post concussion syndrome?

[horsegurl1970]

Hi, I have had several concussions over the years, riding horses, with no helmut! dumb I know.... In 2007 I was leading a horse through a gate and he bolted out and knocked me in the head with the gate and the weight of his body. Ever since then I have had many problems, speech, hearing, dizzy spells, really bad anxiety and some terrible raging episodes. All the problems that go with a concussion. Anyways I have been to 3 neurologists and the last one finally said post concussion, I finally had my 3 year headache diagnosed as a chronic paroxysmal hemicrania and am on meds for it. Now I have sleep problems, I sleep to much. At least 4 naps a day, uncontrollable need for sleep. I went to a sleep study and have not heard the results yet. My question is, could this really be post concussion syndrome? does it last 3 years? my symptoms are not getting better, meaning my speech, gait, dizziness ect. Memory is bad, and getting worse. I heard you can recover from post concussion syndrome and as time goes by you get better, but I keep getting worse. I dont even want to go out of the house anymore, I used to be a social butterfly. I hope you can at least lead me in some direction.

thanks

[irishlady25]

A strange situation.. I suffered two head injuries in three months, out of work for seven months, now post concussion syndrome and each day stronger symptoms. I can relate. In church the change in frequency of the organ and music actually pulsates pain in my head. Now I seem to have some symptoms of change seeing colors. I know that it seems like the doctors aren't doing much at all, watching, but if I feel inflammation in my head coming on, I take a Tylenol and shortly the symptoms mild down. Rest, using your brain, your eyes less in a day is the key to healing. Irishlady25

[shannonmarie123]

I suffer from a tbi.......that's all they told me. I was hospitalized twice because of this. ct scan showed skull fracture (closed) bleeding and sweeling on left lobe..im confused im not as fast on my feet.. memory loss and loss of concentration gone. anxiety and depression are here, dizzy and headaches are kicking in...and to top it off I cant smell or taste......if I didn't brush my teeth I would never know.......today is my nero appointment what to say? what to expect? help

[mikeodean]

I suffered concussion over 6 years ago. I still struggle with memory issues, weakness in my arms and leg's ,cognitive issues ,other physical and personality changes. I have been diagnosed with a MTBI ,Ataxia and PCS.

I was assigned a 41% total body disability, but have remained working with permanent work restrictions. I will continue to work  as long as physically and mentally possible. I do not want to retire on disability.

I also have problems with fatigue and driving.

It has really been a hard time finding a Doctor( Specialist, Neurologist) who will do the testing to find out the cause of all my problems. MRI and CAT scans have all proven negative. Family Doctor tells me "medicine is over 25 years away from a resolution.

Thanks for listening.

[SkyDawg]

Wow, yup it  is strange in the beginning I kept thinking few more days I'll be fine.  Point of closure and back to work funny story over drinks.  Boy,was I wrong, I think broken bone six maybe eight weeks good,  I had cancer, lil more time about a year to do the whole process, very thankful, we survived it.  This just gets me I am writing this after three decent days and just like it happened yesterday.  I got the same old headaches and everything else who knows.  I just keep praying, this goes sooner than later but I am thinking were getting closer to later at this point have a Great Day yeah positive thats it.  

Doug

[hikingangel]

Hi
I'm crying as I read your story..I too am a year and several weeks into my head injury and I have had no help with my questions..I fell September 12'th hiking in the White Mountains and split my head open. I lost consciousness and have no recall of my 4 hour drive home.  Went to local hospital and they never "scored" me so by the time I saw a neurologist at Beth Israel, 10 weeks later he said he couldn't help me or give a guideline of how long my recovery would take, estimated 6 months to a year. I still have pressure in my head, my skull aches in various spots, it's always changing.  I have piercing pains at times from different parts of my skull and eyes.  My balance seems ok but I cannot lift anything or I get sharp pains and headrushes and dizziness. If I do something too strenuous, My syptoms increase and will disable me for days.  I work on a computer all day and am wiped out at the end of the day.  I mostly would like someone to confirm they have these crazy symptoms.  I have had a few hours of pain and symptom free approximately 5 days total since this past August, but I thought I was almost healed and did some strenuous yard work and I am back to the beginning practically.  I have never read that anyone has headrushes. My eyes seem like they "dim" at times..hard to explain, like being in a room that isn't well lit and you have to try to see more clearly..I have seen a opthamologist who works with head injury patients.  I got new eye glasses and he tinted them with a yellow lens which seems to help with the light issue, but I still have symptoms.  There are so many symptoms, it's just crazy.  I try not to get stressed out about it and remind myself that this will heal, but some days I want to cry and scream because I can't do much. I just need some validation I am not crazy...

