Head Injury

[tigger29678]

My son was in a car accident back on August 5th.  He was T-boned and hit his head on the seatbelt case.  He had a bump and a cut.  He had a headache for a few days afterwards.  On August 25th he called me at work to tell me that his head was just pounding and he couldn't stand it.  He has had headaches every morning since the accident but said that they normally go away.  He went to the doctors today and they want him to have a MRI to make sure there is no swelling on the brain.

Is it normal to have headaches this long after you hit your head?  What could the diagnosis be?

[StampyJen]

As a TBI survivor, I can tell you that headaches are a normal part of brain injury. For me, my headaches range from pin-point headaches to tension headaches. But the frequency and severity does change too.  Your son may have headaches for several years and they may settle down.  There is always that chance. For me, it's been 5 years and I've had periods where my headaches have been horrible and frequent, followed by times where I won't get them as often.  So, there is no real prediction or set of rules when it comes to headaches post TBI.

I recommend that you send your son to a neurologist and also to a neuropsychologist.  In Canada it's free (where I live) but I don't know where you live. It is imperative that you do have his headaches monitored by at least his family doctor, who can prescribe the appropriate medications to help relieve the pain as well. (wether it's swelling, pressure, stabbing pain etc)  I don't know if you've already sought these options, but there's no harm in doing so regardless of the time past.

Never give up hope of recovery. In years past it was thought that progress after a TBI was limited to either 6 months and up to 2 years after injury. However, that theory has been overturned with new evidence that progress can be made years later.  Neurons actually do replenish themselves, and new connections and pathways in the brain can be made with the right help.

I wish you luck with your son's progress! You are a good Mom! Keep supporting him and accept him for whatever stage he's at, and you two will make it through this!  Take your son to a neurologist to sort out the headaches and to get the right medication. And be aware that he may also have other issues that aren't as obvious such as learning and some cognitive and "overstimulation" issues as well. Just keep an eye out for any unusual traits and be open to allowing him to vent his concerns.(which I know you are!!)

Take care! I wish you and your family all the best!
Jenny

[caregiver222]

It's obvious your son experienced at the least, a concussion. Normally there is a "window of opportunity" to treat these problems and after all this time that window has been lost. Hopefully, your son had an MRI by the time I have written this, and they didn't make an appointment for "tomorrow". He needed one as of yesterday. An MRI will determine if there is any bleeding, which is a possibility, and if so, a decision will be made as to how to deal with it. There may not be bleeding. Bleeding from a head blow creates what is called a subdural hematoma, which may have to be surgically drained. They give so many unnecessary MRI's that unless there is a loss of consciousness, they may not do so. Especially if the patient minimizes the injury. In an auto accident insurance covers the medical issues so it is important for him to document all complaints with a physician. Often there is also some spinal trauma, resulting in what is known as a subluxion injury, which usually doesn't cause trouble until seven or eight months or more after the incident. Let's be optimistic about the outcome, but an MRI should not be delayed for an instant.