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Adult Life after a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) | Last Active: Nov 8 6:41am | Replies (182)Comment receiving replies
Hi! I don't know why it took so long to think of coming to a chat with my questions. I do it in other areas of my life. I am writing because my son finds it difficult to put these questions into words. My son is 45 years old. He was thrown from the back of a jeep when he was 16 and incurred a closed head injury. He did not receive a great deal of medical care other than diagnosis and tests related to that diagnosis. No one suggested follow-up therapy, etc. He has problems with his short term memory, cannot follow conversations with quick give and take or follow verbal directions but very good with hands on tasks. He does have explosive rage which is much reduced in a calm and regulated environment. But my question is about a physical phenomena that happens periodically. When under stress the area where his head hit during the accident will swell and become sore to the touch. My son will get a bad headache on that side of his head, he will feel a strong pressure behind his eye on that side and the veins, etc. will bulge out in the subject area. He does not have insurance for testing, etc. Does anyone have experience with this happening to them and what do you do about it. Also, I wonder if he would be eligible for medicaid due to the multiple impacts on his body and in his ability to gain employment that will support him. He does work but certainly is not able to handle complex tasks or multi=task outside of his specific functions. Any feedback is appreciated.
Replies to "Hi! I don't know why it took so long to think of coming to a chat..."
@anncgrl My dad had a traumatic brain injury and skull fracture at age 64. Although he improved, he was never the same, and he also had the explosive rage events or would get emotional and cry, so I know how this changes a family.
My first thoughts about your son are to check his blood pressure. You can buy a good cuff for that and check at different times of the day. If he has a rage episode, try to check after that. Doctors recommend that normal resting blood pressure should be under 120 over 80. If he has high blood pressure at rest, it may be getting dangerously high when he is upset. Blood pressure medicine can be pretty inexpensive. A family friend of ours lost his wife to a sudden stroke, and that stroke occurred at the site of a head injury when she had bumped her head a couple months earlier. It makes me wonder if the trauma all those years ago damaged or weakened blood vessels, and getting angry raises blood pressure. There can also be weakness or bulging blood vessels. All of that needs an evaluation by doctors. I have no knowledge of Medicaid or how that works, but you need to try for it. You might also call a medical center and ask if they have programs to help those in need who can not pay, and how you can apply for assistance. Your town's village hall may be able to recommend agencies that could help.
Here are some links about blood pressure, strokes and aneurysms
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/brain-aneurysm/symptoms-causes/syc-20361483
https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/blood-pressure-test/about/pac-20393098
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/stroke/symptoms-causes/syc-20350113
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-pressure/symptoms-causes/syc-20373410
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Hi, @anncgrl - I moved your post to this discussion so you can read what others have said on life after a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and talk with those who have had similar experiences. Click VIEW & REPLY in your email notification to get to your post.
About your question regarding whether your son would be eligible for Medicaid, this government page may provide some useful information https://www.usa.gov/medicaid.
I thought @jakedduck1 @dawnpereda @lakelifelady and others here may be able to offer you support as you search for answers on the swelling and soreness your adult son has in the area where he suffered the hit when he's under stress. Hoping they can let you know if they've seen this kind of phenomena in themselves or others. @etadams has also mentioned having an adult son with a TBI. @oceanfun1 mentioned suffering from TBI-related emotional outbursts that reminded me of what you talked about with your son's emotional responses at times.
You mentioned your son's explosive rage is much reduced in a calm and regulated environment. What does he do or do you do to promote that kind of environment for him?