Traumatic brain injury pain

[Georgiana]

My son suffered a traumatic brain injury a year ago from a rollover accident; one of his symptoms is suffering extreme headache and sharp nerve pain on the left side of his head and behind his left eye; the left side was the site of the first impact.  His latest MRI shows no evidence of hydrocephalus or acute abnormality.  Can the pain be the result of the impression of Encephalomalacia involving cortex, subcortical and deep white matter as well as deep nuclei left cerebral hemisphere with ex vacuo dilatation of the left lateral ventricle?  Is there a specific drug or treatment for this pain?  He takes anti-spasmodic medication as well as pain meds.  Thank you for your help.

[LuckyNanaOfTen]

In 2003 I was rear ended and since have been living with a "mild" traumatic brain injury. My symptoms gradually got worse until I was having major seizures. I am now living on disability due to cognitive disabilities from the TBI.

I, too, got the pain in the head. Would wake me at night and I'd be in so much pain. At the time, one of my docs injected the two nerves that cover the skull, from front to back, with "something" and the horrific pain went away.

I am also still getting shots in my neck - my neurologist said if he hit me just a little harder, the neck would be broken. These shots are for the muscle spasms I am still getting from the accident in 2003! Without them, though, to turn my head, I would have to turn my whole torso.

From the accident, I had a posterior eye detachment, a tendon in my left shoulder was severed from the seat belt, my lower spine compressed, thigh bones pushed into knees (have one new knee already - at first, both knees were operated on as the meniscus was torn in both), I had to quit my job (paralegal) as I no longer understood what I was reading; had to learn the names of objects over again; learn math over;

How does one deal when their own family, their children, will not accept the new situation. My oldest daughter even called me a retard and I haven't seen her or her children since the accident! She says when I am as I was before the accident, then I can - at the same time she insists there is nothing wrong with me???

[nette550]

I have a severe Traumatic Brain Injury that I got from a car accident. I had a C2 neck break and a T7 spine break and right eye nerve damage and broken ribs on the right side. This happened in 2007 I still have severe pain in my head I have gone to doctors with no help I want to feel better now I am getting shots in my neck to try to help with the pain. I feel this is the hardest thing I have ever had to try to over come if I was younger it may be a little easier but I am 43 years old I fight to go to work every day I am exhausted by 3 but push myself to make it . I can not do this and wish I could be better.

[pacificagreyghost]

Amazing all of the things you have to learn about after a head injury!  I am dealing with right eye temporal pain, sometimes with eyelid swelling and blurred vision that comes and goes.  My mild TBI was the result of a car accident 3 years ago.  My MRI shows nothing significant and my opthamologist did a temporal artery biopsy to rule out inflammation in the artery leading to the eye which can result in blindness or stroke.  I also had an elevated SED rate, an indicator of inflamation.  Biopsy was negative.  Then I was also diagnosed with both lupus and sjogren's.  Also had a consult with a neurooptamologist who suggested tear duct plugs given my eyes were very dry from the sjogren's.  Said that it can mimic TBI vision changes.  It helped, but I just had a lumbar puncture (with the awful headache) and I have the stabbing eye pain again even though the headache is gone.  Also sensitive to light and have extreme eye fatigue.  I am going to another neuroopthamologist for a second opinion.  They do not think that it is eye related.  I posted a question to ask if what type of specialist to check with but have not had a response yet.  Obviously has to be eye, brain or nerve related.  I am making calls in the morning to ask for referrals.  I can let you know what they suggest.  Trouble shooting most symptoms becomes so much harder after a head injury.  You also need to make certain that any specialist you see to evaluate a condition understands the effects of TBI as well.  

My heart goes out to you and your son.  At least I was 50 when I had my auto accident.  The younger ones have to learn to live with the deficits and symptoms for the rest of their lives, many times before they even have a sense of identity or who they are in the world.  I will let you know if I find anything that might be useful.  

[wantababy2love]

I too was in a rollover accident a year ago and suffered the same.  I feel the same exact pain.  I was on muscle relaxers and I was going to physical therapy for my neck.  My doctor says it is just muscle pain.  I get head pain, sharp pain on my left side.  I feel it behind my left eye alot and sharp picks on my left temple.  I can't sleep sometimes because of it.  I take motrin and it goes away.  Stretches help too.  Head and neck stretches.  My MRI was good too.  I had alot of fractures and two brain contutions.  I am an adult though.  I am sorry that it happened to your child.  It can be hard sometimes but it will get better.