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604197 tn?1292305036

Head trauma causes loss of smell/taste

Hello,
I'm 17 years of age and recently (2 months ago) had an accident that has resulted in the loss of my sense of smell and taste. I was at a lake, swinging on a rope into the water but lost my grip and wnet head first down a cliff of rocks and roots. I landed in the water but had hit the back of my head (near the crown, at the top) splitting my head open and fracturing my skull (3-4 inches). The neurologists told me I had a severe concussion as well as contusions (bruising) near the front of my brain where I damaged the nerve endings. I also have a herniated disc located in my lower back which has pinched my sciatic nerve running to my left leg.

Since the fall I have experienced several changes. The main concern I have months later is my senses. I understand the brain is complex but I feel as though I haven't recieved satisfying answers from my doctors. My doctor gave me a 3-4 month time frame to see improvements with my senses. He said I could get my taste back slightly, fully or not at all, same goes for my smell. I could get both back, one or none. To date, I have not experienced improvement with taste but recently I have been noticing (for about 2 days now) my nose is sensitive and feels as though it's tingling and I constantly smell mild "burning" so to speak. I was just wondering if this is a positive notion toward recovery or common in all patients who suffer from losing their sense of smell. Is it likely I will return to normal within my lifetime?

Also, if anyone has ever heard of anyone losing their senses after head trauma and regaining/not regaining them. Please comment, any feedback is greatly appreciated. Thanks greatly!
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Avatar universal
4 years ago I too took a fall of the wing of an airplane. Although it appears that I landed feet first I crumped and slammed my head backwards into the payment. The fall shattered my neck (broke the C-2, shattered the C-4) requiring surgery and caged fusion of C-3 to C-5, last year they completed the fusion to included the C-6. I wore a halo for months. I also broke my lower back and had a massive TBI with closed skull fracture in 4 places to the back of my skull. The 'bounce' was so sever that I had bleeding in the frontal lobes and the rear of my brain. It wasn't for 3 months that i realized that I could not smell anything at all which was the reason I couldn't smell either. (I also have no sensation of hot or cold on my enitire left side). They did a CTscan on my brain and discovered that the impact of the TBI and smashed the smell nerons that sit on the boney shelf at the bridge of the nose and 'sorry' was all they could say. After 4 years the taste has not returned but I have found that strong coffee can give me a bitter taste at times, Chocolate is on the side of the tounge, and your heat taste buds are in  the back of my throat so I use a lot of peppers in my cooking now because I want some sensation of flavor otherwise I have no want to eat, appetite is gone. I have faith that my brain in time will rewire itself do to God's might creation and yes, every now and then I get a smell in my nose like something electrical is burning and you can not make it go away.....it finally does after a few hours though. I thought the meds were the reason my taste was off but 4 years later....its still gone.

I miss the smell of horses the most :-)
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
4 years ago I too took a fall of the wing of an airplane. Although it appears that I landed feet first I crumped and slammed my head backwards into the payment. The fall shattered my neck (broke the C-2, shattered the C-4) requiring surgery and caged fusion of C-3 to C-5, last year they completed the fusion to included the C-6. I wore a halo for months. I also broke my lower back and had a massive TBI with closed skull fracture in 4 places to the back of my skull. The 'bounce' was so sever that I had bleeding in the frontal lobes and the rear of my brain. It wasn't for 3 months that i realized that I could not smell anything at all which was the reason I couldn't smell either. (I also have no sensation of hot or cold on my enitire left side). They did a CTscan on my brain and discovered that the impact of the TBI and smashed the smell nerons that sit on the boney shelf at the bridge of the nose and 'sorry' was all they could say. After 4 years the taste has not returned but I have found that strong coffee can give me a bitter taste at times, Chocolate is on the side of the tounge, and your heat taste buds are in  the back of my throat so I use a lot of peppers in my cooking now because I want some sensation of flavor otherwise I have no want to eat, appetite is gone. I have faith that my brain in time will rewire itself do to God's might creation and yes, every now and then I get a smell in my nose like something electrical is burning and you can not make it go away.....it finally does after a few hours though.

