exactly what i needed to hear.

I have an appointment at UPMC, yes where the Pittsburgh penguins and the Steelers all get treated for my PSC and chronic migraines coming up this month. i actually can't wait. thank you everyone for giving me hope again.

Just have to say, you're one tough cookie and an inspiration in and of yourself! Best of luck at UPMC!

It's been a while since I've been on here, but I felt compelled to come on here again. I think it's important for everyone to remember that most of the people who recover, do not post very often, or at all on here.

My last brain injury was possibly my third concussion, and hopefully my last. I had the whole gambit, headaches, nausea, insomnia, ringing in my ears, anxiety, sadness, etc. At the nine month stage after my injury, I was down to about half the symptom levels I had been before, but it was still discouraging. Then I was told by my neurologist that at 17, I was going to live with headaches every day for the rest of my life. She also thought she should add that I should maybe get some help with my "emotions", since I started crying in the doctor's office after she told me this.

Then, one day someone else my mother knew, had a son who went to a different specialist, one I'd never heard about before. Since then, I've had major improvements in balance, cognitive skills, little to no headaches ever, less sensitivity to sound and light, etc. All the things that kept me from succeeding were no longer an issue for me. I still get tight muscles in my neck frequently, and when I'm really tired I can forget things more easily.

Anyways, I wanted to post this as sort of a letter to the other people out there who are like me, thinking that there is a time limit on recovery, and that doctors are always right. Despite the statistics about recovery time, never limit yourself like that, and keep trying to get better, regardless of how long you've been living with it. I hope somebody out there can use this story as encouragement, I know I needed a story like this more than once throughout my journey.

All the best

I want to share this with anyone that has doubts about what they can achieve while battling PCS. I was in the middle of pursuing my dream of a 4 year degree when I hit my head. I struggled immensely the first 6 months, but with the help of some amazing friends and my amazing husband, I kept going in school. Two weeks ago I graduated.
Although my symptoms have lessened, and I am coming to terms with living my life as things are now, headaches, tinnitus, light sensitivity (blue LEDs are the worst), and inability to handle a lot of stimuli without suffering greatly the next few days (migraine, sleepiness, slow cognitive processes). Maybe one day the symptoms will go away, but the lessons learned will remain forever.

I have read some great advice on these forums and they are true. While your life may change, it is far from over. You may have different priorities in your life post injury, but life is what you make it. To me, I have learned a lot about myself and the people around me. Things not always good, but I can see things clearer now.