Head Injury

[Ryan1123]

I take the bus to school every morning. On Monday, I was feeling very tired and groggy and not very alert. Usually I sit on the bus rigid, aware, with my head against the seat--a normal posture. That morning I was very tired, not alert at all and my body was loose, and my head was low, like nodding, almost half asleep; my head was bent down loose. Suddenly, the bus (which had been accelerating fast) came to a sudden, extremely jarring stop. My head shook violently but I didn't lose consciousness and I didn't hit my head, but it seemed very weird as it happened--I dont remember how my head moved exactly at all only that it was extremely weird. Again, I was tired that I resting my head loosely and the bus came to a jarring stop again. I think if I had been aware and rigid I would not have gotten hurt.

Since then I've been feeling progressively worse but I'm not being listened to by my parents. I'm 19. I keep feeling a burning feeling at the top of my head, and at times a squeezing or heaviness inside the back of my head. I feel very very tired, well not tired just have no energy and don't feel as aware, or as ''with it'' as I normally do, and have been having problems with my memory.

I went to my doctor yesterday who gave me a basic neurological exam (he looked in my eyes with a light and pushed down my tongue). He said I was completely fine. Last night around 11 pm, out of nowhere while relaxing, I began to feel warmth all over my body, starting in my head and began to sweat (even though it was cold) and felt as if I was going to faint. I also felt shaky. I dialed 9-11 in panic, an ambulance came but my mother wouldn't let me go. They looked in my eyes again, normal, and took my blood pressure and it was 138/78 and my pulse was 84. This was after taking two Beta Blocker pills. I've had a burning feeling on the top of my head and I also have this weird sort of tension feeling, like the muscles on the top of my head (not inside I mean of the outside) have been spasming.

Please tell me what to do.

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi
Yes, it can be. A very minute bleed that develops slowly as a subdural hematoma can be missed on earlier examination. Only a brain scan can confirm that. However a symptom of ‘a burning feeling at the top of my head, and at times a squeezing or heaviness inside the back of my head’ usually happens due to C1-3 cervical nerve compression. Hence a MRI of upper cervical spine should also be done.
Hope this helps. Take care!

[Ryan1123]

Doctornee,

In all honesty--you don't think it's possible I suffered/am suffering from some kind of brain bleed?

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi
Welcome to the MedHelp forum!
In all probability it is anxiety over what happened.
However abnormal jerk received on the head with a feeling of burning also points towards a nerve compression high up in the cervical vertebra. You must consult your doctor and get a MRI of the upper cervical spine done. If this is fine, you can rest assured that nothing is wrong. If a compression is found then it has to be treated. The treatment is to remove the compression. You have to discuss the best treatment option with a neurologist, which can range from medication to physiotherapy to traction, cervical collars or even surgery.
Hope this helps. Please let me know if there is any thing else and do keep me posted. Take care!