I miss the smell of horses the most :-)
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
4 years ago I too took a fall of the wing of an airplane. Although it appears that I landed feet first I crumped and slammed my head backwards into the payment. The fall shattered my neck (broke the C-2, shattered the C-4) requiring surgery and caged fusion of C-3 to C-5, last year they completed the fusion to included the C-6. I wore a halo for months. I also broke my lower back and had a massive TBI with closed skull fracture in 4 places to the back of my skull. The 'bounce' was so sever that I had bleeding in the frontal lobes and the rear of my brain. It wasn't for 3 months that i realized that I could not smell anything at all which was the reason I couldn't smell either. (I also have no sensation of hot or cold on my enitire left side). They did a CTscan on my brain and discovered that the impact of the TBI and smashed the smell nerons that sit on the boney shelf at the bridge of the nose and 'sorry' was all they could say. After 4 years the taste has not returned but I have found that strong coffee can give me a bitter taste at times, Chocolate is on the side of the tounge, and your heat taste buds are in  the back of my throat so I use a lot of peppers in my cooking now because I want some sensation of flavor otherwise I have no want to eat, appetite is gone. I have faith that my brain in time will rewire itself do to God's might creation and yes, every now and then I get a smell in my nose like something electrical is burning and you can not make it go away.....it finally does after a few hours though.

I miss the smell of horses the most :-)
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi!  

I just searched and found this forum.  I hope since time has passed that things are better for you.   The reason I am writing you is, you described my symptoms completely.  I constantly smell burnt wood or smell like someone is smoking near me, no one is.   Both sense of smell and taste are gone, and I have no appetite to speak of.   I had a fall 3 months ago while waiting in line to get a sandwich at a local restaurant.   I have no recollection of the fall and none of being transported to the hospital where I spent 5 nights in ICU.   I fractured my skull and hit the front of the head ending up with 2 black eyes and more damage to the sinus cavities.  The neurologist said I had a seizure, which I have never had before.   He put me on a high dosage of anti seizure meds and since then I have changed Drs.  The new Dr. looked at all my tests, paperwork, etc. and said I did not have a seizure, that this accident happened more than likely due to a heart issue.  He referred me to a cardio Dr. which I have seen and he has ordered some tests which I will have next week.  Tilt table test and a 24 hour heart monitor.   I am a 55 year old woman who is very healthy otherwise.  No history of heart problems.  I hope you are doing better and am very thankful to have found this forum.  
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi!  

I just searched and found this forum.  I hope since time has passed that things are better for you.   The reason I am writing you is, you described my symptoms completely.  I constantly smell burnt wood or smell like someone is smoking near me, no one is.   Both sense of smell and taste are gone, and I have no appetite to speak of.   I had a fall 3 months ago while waiting in line to get a sandwich at a local restaurant.   I have no recollection of the fall and none of being transported to the hospital where I spent 5 nights in ICU.   I fractured my skull and hit the front of the head ending up with 2 black eyes and more damage to the sinus cavities.  The neurologist said I had a seizure, which I have never had before.   He put me on a high dosage of anti seizure meds and since then I have changed Drs.  The new Dr. looked at all my tests, paperwork, etc. and said I did not have a seizure, that this accident happened more than likely due to a heart issue.  He referred me to a cardio Dr. which I have seen and he has ordered some tests which I will have next week.  Tilt table test and a 24 hour heart monitor.   I am a 55 year old woman who is very healthy otherwise.  No history of heart problems.  I hope you are doing better and am very thankful to have found this forum.  
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I wrote the post at 5 Am and I need to correct "heat" into "eat." This issue is just so bothersome, smelling stuff others cant, and at the same time not being able to smell the most obvious smells. I once was visiting a friend who did not know about my issues, and yada yada, a pillow caught fire and I did not smell anything with my back turned. Safe to say I had to explain why.
Helpful - 0
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