I was hurt in 2007 and have had constant head, neck, back pain. I have found that I am forgetting short term. I also have a lot of the symptoms of anxiety /depression that go along with a potential brain injury. Severe dizziness occured for about 4 months, even today I have attention/focus issues. The back of my head hurts and the top does too. I am fearful of any diagnosis of brain injury, because I don't want it to hurt my employment that I hope to return to. What are the benefits of getting a diagnosis?

Hi 2blue,

The main benefit of diagnosis is knowing what the problem is. Medical professionals are very hesitant to give a prognosis with TBI though. It takes a good year for swelling of the brain to ease. In the meantime, life goes on. The longer one with TBI avoids the issues, the longer it takes to get past them. Avoidance does not help.

What does help is proper diagnosis, learning about the condition & things you can do to make your life easier. Accepting the diagnosis helps a lot emotionally, which can help migraines and depression ease a bit. Take every opportunity you can to help yourself feel better. That should be your goal, in my humble opinion .

It isn't easy. But it is the healthy response - to do all that you can do to make yourself feel better. Very best wishes to you !

Shez

Welcome to NeuroTalk 2blue, but I'm sorry for the reason that brought you to us.

We have many other members who've had injuries similar to your own and I was thinking that you may get the support that you so obviously need if you were to post in our Traumatic Brain Injury and Post Concussion Syndrome Forum.

This is where you'll find other members with TBI and here's a direct link to take you there : http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum92.html

It's good to meet you 2blue, and I hope to meet up with you again somewhere around the forums.

shezbut said <It takes a good year for swelling of the brain to ease. >

This is a very troubling statement. In my years of research, I have never heard such a statement. Any swelling of the brain should be resolved at a hospital.

2blue does need to get a sound diagnosis. Problem is that they are very difficult to come by. Especially so late in the game.

Avoiding a "brain injury diagnosis" to avoid job complications is backwards.

A good diagnosis and follow up care will better enable you to make good judgments about returning to that job. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA protect brain injured if the symptoms limit a major life activity.

I had brain surgery, to remove epileptic focus in my left temporal lobe, 1 year prior to the TBI. Doctors, surgeons, and other specialists warned me that it takes a good year for the swelling to ease.

One year later, I slipped on the ice and fell on my head. Once again, my brain swelled. Thankfully, I didn't require a shunt to be put in to relieve pressure. I presume due to the extra space I have inside my skull. I was watched closely by neurosurgery for a couple of months though.

Shez

hi shez, mark swelling dose take place, but only in the period just after injury, it is the neurons that take the time to heal the swelling can cause the damage to the neurons the docs probably just explained it to you shez, in those terms, we are all learning about this complex issue from these discussions and thats the great thing about this forum