[SkyDawg]

Thank You,
My name is  Doug my wife and I are flight attendants I walked into a overhead bin that was up and had come down and put a big thunk over my left eye snapped my head back something told me at the time to let my lead know what had happened and she said we heard it 12 feet away.  That was a year ago and two weeks.  I would like to have said it was gone but all you talked about is me spot on, I hate pills, want my ol'head back.  It is like everything is in time lapse at best.  Everyday I just feel off better days are close but still off.  I get so frustrated because nobody can see what I look outward at from my point of view and the way my brain works now.  I cant go near a plane the noise is brutal, I worked the day after and felt like I was at a five hour heavy metal concert next to the amp stack.  It is tough on my wife and our boys. Thanks for your post and yes all you said is so true having a hard time trying to get the massages through workmens comp they see that as some spa resort luxury.  So we soldier on hoping better comes soon, its tough not being able to interact with your wife and children because of dizziness noise and light and all the other symptoms that keep rearing their ugly head whenever you think they are gone.

[k911]

Hi I am a 56 year old female who is also suffering from post concussion syndrome, I was involved in an car accident 2 years ago, I was stopped in my auto awaiting a turn when I was struck from behind by another auto traveling at about 60 mph. I had no outward injuries, very slight neck pain and headache. I am a emergency department nurse. I went to work and had the ED doctor check me over, I expected to be sore for a few days, then my journey began. 1 week later the headaches were beginning to become unbearable, I was having concentration problems, memory problems also began- the symptoms became worse as the weeks went on. Fatigue was unrelenting, headaches severe, insomnia, concentration and memory problems were getting worse. As an ED nurse I need to be on my highest level of consciousness. I went to my doctor, had CT scan, which was negative for any head bleeds. I never miss a day of work, but had to take a leave and was eventually off work for over 10 weeks. In that time I had problems every day-- as the events and stimuli of the day progressed, I was a shaking bundle of nerves by the end of the day. I had to hang on to counters and furniture just to manage my way around the house. I then started the medication rollercoaster. Headache pain relievers, sleep aids- I hate taking any kind of pills, but I followed my doctors plan. I was introduced years earlier to a myofascial release massage therapist which I used to help with plantor fasciitis. I gave her a call and it has chanaged my life. I at first got massages 3 days a week which is the only treatment that gave me any relief from the headaches-it didn't happen over night, I continue these treatments 1 time monthly. She is the only reason I believe I am able to be back at work today. I still have pressure to my head everyday-some days not as bad as others. You do think after a while people don't believe that the symptoms can last that long-but I'm telling you they can. I am a work-aholic and refuse to even consider disability. I have always just wanted my old head back. Since that has not happened, I have been pro-active in doing anything I can to help without having to rely on drugs. I do have relapses at times that require more frequent massages, I also see a chiropractor that works with my massage therapist, he doesn't do the wrenching and twisting kind of chiropractic service-more massage type, but they do help. I have done  MRI which is also negative. I consult with my neurologist on a regular basis, who also endorses my plan of healing.My doctor highly recommends to continue the myofascal massage. I hope someday I will possibly be pain free and back to my old self. I'm blogging to help anyone who could possibly benefit or consider this treatment. All of my readings on the internet show most people can do not have long-term problems, since it's been 2 years for me I am going to be one of the exceptions that may have long-term problems. Try this therapy and know it doesn't happen overnight and you need to find a therapist who is very qualified. I was lucky to find one. Hope you can to. Good Luck k911

[Dr Santos]

Hi,
How are you? What was the result of the sleep study? The symptoms of post-concussion syndrome often improve after the affected person learns that there is a cause for the symptoms. Indeed, education about the disorder can ease a person's fears and help provide peace of mind. It also helps to have a a strong support system. Take care and keep us posted.

[horsegurl1970]

thanks for your email and support. I have had MRI's and CT scans, my concussion tests that they made me take showed some failures lol... But my scans were all normal. Thanks for letting me know that I am not alone!

[kaybost]

now i have been living with post concussion syndrome for about two years now and is still  slowly getting better. but all things take time. maybe you do have it but its just taking alot longer for it to heal kinda like me, but hey everybody's different. but just in case. i would try consulting with a doctor or having a MRI or a CT scan done on your brain just to be sure of whats going on.
i wish you the best of luck :)
and hang in there. your not alone and there are many people out there just like you.

[caregiver222]

The word "post-concussion" syndrome covers a lot of ground. Scientific American Magazine did an article a while back specifically addressing this issue. One of the most famous people suffering from this disorder was one of the singers from the "Beachboys" who underwent significant personality changes following a concussion that forced him to socially withdraw and stop singing. One of the problems is that head impacts can cause internal bleeding or pressure on the blood supply to the  pituitary, which controls hormonal production.

All that being said, the human brain is resilient, and I would never say that you will never return to normal.

I would recommend you consult an endochronologist.