Recovering from Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

I just had an MRI due to a second concussion this year. I had no idea the testing was so loud. I had sound and light sensitivity due to the concussion so the 20 minutes was pure torture. It was like having a jack hammer being used on your head. Music added to the noise level. I could hardly function once I was done. Anyone else ever experience this?

I had a head injury resulting in hypersensitivity to motion, light and sound. After getting nowhere with my ENT department for ear filters, I got some Bose noise reducing earphones. They have saved my sanity. I just pop them in whenever there is noise my brain can't handle. I also wear sunglasses a lot to dampen down the light sensitivity. When driving, because I am holding the wheel which stabilizes my head more than being a passenger, that is also beneficial. Also avoiding vehicles with less shock absorption and not sitting over wheels or near side cambers. It's been a year of discovery of what works. Hope this is helpful to you.

I have suffered from PTC, Pseudo Tumor Cerebri other wise known as IIH Idopathic Intracranial Hypertension, which is a disease that causes to much CSF and literally squeezes the brain putting increased pressure on brain, which causes brain injury, I also was in a car accident that gave me whiplash and ruptured 2 discs in my neck, so I had to have neck fusion surgery. All the syptoms you have described apply to me, I am going on 14 years with this disease and these problems. I have a VP Shunt in my head that is supposed to keep the pressure off but unfortunately they have a tendency to have a lot of problems and bread down often which requires another surgery. I have no quality of life at all, but my faith gets me through.

Thank you so much for this article. I'm a couple of weeks shy of 2 years recovering from a head injury due to a fall during snow skiing. I've been so isolated and lonely because over-stimulation from sound, music, lights, crowds, environment. I've never been told by the neurologists or primary care doctors to see a neuro optometrist or audiologist. I made these appointments after reading this article. I know have noise dampening ear-molds made specifically for my ears (ER 9, 15, 25). They come with 3 filters depending on how much filtering I need in any social setting. I'm out of the house more enjoying music and people for the first time without being miserable and causing more pain. I still have to pace myself as to not over do it. Bouncing back is hard with pain and insomnia. With neuro optometrist testing I now have names to put with the symptoms of my vision. She can help me & that is so encouraging! I've also had cognitive testing with results coming next week. I feel like I'm finally making progress in my recovery. Thank you for this article. Sometimes you just have to be your own healthcare advocate. Research, read and do it! Thank you for pointing me in a direction I didn't even know about!!!

Thank you all for the comments and the article.  I had my fourth concussion this Memorial Day.  Was playing a softball tournament and got hit in the orbital area by a ball that took a bad bounce.  Had three prior ones when I used to snowboard - but those were over 10 years ago.  I'm 42 now and the recovery from the last concussion took way longer.  The sensitivity to light was something I never noticed before.  I had to hole up in my apartment with the lights off and blinds drawn for 10 days.  The CAT scan said I was fine but I just don't feel the same as before the accident.  I'm now four months out and am just now admitting to myself that things are different.  I am having such a hard time with work - focusing on one task is so hard.  I am a CPA and spend all day every day under florescent lighting looking at dual monitors. Just driving back and forth to work aggravates me like never before and noises frequently startle me or make me feel a bit of panic.  There has been alot of construction in around my work and home this summer and I get on edge going though every day. I dislike being in crowded restaurants now and social activities are something I no longer look forward to.  I am losing contact with people that I used to socialize and play softball with.  They don't understand why I've pulled away from things and I can't really get through to them what I am dealing with.  I will be looking into some of the resources I've found here to hopefully find my way back.  It's very hard to admit to myself that I may have some permanent loss of function after the last concussion. 

I have hope that I can be normal soon. I have 4 children and they are so little. I'm sorry this happened to all of us. I'm praying to god for all of us to get better.

I just read all the posts...    i'm going through a similar experience to many here.  I was in a whiplash car accident over 3 years ago.  I've had a headache every single day.  no joke. every day.   I've had vision issues (trouble reading, focusing my eyes).  I've limited myself to low intensity activities like canoing and yoga.  I've had to quit the sports i used to do; hockey, basketball, mountain biking, hiking because they're too high intensity.   memory issues, fatigue, poor sleep.    after 3 years i've lowered my expectations and i'm just hoping for a partial recovery.  fortunately i've been able to keep my job although everything is harder and i'm exhausted by friday.   The best advice (mentioned above) is you just need to accept that you now have a lower capacity for activity, work and stress.   I've changed my sports to yoga and kayaking/canoing - they are lower intensity but still fun and engaging.  Its been tough dropping the sports i used to do and the friends that went with them... really tough.   I've also got music which for me is the guitar.  my musical abilities were unaffected by the injury (thank god).   I don't notice my symptoms while i'm doing the above activities so i try to do them frequently.   i've noticed small improvements a year year since the accident ...   its a long haul but one has to stay hopeful and do what's best for you health.  by the way this is not my first concussion...  i was in a near death car accident at age 19.  had another concussion in my late 20s snowboarding.  head injuries seem to add up and eventually you're permanently living with symptoms.   another thing that's helped me me is very controlled cardio.  I do a stairmaster 3-4 times/week for 25-30 minutes but i keep my heart rate at about 130 bpm (roughly a canoeing intensity) this seems to be good for mood and energy level; but going harder than that sets me back.    you almost have to forget your old life, accept your new limited one and then find a way to be happy.   for me it takes constant diligence to stay above water on the side of happiness and fight slipping below the surface where depression lurks.   keep fighting everyone! 

