Why Does Everything Hurt So Much After Brain Injury?

I have chronic pain after TBI and was wondering is it the same as Fybromyalga?

Since I was 8 years old I played football, baseball, plus rode bulls and bareback broncs though High School. I turned Pro on some of the minor league Rodeo Circuits while still in High School, upon graduation I was drafted to play MLB baseball but chose scholarship to play baseball and rodeo in college and also earned my membership card and right to ride in the PRCA (the main Pro Rodeo Association) and had a 9+ year full time professional rodeo career with 4 years part time while managing Metallurgical Engineering and Inspection Companies. Over that period I received a total of 17 documented Concussions, Traumatic Brain Injuries, Closed Brain Injuries, this doesn't include the many head injuries of the same types that wasn't documented because I refused to go to doctor. I'm not sure what the difference is between those three types of head injuries or if they're basically the same and it just depends on what doctor writes it down. I also had many broken bones including neck, my back numerous times, femur, shoulders, ribs, punctured lung and many more. I have less bones that haven't been broken than have. I thought I was the luckiest person in the world because I didn't think I had any long term adverse effects. I was President of Worldwide Company, elected President of Union Contractors Association for United States, owned highly diversified 1000 acre Ranch with programs to assure students, and single parents a successful future, plus started several other companies to help people in need, Church with community outreach programs to feed the hungry, taught weekly class to help people with addictions, life problems, trade certification, anything to help change lives of people in need. Other than headaches, body aches, and pains that was tolerable I thought I was fine. Then in 2003 I was in an accident where truck flipped numerous times. Besides my head banging against the glass each time truck flipped before shattering it, the truck came to rest on passenger side with my head underneath of it. I was actually pronounced DOS before a miracle from God brought me back to life, but my life has never been the same. I guess it was like the straw that broke the camel's back, the one head injury too many, or just time for all of the head injuries from the past to catch up with me. After wreck I started having constant headaches, with many deabilitating headaches each week. I started having all types of seizures even while asleep which is scariest thing anyone can endure, different types of blackouts from actually hitting floor out to going into blank stare totally unaware of everything around me, delayed thought process, speech problems from delayed speech, stuttering, could no longer taste, severe memory issues, cognitive issues, motion/movement disorders, mood disorders, shaking, twitching and jerking all of the time even when trying to sleep which brought on sleep issues since wreck I only sleep in cat naps from 5-25 minutes at a time, hearing issues from constant loud roaring in my ears, plus much more but the pain that started after that head injury has been totally unbearable. I could no longer work and had to go on disability, I couldn't drive, I lost everything I had, I lost my family the thing I loved most in this world, and had to move in with my father because I had to have a live in caregiver. All of the pain from all of my broken bones and Injuries from the past that I'd always been able to live with was suddenly so excruciating that I couldn't function, I couldn't do anything. Doctors gave me medications for everything including pain but nothing would help. I was having seizures everyday, blackouts, and pain was so bad it would actually bring tears. It took over 5 years before they found combination of different medications to work on my seizures, concentration, pain, etc. Because of the pain I was in bed all of the time alternating heat, ice, and tenz unit in addition to everything else. For many years I had no quality of life, I had no life. I had three minor strokes, went through daily rehab, speech therapy, and physical therapy for almost 10 years along with working with the best doctors just so I could have a life and be a father since I'm a single, and to have some kind of life. My doctors, the combination of medications they gave me I was finally able to actually start living and be a father again. I went from being in bed 80%-90% of the time to being in bed 35%-50% of the time. I could do things with my sons, we even went on vacation several times but that's all changed recently. As everyone is aware of the CDC has changed dose limits for pain medication, restricted other medications from being written with them and continue to do other things that I'm sure is has taken away the quality of life from many other patients that have always done everything by the book and followed all laws, and regulations. I believe if people will go back and review the CDC study that was performed before they lowered dose limits they'll see an extremely flawed study filled with inaccuracies, untruths, and misleading information. I know that we have a major issue with opiate abuse in America and things have to be done to change the problems. But why take from patients who have a documented medical history that follow all guidelines like they're supposed to whose medical issues will never get better and will probably get worse. I'd like to have some type of life again. I'd love to be a father again. No one understands how painful this is physically and mentally. I wish they'd take into consideration people like myself who were finally doing well, finally had a life then the snatched it away. I never really was aware that my brain injuries had anything to do with all of my pain issues. If anyone else has these problems please comment.

I was attacked in prison. I was beat into unconciousness and they continued to beat and kick my head even after I was out. Then they stabbed me. There was no guard on duty. I was taken to the hopsital to stitch me up and CT scan. I was not even held overnight. I was taken back to prison. I went through three weeks of vomitting , blury vision , memory loss , hearing loss. And I kept falling asleep. I had no depth perception. For three weeks I compained and it fell deaf ears. My head felt like a bucket of water. Later the VA did a mri found nothing once I was released. But I wanted to know if the webbing of my hands being shallow and the other not a sign of head trauma. I was told yes. I have memory loss and lots and lots of pain all over my body. I still vomit and have lots of naseau. I have pin's and needles alao.

