Concussion from work injury and recovery. Happened to you?

Posted by gpung @gpung, Nov 11, 2025

I recently had a TBI on 10/14 at work hitting the right side of my head on a travel trailer. My mgr was aware. I had the next 2 days off and stayed in bed to recover from headache and pulsating in my head. The third day when i got up to get ready for work, i could not function, i was weak, light headed, nausaus, etc. Called HR and they sent me to Urgent care. Had a CT scan to make sure there was no brain bleed or clot and CT scan was normal. Dr. confirmed I had a concussion and gave me a injection for the ongoing headache and something for nausea. Requested I rest for the next 10 days, no TV, no reading, no computer and wear sun glasses for light sensitivity. I followed directions and on day 10 my headache stopped and the pulsating, followed by noise in my head also stopped. Thought I was on the mend. 2 days later got in the car and drove for about 20 miles, all symptoms immediately returned in full force. It is now November 11th , I have had a headache 24/7 since 10/31 , pulsating and noise in my right ear worse then before. My company immediately put me on workers comp , my Dr will be ordering a MRI this week. Workers comp seems to be questioning why I am still not feeling good. I am 63 and have never had a head injury or been on workers comp. My symptoms seem to be getting worse and now have been consistent 24/7 since 10/31. 800mg of Ibuprofen not helping at all. I wake up with the headache and go to bed with it , including the pulsating. Why is this nit getting better? Workers Comp mentioned today that the CT scan was normal, well what happens when I an still suffering 24/7. I find myself breaking down while sitting in the house. I just want the pain and pulsating to stop. Can anyone give me some encouragement or insight if this has happened to you and what to do. I hit my head so hard that my hearing aids fell out onto the pavement. The Workers Comp group said I can only go to 2 Drs. I just went to a Optamologist yesterday to make sure that I did not have optic nerve damage in my right eye and I am seeing my regular MD. That is 2 Dr's, so I cannot go to anyone else. Not that I need to, but, how long can these symptoms last?

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Lisa Lucier, Moderator | @lisalucier | Nov 11, 2025

Hi, @gpung - so sorry to hear this whole head injury has happened to you. Over 10 years ago, I fell on a winter walk on what I thought was just snow, but was snow covering slick ice. No other body part even hit before my head hit the pavement. I felt a bit off and lay on my mom's couch, then went home with my family.

In the middle of the night, I awakened feeling something was just not right in my head, and I went to the ER. It did turn out I was concussed, and full healing from then took about one month. In that time, I had to limit TV, computer use, loud noises and flashing lights, and for a while I could not match my grocery list to the items on the grocery store shelves. My brain was pretty scrambled. It was scary.

So I can say as a non-medical professional who had personal experience with this that it seems like each head injury is unique. You really can't predict the course or timeline, in my observation.

At a certain timeline in healing of a concussion, if further progress does not occur, Mayo Clinic will send you to a traumatic brain injury clinic with its own protocols for brain rest, exercise and healing strategies. Do you have something like this at your local hospital to which your doctor could refer you? Is your doctor willing to prescribe something to stem the headache pain in the meantime?

gpung | @gpung | Nov 11, 2025

Thank you for sharing your story. My Dr is n New Prague where I grew up. They also have a Mayo climic there, so I may look into that. Dr, prescribed 800mg of Ibuprofen that does absolutely nothing for the headache. I asked him for something stronger and he pushed back. It seems like every Dr is afraid to prescribe the better drugs because of all the past abuse. Pretty sad that now people who need it cannot get anything. It will be one month on the 14th, so we shall see if it gets any better.

gregd1956 | @gregd1956 | Nov 12, 2025

Dear @gpung

xxx YOUR MEDS xxx

You can check for pain meds from a doctor, but it makes a little time of meds so you can learn of use of your meds. Also, they can look in side your brain pictures to see. Daily check you daily feeling before you go to doctored.

xxx MY MEDS & MY LIFE xxx

I am a TBI Member and.. In 2012, My life changed. Loss of me memory from, great job, families from the past, not working of places I bought, 50% of playing my guitar music songs, using buying stores & online, driving again, and on…

No pain with lots of meds, but giving seizure is there. I now have meds become anti-seizure 3 times a day - morn, after, & eves. That started in 2012 and I’ve been the last 16 years and it took me “a little better” now.

Thx,
Greg D. @greg1956