Have you ever experienced head trauma?

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   Denise Handlonposted 10 years ago

   Have you ever experienced head trauma?
   
   I recently experienced a fall and hairline fracture of the skull; I'm wondering how long it takes to heal and if anyone else has a story to share about this?  My main symptoms that I continue to experience is vertigo.  I've not been able to return to work or even drive yet.  It's only been a couple of weeks, but I'm anxious for it to "go away!"

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   tsmogposted 10 years ago

   Hello Denise. I hope you are doing well. Interesting that a fracture did occur. Having experience with head trauma I can maybe share, yet I do not know of them being fractures or remember being told. I broke my nose once when I conked out and fell to the ground, so does that count as a fracture?
   
   From personal research, while emphatically stating I am not an expert, I am not a doctor, and I am not a lawyer. My conclusions, speculations, and thoughts are from personal research only. They do seem to bear out that where is an important factor first, next would be how, and then what with symptoms.
   
   Usually vertigo or dizziness is related, yet not always to the cerebellum. That is the lobe nearest the cervical spine and below the occipital lobe. With whiplash it is not uncommon for the cerebellum to kinda' poke through an opening there. Thus, bruising occurs.
   
   Even if the fracture is the result of the front of the head bumping something whip lash has a high propensity of following that impact in an opposite and equal direction. Newton's law I think. Thus, the cerebellum may be bruised = dizziness and vertigo.
   
   Personal experience with brain trauma shares 2 impacts with unconsciousness, 3 whiplashes with cervical injury, and that time I conked out
   
   tim

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      Denise Handlonposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Thnx-mine was a back head frax to skull.  It actually came about when a patient shoved me backwards, I hit the floor, and she jumped on me attempting to strangle me.  A bit traumatic, besides the skull fracture.  Thanks.

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      tsmogposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I am saddened of the how and the trauma of the experience Denise. Maybe more there than the what of the head. I dun'no. Association(s) may play with recall and such. Sometimes sensations are recalled and not actual. No space with comment to comment.

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   innerspinposted 10 years ago

   Sorry to hear about your fall, that must have been a shock. I did get knocked out once after a fall from a horse, luckily the concussion resolved fairly quickly.
   
   Some people have vertigo following a head injury because tiny particles are dislodged in the inner ear, causing the balance organs to over-react to stimulus. If the vertigo is fairly short lived and linked to head movement, eg turning over in bed, or bending over, this may be the reason. Ask your doctor about Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo - BPPV, as this can be helped with a special manoeuvre to relocate the particles. Hope you feel better soon.

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      Denise Handlonposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      You're absolutely right-that is exactly what happened.  I am now instructed to continue this maneuver daily x 3 until it repositions.  I'll also be receiving rehab to double check everything.  Thanks for your answer.

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      innerspinposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      You're welcome. It can be hard to diagnose vertigo, I'm glad you have an answer, and a plan of action. Wishing you a good recovery.

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   Lisa HWposted 10 years ago

   I had what was called a "moderate" concussion.  For the first for or five days I had absolutely no appetite and a lot of bad headaches.  That all died down by, I guess, about five days.  A few days after the head injury, though, I developed double vision that lasted for several weeks.  Also, what was particularly scary was noticing that I couldn't read when I tried to.  I'd always been (still am) a kind of "compulsive" reader (not in the "clinical OCD sense" - one has to be careful these days about what words one uses in such a "mental-health-crazy" culture.
   
   Anyway, I tried to read and it was like there was no connection between what was on the page and what was getting to my head.  (This was after the double vision went away.)  I was worried that I'd never be able to read again, but because my girlfriend had been killed in the car accident that caused the concussion I just told myself I was lucky to be whole and alive, and I figured I'd figure out a way to read if my ability to read didn't come back.
   
   The ability to read did return, but it was gradual and didn't really get back to normal until at least three/maybe four months later.  I was told there was "a little nerve damage" behind the eye, but I could easily see and recognize the individual letters.  I just couldn't do more than that.  At first it wasn't really automatic.  I had to tell myself "in my head" what each letter was; but it was like that's all my head could handle (and not "further digesting" the context within which I'd read the letter).  I think (if I recall correctly) it took about two months before the biggest part of the problem began clearing up, and then once it did it seemed like things picked up speed as far as actually reading went.
   
   All I did for weeks for sit and draw pictures of ice skaters and dancers.   
   
   Hope you feel better soon.  Vertigo's a lot worse to deal with than my reading "issue" was.  Still, to me, a couple of weeks seems "like nothing" when it comes to a head injury.  By the way, my son (adopted from infancy) experienced a skull fracture before I met him.  No tests done on him since he was with me ever showed any permanent "issues" associated with the skull fracture.
   
   Try to take it easy and be patient.  I know I only have my own "story" and my son's to go by, but I hope (especially if you're concerned about how long you're having the symptoms) I've been at least a little bit reassurring.   

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      Denise Handlonposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Lisa-thanks so much for sharing your exper.  I know my head will heal with time, & patience is a must.  I'm not affected if I read, but can relate to the difficulty you exper.  For a week I could not recall words I wanted to say.

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