Is it possible that I incurred any amount of (permanent) brain damage?

What about whiplash,,maybe a subtle neck injury is precipatiting the increased headaches?

I'm so sorry you are having problems. I would be very surprised to learn if you developed any brain damage from the accident. A few years ago, I was walking into walls, forgetting things, my balance was off and a host of other problems including headaches. After many tests, including a neurophysical test it was deemed my symptoms were from stress. Did you have a CT scan or MRI? Keep pushing for answers from your doctor but I would also see a therapist. Accupuncture may help to ease your headaches. I have Chronic Pain Syndrome as well as Fibromyalgia and have had horrible migraines. I took Imitrex but they kept recurring. Finally my physical therapist did accupuncture and now the migraines are about gone. I wish you all the best.

@aafms94, I am glad you have joined our community, looking for others with your experience in an auto accident. I am inclined to think @sandytoes14 is on the right track: Permanent brain damage is unlikely in the collision you described. Your other symptoms deserve more attention from a good medical team, perhaps even imaging your brain (I prefer MRI to CT scan, saving the radiation from the latter for any emergency that comes up). After that your doctor or neurologist should have a better factual basis for recommending treatment of your headaches. Physical therapy and acupuncture certainly are among the treatments to consider.

I have been through many neurological injuries and situations and "you may or may not have heard by now, almost anything is possible now a days. To satisfy your mind and conscience about this matter, I would personally seek an appointment with a Neurologist. That way, you'd get a neurological exam, CBC (to indicate if any blood factor could have changed), an Electroencepliagram and even an MRI. I would think your answer would come on the severity of the matter in conjunction with the doctors findings on your report. Good Luck.

irvkay312

Hello...I'm probably not posting this right. But I think I'm writing in a Reply section....But I need some advise if anyone can help me! My son suffered from Carbon Monoxide poisoning and the last seven months has seen the ER three times and nothing came from it. We finally got in to see the Neurologist who through blood work noticed that his brain has been suffering from lack of oxygen and now he is being refereed to a Hematologist. I have asked for him to go to a Hyperbaric chamber for some oxygen relief but i have to say, it takes a very long time for anyone to get this going and I'm afraid that he may have some brain damage before all this gets finally done. He's had a MRI, CT, Echo, EEG and all showed no damage but his blood work shows a high level of hemoglobin. I am going to his primary physician to fight for a STAT referral to a Hematologist to get him seen. My question is...my son suffers everyday with having a "high" feeling...fog like, lack of concentration, focus, emotions are all over the place. His motor skills are okay right now but I'm worried the longer we have to wait, could some brain damage occur??

Welcome to Mayo Connect @lindarigsby. We are anxious to respond as soon as possible when a newcomer asks for help and would benefit from helpful information from Connect members. Your concerns about your son's plight are certainly understandable, because his problem apparently extends a bit beyond a simple answer.

The simple answer relates to his high level of hemoglobin. This is not surprising, given carbon monoxide poisoning. A natural healthy response to CO poisoning is for the body to manufacture additional hemoglobin in red blood cells in order to replace lost oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood. But the other factors you mention raise added questions that often are answered only through a differential diagnosis in which a medical team checks every reasonable possibility and rules them out one by one. The complexity here is suggested on the following web pages from MedicineNet.com: http://www.medicinenet.com/polycythemia_high_red_blood_cell_count/page4.htm.

Don't be put off by this comprehensive discussion of "polycythemia," which is a word describing excess hemoglobin. Within this article is information that is pertinent to your son's situation, along with information on a number of possibilities that will be rejected through differential diagnosis.

It's good that you are demanding a medical team to look into your son's current situation and his experiences over the last few months. One important question is: When was the test taken that disclosed excess hemoglobin? This could be pivotal in finding out whether this condition is "primary" (based on dysfunction in his body's manufacture of hemoglobin) or "secondary" (based on some other cause, such as CO poisoning, sleep apnea, emphysema, COPD, or a chronic heart condition). It also might answer your question as to whether to submit to a hyperbaric chamber, which is common as an early response to CO poisoning. Has any doctor raised the possibility of a kidney problem, which could be involved and would suggest bringing a nephrologist onto the team?

Check back every day for input from our members with similar questions and experiences. We'll stay in touch as your efforts on behalf of your son yield results!