Hi ,

Over 3 weeks ago I stupidly slipped coming down the stairs and smacked my head 4 times. I've had a whooping headache ever since. last week I was diagnosed as having PCS ( doctor said it was Hemicranial). I'm really confused most of the time , I keep forgetting things that I used to know straight off. I keep getting my words mixed up too. I don't understand anything about PCS. Forgetting things is making me feel so useless , also, I have no interest in most things that I used to love doing like playing guitar. I've no energy either but then I get a mad spike of energy but then i come crashing down again. Sorry for waffling on I'll get to the point. the pain in my head is unbearable. The doctors put me on Zydol and Difene , when I take them the pain just numbs it never completely goes away, when the pills wear off the pain comes with a vengeance sometimes it gets so bad it makes me cry. Is there anything else I can do to ease the pain in my head? I don't know anything to do.

Thanks,
R

hi
rest both mental and physical is so important ,if you broke your leg you wouldn't. run about on it and they can,t put a cast on your brain , if you are still trying to work, and you can take sometime off , it can only do you good , take plenty of water multi vitamins / omega 3/6 fatty acid

keep us posted your not alone with this ,you may come right in the next couple of weeks ,its really hard to say have you had a CT scan or MRI push to get one done, go back to your doc if its not getting better

best wishes and welcome

You may want to look into a migraine preventative.

Hi ,

Thanks for that. I did get a CT swan done last week. I'm back in work now because I can't afford not to be.I don't feel like me at all. My partner keeps asking me why I look so miserable and if i dont love her anymore but I love her now more than ever. I just want to be me again , i'm not depressed I just dont feel like me if that makes any sense. The pain has worn me out so much all I want to do is sleep until im better again .

take it easy I try,d to soon wish I knew then what I know now




Neuroplasticity and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

Evidence suggests the brain is more dynamic and ever-changing than once thought. Psychologists once believed that the brain’s ability to change - plasticity - was limited to children and young adults. In a recent legal update, Dr. Sam Goldstein first defines neuroplasticity, and then relates it to TBI recovery.

“Neuroplasticity is defined as the capacity of brain cells to fight the chemical and structural changes that occur following trauma that can eventually kill them if not controlled. Neuroplasticity also refers to the ability of brain cells to modify their activity in response to change in the environment, to store information from the environment and to permit the organism to move about and survive. Thus, all functioning brains to some extent operate under the principle of neuroplasticity throughout life.”

Dr. Goldstein notes that “the once held belief that recovery from brain injury is limited to the first one to two years following injury has now been met with considerable challenge. Further, the idea that remediation of function can only be accomplished in the first eighteen months post accident is increasingly being challenged. The idea that the development of compensatory strategies many years post accident leading to improved daily functioning may have no direct impact on the structure and biochemistry of the brain is also increasingly in question. A significant number of studies have now demonstrated that many people can make significant physical, cognitive and behavioral recovery as long as five years or more post brain injury. As Stein noted in 1995, ‘There is no rule of neuroscience that the processes of functional recovery must occur rapidly or that treatment should be terminated after a fixed period of time because the early results are unsatisfactory.’”

Advances in “Neuro-rehabilitative therapy, in particular cognitive rehabilitation, may well facilitate the brain's plasticity. This theory has been demonstrated not only from the patient's perspective and observations of others, but even through SPECT and PET scanning. It also appears that neuro re-organization can be enhanced through specific training. Though compensatory strategies can be helpful post brain injury, plasticity research suggests that the appropriate timing of teaching these strategies is a critical and complex issue. If strategies are implemented too early, those potentially available, compensatory parts of the brain may not be capable of effectively taking over function.((((((((((( This may explain the significant problems many mild to low moderate brain injured patients experience when they return, often within a few days post injury, to every day activities, particularly work. Thus, too much activity too early post injury may lead to increased adverse outcome.)))))))))))))))))”

rparsons,

Please don't push yourself too fast to get back into the swing of things. I know that you need the money - which can become a huge issue later. I strongly concur with Vini in the terrific quoted post above.

Everyone has limits. Those who are and aren't healthy - they're just different depending upon many different variables that affect brain function. Your brain is always working. The more a person has to deal with - physically or emotionally - the slower their brain becomes. That is largely due to the extra work done by the brain to deal with the extra stress. So, when our brains are working hard on repairs, that's not the best time to work on a crossword puzzle or chess. Instead, take medicine to control the headaches before they become too intense. Sit in a close area and spend quiet time with your partner. Avoid large noises and distractions, so you are better able to pay attention, participate in, and follow conversation.

Regarding the personality: focus on something more positive. Yes, you want to be normal & happy again. But try hard not to dwell on the aspect of not feeling like yourself anymore. Give your brain some time ~ accept that you may need to take a nap occasionally (or whatever) to control painful symptoms. So, try to be more accepting of any changes you must make to make your life easier.

Surprisingly, that was the huge challenge with my TBI. Accepting change. I have fought it for 2 years. Pinned against the wall, after losing nearly everything, I finally began to give in. Others have accepted very minor changes that I seriously resisted. No problem! Don't even bat an eye. It's no big deal that I require more time to mentally process information. Or, that I need people to speak more slowly to me. This is a very recent discovery I've made. Too bad I didn't do it like I could have 2 years ago.

I hope that my personal example makes everything more understandable for you

Your last sentence said it all ''I felt the same way'' I slept so much man I was dazed and didn't feel normal that's natural brother take a Zantax and you will feel better,well it worker for me anyhow bro.

the above is quite true - my problem was I fought the changes for about 5 years - I don't think it was deliberate - more like it I considered it to be a mind over matter thing! And really it is a case of being nice to yourself! I no longer waste energy on trying to perfect the rest of the world!

I think that I now chose what I want to spend my energy on. Accepting the change seems to set you on the path for improvement - recovery.

Sometimes I get so fed up with my routine that I do test myself and leave a rest time until later or try and go without one - just in case it has all gone away - but sadly no, it is waiting there for me as soon as my energy levels hit bankrupt!!

Lynlee