My neurologist wanted to do Botulism injections for the head and neck pain, but my insurance would not approve it. I'm on Lyrica, which works better than Neutotin, tramadol, topiramate, and one that starts with a L. Acetaminophen IV's seemed to help me some. I get the burning Charlie Horses that feel like my veins are having the Charlie Horse, instead of my muscles. I get a lot of cramping, in my legs, toes, fingers. I've had a pacemaker put in. I'm now dealing with Narcolepsy, and excessive daytime sleepiness. I take meds to stay awake, they don't always work. I don't like the way my brain feels on Narcotics, so I won't take them. I've seen too many family members become addicted to pain medications, alcohol, and cigarettes. I know the pain I'm experiencing in my neck, shoulders, and back are from the accident and are definitely nerve related. I had some young Physical Therapist try and tell me it was muscle pain. Believe me, I know the difference. I'd rather have muscle pain over Nerve pain. Sometimes my migraines are so bad, all I can do is sleep. Other times, I'm in so much pain, I can't sleep. Because of my sleep disorders, I don't like taking anything that makes my brain fuzzier than it is, so I won't take narcotics. I had my Pacemaker replaced last May, and just had a local anesthetic. I was awake, talking to my Electrophysiologist, the Medtronic representative, the Nurse, and other two individuals during my procedure. I just have local anesthetic when I get RF in my lumbar and cervical spine. Sometimes the tingling nerve pain is so bad, I can't walk, or I don't want anything touching my skin. I use a lot of ice, to numb my skin. Tiger Balm helps with headaches, sometimes. I'm trying to use more numbing agents that are applied topically, like Deep Blue, Biofreeze, etc. Sometimes it will numb the pain long enough for me to fall asleep. I used to use Xyrem for my sleep issues. But because of my cognitive issues, I was afraid of accidentally taking a second dose in error, not always a big deal when you take the lowest dose of some medications. Problem with Xyrem - the first side affect listed is death. I could see where Xyrem would help you sleep through the pain, but I don't know if they have tested it to be used that way, or if the FDA would approve using it to help patients with severe pain, to be able to sleep through the pain for a while, because sometimes sleep is the only thing that will help get rid of a migraine. I should check with my sleep specialist, and see if they could check with the drug manufacturer and answer the questions concerning FDA approval for nerve pain patients. I'll ask my pain management MD, and Neurologist as well. I have realized that if focus on the pain, it tends to get worse. I've increased my tolerance for pain by ignoring it. Running around barefoot in the snow may have helped as well. I have started wearing coats during blizzards, but not always. Therapist tell you to hold a piece of ice, tightly in your hand, to try and shock your brain out of being stuck on the same thought, or issue. I can hold a piece of ice in my hand until it's completely gone and it doesn't bother me. I'd try numbing the nerve endings. Put water on some wash cloths. Fold so it will fit on your forehead, place it into a snack, or sandwich bag. If you feel a headache coming on, have nerve pain in your back, or legs, place the washcloth on, or towel, and let it numb the area. Watch out for frostbite. Repeat as many times as it takes for your brain to stop recognizing the pain sensors, and try to have some much needed sleep. You might need to have someone assist you, just in case you do fall asleep, so you don't get Frost bite. Try Tiger Balm and ice together. Or, Biofreeze and ice. Or, Deep Blue and ice. If you try it and it helps, I will be so happy to hear you've found some relief. I feel for you! Pain sucks!

I had brain surgery to place a VP shunt. Sometime during or in post op, I suffered a minor stroke. 3 years later, I have unexplained pain ranging from migraine headaches, to severe pain in muscles and joints. I have to wonder if the brain trauma caused this.

