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Severe TBI
My son suffered a diffuse axonal injury in August 2015. After being told he wasn't going to survive we were devastated ,but we didn't give up. After 13 days, he woke up from his deep coma. He was a 3 on the Glasgow coma scale when he was admitted to the ER. After 60 days in rehab and not much progress, we were told to bring him home to"wake up more". We really don't know what was meant by "more", but it has now been 14 months and all he is receiving is a few hours each week of PT, OT and speech. In the beginning when he had PT, he was taking steps on the parallel bars with the assistance of three people. Then the vomiting started. This is the problem that I am seeking any information anyone can provide. Six months after the injury, he had a baclofen pump implanted. Approximately 3-4 months later, every time we put him in his standing frame, he would vomit. This would start anywhere after 5 minutes to 60 minutes. It varies daily. This is making his recovery very difficult. We don't know if the baclofen pump is the cause, if he is dizzy, if there's an inner ear problem, etc. He has had every test and scan possible, all show nothing. A lumbar puncture shows low pressure csf, not high. Has anyone ever heard of this being a tbi symptom and what is the solution? Thanks!
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Thank you for sharing your story, @bdr0408; my heart goes out for your son. This must be such a long and difficult time for you, but I'm glad you found us.
Although I realize that your situations must be different, I thought you would like to read messages posted by fellow members who have suffered Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) here: http://mayocl.in/2ePiRKF
You've probably have searched the internet thoroughly for the side effects of a Baclofen Pump, but hopefully you will find this information from Mayo Clinic helpful too:
http://mayocl.in/2elFBBs
@bdro4o8, if you are comfortable doing so, could you give us a few more details? How did your son suffer such a devastating injury?
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1 ReactionMy son was on his way home from working at a golf course. Work was cancelled early due to rain so he headed home. With the help of surveillance cameras, a woman leaving the casino was shown behind him. She had been out all night and was assumed under the influence. My son was stopped on the highway to make a left turn when she rear ended him and sent him into on-coming traffic, which happened to be a pick-up truck, he was t-boned and rolled. He suffered a severe diffuse axonal injury that left him unable to walk, talk or eat. The woman left the scene and abandoned the car she was driving since it was not hers. She then called for a ride and had the nerve to drive right by the scene of the accident. By the time police got a search warrant, she was not under the influence. Unfortunately she lived on a reservation and the search warrant took days. After a year she finally pled guilty and only received one year of jail, of which she will do eight months. And my son gets to live the rest of his life with disabilities.
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2 ReactionsI am so sorry to hear this, @bdr0408.
@hopeful33250, I wonder if you have any thoughts to share with bdr0408?
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1 ReactionI am so sorry to hear of your son's injuries, @bdr0408. I can also understand your frustration at the legal system in this instance. I read a book several years ago called, A Grace Disguised, by Gerald Sittser. The story is similar to yours, a van was hit by a drunk driver (near a reservation). In this case, the driver's wife, mother and child were killed in the accident and another child was seriously injured. As the drunk driver of the vehicle was thrown from the vehicle he wasn't prosecuted. The book is a story of how the author deals with his own feelings of grief, loss and injustice. It is written from a Christian perspective, but it presents a good example of dealing with difficult losses. Prayers and best wishes to you and your son.
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2 ReactionsWow, I am so, so sorry to hear of your son's accident. How frustrating and madding. Could you file a civil suit? I have no words. Life is so unpredictable. Prayers for you and your son.
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1 ReactionHi,
Your story started off like mine but not the vomiting part but Glasgow three, coma two weeks, hospital nd rehab 5 months. I can help with the recovery as I had a daily tutor for 228 week. Ask me questions and I will trll you what we did.
Craig
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1 ReactionI am sorry to hear but brain injury is not the and and there are all sorts of therapy, the early you begin the better.
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1 ReactionHello,
Here's an answer, it may not be a good one. I had a severe head injury in Dec 2023 and ever since then my GI system has been a wreck. I need to be GF, lactose free, no onions, no garlic. Apparently, after a head injury cytokines are released in the body and it causes GI disturbances. I google head injury, GI disturbance, women. See all the articles about intestinal dysfunction.
I would've thought after 104 MD appointments ONE MD could've would've should've pointed this out to me, instead of me thinking I'm crazy or giving me more pills . Acupuncture has helped me more than western medicine.
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1 ReactionMedulla oblongata can cause vomiting for no reason according to one article. Keep reading and educate your selves ( and your MDs)
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1 ReactionDear @gwenrn74
You said, “Acupuncture” is good for you and others that helped of folks that helps them. I’ve seen a few other members do it of the help of pain-needs. Still, it doesn’t fix these 1-time only and pains gone.
I go, or did, go to the balk-doctors. My wife still needs it. Once per 2-weeks. I’ve used this for the last 25 years ago. The top owner doctor could help away of pain through acupuncture. My back was killin’ me from my 2-rear-ends to the bottom of my feet. The drugs didn’t help my to get rid of pain.I was close and talked to him that he could add acupuncture for me. Shortly, my Doctor A, who fixes the human-body from the neck-down-to-the-back to see what he could do (he’s been there during my TBI accident 12 years ago. I had no idea of that Doctor A, but my wife told me).. Instead trying an acupuncture was a surgery on the bottom of my back and move away that my nerve back. Why? 2 years ago. I feel down in my garage from my rear-ends when I hit my wooden steps. After that, physically, I lost the feeling for most of that like: cutting by walking of your grass abd a few others.
Now, the pain is gone; everything from my 2-rear-ends to the bottom of my feet. The other 50% is still here… my right-side is so weak, so my balance-problem is still here. And I work, physically, bending my legs and things like this.
Thx,
Greg D.