[CoffeeAndCats]

So, I got in a car accident almost 3 months ago. I wasn't wearing a seat belt, and flew into the dash. It was a very bad crash and a very hard hit. I'm not entirely sure what hit me, but something slammed at full force into my left temple (I'm assuming it had to have been the rear-view mirror). It hurt so bad, I couldn't even touch it, brush my hair, or even open my mouth for almost two weeks (It hurt my temple when I opened my mouth). It gradually improved, and got to where it would just very dully ache every other day or so. Well, as of yesterday, my entire head has been feeling pain in random, spread out places (the place that got hit months back hurting the worst). It isn't an unbearable pain or anything, but it's just worrisome. I also feel a tingling, almost numb sensation all across my head, but very amplified in my temple area. It has almost felt like something is "moving" where I got hit a few times over the past two days. I'm also going to clarify that I did not go to the doctor after the wreck, so I'm not 100% sure it was a concussion, but I'm just assuming it was due to how hard of a hit it was. My mom insists I'm okay, and a lot of it has to do with the fact that I swam pretty vigorously around 5 days ago (hand stands, flips underwater, lots of playing around with my younger cousins). She said that may could have played a part in it, but of course my anxiety tries to tell me it is something much worse, such as a blood clot or serious brain damage. I've read about Post-Concussion Syndrome, and I'm honestly not sure if this is it (partly because I didn't get the doctor's say that it was a concussion to begin with, but I'm pretty positive myself). I'm mainly just scared that I've developed a blood clot over the past few months due to the impact, and I'm going to have a stroke or something as severe. I know no one can speak for sure on this issue, but any suggestions or experiences with head injuries or anything of the sorts would be very very appreciated. Thank you all in ahead of time!

(P.S. I have a yearly checkup next week, and I'm going to go ahead and ask about this when I'm there. I just need some advice / reassurance on my situation, as I had two severe panic attacks yesterday over this. Thank you all!)

[Skeezyks]

Well... I'm very glad to read you'll be getting yourself checked out medically. I'm not a medical or a mental health professional. But from my perspective, this is long overdue.

I find it hard to believe your mom is telling you you're okay. On the other hand, this does sound like my own parents many years ago. I think I could have come home with my arm gone & they wouldn't have noticed. The thing is, though, that was many years ago & things were different back then. Nowadays there is so much more awareness of head injuries, there's really no excuse for lack of awareness, in my opinion.

Yes, from what you wrote, I would say there is a strong likelihood you sustained a concussion. You may also have sustained some injury to the vertebrae in your neck I would guess. I have been in one major auto accident in my life. I was actually quite lucky not to have sustained any serious injury. But I know from experience it takes time to fully recover.

PsychCentral has a sister website: "NeuroTalk". I know there are members there who are knowledgeable with regard to head injuries & their after effects. You might take a look at the forums over there & see if you think signing & posting, with regard to your injury, might be helpful. Here's a link to the NeuroTalk forums:

https://www.neurotalk.org/

My best wishes to you...

[healingme4me]

I'm glad that you are going to go to get this checked out. I had 1 bad accident many moons ago, before all this concussion awareness. Had whiplash. Before I knew it(over the course of a year), I was developing throat infection after throat infection(had my tonsils removed subsequently), developed all these splotches all over my body that I was diagnosed with psoriasis(autoimmune issues ), and then the biggie....waking up with a bout of optic neuritis which led to my MS diagnosis.

[katydid777]

Originally Posted by CoffeeAndCats

So, I got in a car accident almost 3 months ago. I wasn't wearing a seat belt, and flew into the dash. It was a very bad crash and a very hard hit. I'm not entirely sure what hit me, but something slammed at full force into my left temple (I'm assuming it had to have been the rear-view mirror). It hurt so bad, I couldn't even touch it, brush my hair, or even open my mouth for almost two weeks (It hurt my temple when I opened my mouth). It gradually improved, and got to where it would just very dully ache every other day or so. Well, as of yesterday, my entire head has been feeling pain in random, spread out places (the place that got hit months back hurting the worst). It isn't an unbearable pain or anything, but it's just worrisome. I also feel a tingling, almost numb sensation all across my head, but very amplified in my temple area. It has almost felt like something is "moving" where I got hit a few times over the past two days. I'm also going to clarify that I did not go to the doctor after the wreck, so I'm not 100% sure it was a concussion, but I'm just assuming it was due to how hard of a hit it was. My mom insists I'm okay, and a lot of it has to do with the fact that I swam pretty vigorously around 5 days ago (hand stands, flips underwater, lots of playing around with my younger cousins). She said that may could have played a part in it, but of course my anxiety tries to tell me it is something much worse, such as a blood clot or serious brain damage. I've read about Post-Concussion Syndrome, and I'm honestly not sure if this is it (partly because I didn't get the doctor's say that it was a concussion to begin with, but I'm pretty positive myself). I'm mainly just scared that I've developed a blood clot over the past few months due to the impact, and I'm going to have a stroke or something as severe. I know no one can speak for sure on this issue, but any suggestions or experiences with head injuries or anything of the sorts would be very very appreciated. Thank you all in ahead of time!

(P.S. I have a yearly checkup next week, and I'm going to go ahead and ask about this when I'm there. I just need some advice / reassurance on my situation, as I had two severe panic attacks yesterday over this. Thank you all!)

I hope things go well with your apt. Concussions can be a big problem, and last many weeks, to months. They have found that concussions can also cause problems many years later on. Be sure your Doc. does a complete exam, along with a CT, or MRI. Even if things are good, remember this can cause problems later in your life. So as you get older, and you start having any problems with memory, thought, pain, mobility, ect... Please get it checked again, and tell the Drs. you had a previous concussion. I am sending my Thoughts, and Prayers your way!!!!!!!

[katydid777]

Originally Posted by healingme4me

I'm glad that you are going to go to get this checked out. I had 1 bad accident many moons ago, before all this concussion awareness. Had whiplash. Before I knew it(over the course of a year), I was developing throat infection after throat infection(had my tonsils removed subsequently), developed all these splotches all over my body that I was diagnosed with psoriasis(autoimmune issues ), and then the biggie....waking up with a bout of optic neuritis which led to my MS diagnosis.

I am so sorry you are going through all of this! I also went through a major car accident in 91, and still to this day have affects from it. I shattered my face on a steel dash board, fractured a vertarbray in my c-spine, and my t-spine. I had to have surgery to reconstruct my face, but I was lucky. The only scar that people can see is the one on the bridge of my nose, and my glasses cover that. I hope you are doing ok today, and wish you the very best!!!!!!!

[healingme4me]

Fortunately, my illness is in remission and has been for years. It's amazing, however, in having compared notes with others with the same illness what is suspected of the trigger that leads to health issues.

Originally Posted by katydid777

I am so sorry you are going through all of this! I also went through a major car accident in 91, and still to this day have affects from it. I shattered my face on a steel dash board, fractured a vertarbray in my c-spine, and my t-spine. I had to have surgery to reconstruct my face, but I was lucky. The only scar that people can see is the one on the bridge of my nose, and my glasses cover that. I hope you are doing ok today, and wish you the very best!!!!!!!