Hello,

 My name is Marc. I've never been diagnosed with anything other than 2 concussions within a close period of time, following an accident in which the crash was so quick and violent that my seatbelt buckle broke and I was tossed into the windshield, causing concussion. Shortly after this, within 1.5 years I experienced an accident where I was at work and my hard hat dropped off and my head got smashed by something from above me off of a staging, knocking myself unconscious, then I awoke in the hospital.. I was working again after this as a groundman for a lineman as he loaded a steel jug with a cleaning solvent into a canvas grunt sack, suspended from an aerial messenger line. I heard "Look out!" and bang, down I went. Knocked so hard in the top of the hard hat I thought my neck was broken. Since this time, my life has slowly changed and has become a complete nightmare, over the years, transforming me into a daily and nightly headache, neck ache and back ache filled miserable person that would see doctor after doctor for nearly 15 years before I finally explained my condition to the right doctor capable of making a real diagnosis for the first time. I have been plagued with more full body 5 hour long mri's, more ct scans, x rays,ultra sounds and such that I should hold a record for not dying from being overexposed to these fields. My suffering which included painful constant muscle spasms, massive head and neck pain, burning eyes, loss of memory, and awful episodes of random nerve pains, burning in the legs, I mean like they were on fire, constant bone breaks that happen so easily, and now 2 ruptures of the distal bicep tendons, one 4 years ago putting up a baby gate on my left arm, and one just weeks ago pulling a snow blower into my shed after rearranging my shed after the season's last mowing of the lawn.. These tears happened too easily, there is something plaguing me other than this pain disease... .. I'm suffering in agony, typing one finger with my non dominant hand, praying to God to get some sleep, teary eyed, depressed, wishing something would help.. pain killers only take the edge off, they only make me not care about the pain if I take double the dose, more than I should, but I'm limited to pain meds because my normal breakthru pain meds and long term meds stopped working to assist the pain and are mostly worthless since the recent injury. Advil helps to cure 10-15%  of the acute pain but gives me bleeding ulcers that make me vomit advil acids up looking like scabbed blood is in it. It seems nothing stops the suffering and agony. I sometimes I wish I would die , but I have a very loving  family to support and I could never do anything so unfair or cowardly as taking my life. I really don't know what to do, I have constant rf nerve blocks done on my neck, every 6-9 months...  my neck pain returned 2 weeks ago along with spasms after my bicep injury, and I just had the rf block done in July. I have no idea what to do.. I need help with the pain, it's driving me insane it hurts so bad and my mind seems to be playing tricks on me, I'm getting shooting burning pains everywhere as if people are dying cigarettes out on me periodically, this is no joke. I wake at night from this and have had nightmares of getting shot, then wake from one of these pains and cant go back to sleep.. nothing helps. I need pain meds, but I need something else with it to assist me. I've tried neurontin, it makes me feel nutso and doesn't kill the pain, I've tried lyrica without success. I've taken every oxy, roxy, morphine, dilaudid, opana, you name it, even have self medicated over the years with the wrong things and have never found anything that helped the pains go away. I've been on Medrol dosepacks and it'd help for 2 weeks but it'd return worse than it was. I just don't understand. How can one's heart problems and functions disappear like magic but be in so much pain and be so depressed for so long? Why doesn't this pain disease go away? What can help me? My only med that helps anything significantly is a neuropathic pain compound made of amitryptylene, neurontin, lidocain and another med plus an icy hot base or similar and an old non drowsy muscle relaxer / pain reliever called lorzone. If I don't take it daily,my pains become worse. It's awful.it seems as if it works, but causes more painful pains as a side effect if i forget to take it. aspirin won't help, tylenol does nothing and it feel;s as if maybe i only had a pool filled with liquid lidocaine would be my only option. please help.. i need somebody's assistance with names of meds to ask my doctor to try to give samples of, anything to reduce my agony without having to lose my current meds. At this point, it isn't an option for me to lose them, I'd never get to work. i'm lucky to be able to get up  and out of bed for 5am because I've been up most of the night in pain. I take my meds while in bed, enabling me to barely get out of my bed because the pains are so debilitating until the wake up pains are relieved somewhat so I could rise, have coffee and get to work by 7, that is if I am lucky enough for the meds to kick in. It's the only time I feel them anymore, empty stomach in the am. 

My mom had a ruptured brain aneurysm and she is recovering. Next month it will have been a year since they saved her life by inserting a coil. She has improved tremendously but her biggest deficits are her short term memory and severe weakness in her left side arm and legs. She says her leg hurts and that's why she walks funny (sort of a skip/limp as she does not extend her leg in the normal stride manner. She says it feels like it's asleep but she can move it if directed. Is this nerve damage? What can I do to accelerate healing or help her in any way? I want her to be a able to walk unassisted but safely and I will do anything to help reach that goal.

I suffered a severe TBI with hemoraging of the brain which had to be cauterized, it happened in 1987 when I was 24. Now at 53 years old I am experiencing severe headaches and much nerve pain in my right hip. The doctor's say I need a new hip. I am very blatant about being a survivor of a severe TBI. I cannot find a Dr. whom will do the research, to understand that it is just Nerve pain that I suffer from? 

Hi - I have had the same experience, of having chronic body pain after weaning myself off the antidepressants.

It will have been 17yrs since my severe TBI in August of 2014.  Now that I have finally been weaned off anti-depressants, I am beginning to experience more peripheral neuropathy.  Also, my head feels like it is in a vice.  Is it possible that all the years of being on anti-depressant medication masked the things I am experiencing now?  Thanks...Kerry Mischka