It worked really well with me... You have to be really well at this if you really want this to work for you.low back pain symptoms

Be careful with supplements even Fish Oil.  My husband was hit by a truck while riding his bicycle two and a half years ago and suffered a TBI.  His neurologist recommended Fish Oil and it is good for the brain BUT he ended up with a very painful case of Gout due to the Fish Oil (Omegas).  I'd say to try it because we were told his reaction was rare but if you start having some new pain and your toes swell up - stop and get to the doctor.  With medication and lots of cherry juice, it can be cured!  It has been a long 2 1/2 years but there has been improvement.  He can talk to someone in a social atmosphere for an hour now where at first it was only 5 minutes.  He has to rest afterwards and usually has a headache from all the stimulation but he doesn't break down with shaking and crying like he did at first.  He still has trouble processing in group situations, better one on one.  He was an architect and had to retire the day he got hit.  He has a hard time figuring out "what to do next".  He has trouble counting out change.  In our conversations, he usually hears the first part, misses the middle (because he is still processing the first) and hears the end.  His brain just "makes-up" what he thinks I said in the middle which has caused a lot of misunderstandings.  We have been married 40 years.  This is the hardest thing we have ever had to go through. 

I've had multiple mild concussions due to skiing accidents. The most recent was about a year ago in 4 days. High DHA omega 3 fish oil has helped with my brain injuries more than anything else on this planet...spare restful sleep. I don't expect anyone to really buy into this. But it's worth a shot. I'm not even here to endorse a particular brand/product. Just want to help people figure out that they can manage their symptoms at least somewhat. Our brains are 30% DHA, it only makes sense to use that to help rebuild it! The other end of the spectrum with recovery lies with hormone insufficiency! I recently started taking Velvet Deer Antler tincture that is helping me regain my energy and testosterone levels. It may not work for all, but my research has turned up that most injured brains have problems with hormones. And you all should try to research this area of health and see if any products work for you! Good luck, I hope you all find relief soon. Just thought I'd try and brighten up all your worlds with a bit of hope that there are things that can heal the body. What those are, though, will be different for every case...

I as well suffer from many symptoms. I want you all to focus on the positives. It,s hard but you,ll heal much faster. Look into meditation. Butter burr for migraines. Eat healthy obviously. And focus on what you can do not what you can,t. It is such a struggle but I know many people worse off. I will be praying for you all! 

Hey. I hit a guard rail going 80+ mph. I was not wearing a seatbelt. The back right side of my head was impacted. I still have an indention. It affected how i experience sensations. Sound is intolerable at times. Loud booming voices, ect. I do wear ear plugs. I have severe and chronic pain from old sports injuries and a botched spinal tap. The TBI amplified the pain i had and it slowly broke me down physically. My mental and physical state slowly declined over a period of 10 years. Now, almost twelve years later, i still live with my folks. I am to be 32 yrs old this September. My father is 60, my mom, 52. It is very hard at times and although we love each other, we often argue and my father is very loud. He served in the Marines as a Journalist during Vietnam and has this tuff love that has kept me (us) alive. The main thing that bothers me is the headaches, my spine and neck, and severe PTSD. All i remeber about the impact is that it was loud and though i thought i had lost my head (i checked), it was not painful. The next day was. If i move too fast, or work too fast, i vomit and collapse with a booming headache. I gotta be careful not to overheat. It took 10 years for the TBI i recieved to take its toll. I also Boxed Amature before and after the wreck and was in a few other wrecks where i was almost knocked out. Theze milder concussions built up and added to the major 1. At times the pain is so much that i just want God to take this soul and mind from this body here on Earth but i pray more and think of the people who fought and died for us to be here and the others like me who are far worse. I Thank God for what i still have, and it keeps me from thinking about what i lost. This life is just a test, but we cant give up because its just a test. Even though we dont do as good as others might, in the end, everyone wins anyway. But you cant take the easy road out because thats a loss and that means a loss.