Adult Life after a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

Hello "@neet",
I wanted to say hi and see how your doing. I am often amazed at the after affects of a head injury. They can be far more complicated that a person realizes. I'm hoping you have found some answers and some peace. Please keep us updated.
Thanks, Dawn

where do I get light therapy ?

@cathy514
Are you talking about laser light therapy for pain control? What are you trying to accomplish?
Jake

Hi.... Was wondering if I could get some advice.... ? My husband fell last year and now lives with a tbi... He's refusing any kind of therapy... He falls all the time... I'm hurting myself picking him up... Isn't that self neglect.. ? I was told to get guardianship which will make him very mad.. Should I do that... ?! he needs therapy

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.

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?

@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

Hi so sorry for your accident left you this way , i understand somewhat , both my son who is now in his 30's and myself suffer from head injury his was when he was young lad ,he was at the park and some teenagers were showing off with some girls that visit uk in summer anyway cut long story, short he has outbursts he didn't understand for long time why because before his accident he was happy kind and lovely lad ( he still is to his mum ) other people that don't understand why it can be hard for them to understand you, and what your going through. Sometimes he would just not handle work issues, other times he would just train at the gym his training helps him alot especially now... he understands better why this happens your head injury effects your patience because that is where in your brain injury to do with processing . Our Precious brains can handle alot. He has changed his lifestyle we always trying to find ways to help balance between training and his calm down time i message him positive thinking and walk when he can't take sounds/ noise can sometimes set his anger off or when he and i can't talk ,we find calm place to walk or be , hope this helps you, your issues better, to understand is half the battle, and maybe that can help your precious family to be patient with you , fresh nutrition helps( he studied to be sports nutritionist help him focus on others, calm heart is a happy one so we keep smiling.
tc kind regards swift Hug from England

I have loose leaf books piled up and when I need info I don't know where I wrote it. My organizational executive skills are gone!! Really difficult. Besideforgetting my point I was trying to make or get across to someone. I am grateful for many things. Can't find the right word for exactly what I'm trying to say most of the time. It's frustrating because I'm suppose to be teaching. Sharon C

Hi, @carnes - since you mentioned having a traumatic brain injury (TBI) in your post, I've moved it here to a discussion with many members talking about TBI. They may have similar experiences to share related to losing executive and organizational skills, and having to search to find the right word.

Please meet @swift @anncgrl @dawnpereda @cathy514 @jenniferhunter and others.

What age level or subjects are you teaching, @carnes?