Brain injury one block from my house while riding bicycle

My injury happened when I fell off a ladder while cleaning the gutters on my house. That was 20 years ago, and I was 53. Spent 3 months in 3 different hospitals, a craniotomy surgery, 9 months at home and speech & occupational therapy. I worked for a library system, and librarians (my supervisors and co-workers/friends) searched and read every book they could find about TBI and gave me all the time I needed, and was able to back to my pre-injury work at the 12 month mark.

I think that one of the most important things to guide recovery is knowing that our brains are still rewiring itself. I feel that; I'm at 90-95% of the pre-injury person; feel that I'm still healing/recovering and gaining. Will I ever get back to 100%. I don't know, maybe, maybe not, but it doesn't matter, because I'm OK with what I have now. Doctors told me, and my family, that recovery is a 1-2 year process. Those doctors were wrong, I am still gaining. We (the royal "we") survived, and are still recovering. Finding a reason, any reason, to wake up & get out of bed. Move forward, not letting your injury define you, to "be here now". Take a walk in a park or around a creek, listen to birds, find a safe place (local mall) where you can "people watch". Volunteer.

@greg1956 and @jenatsky you both are champions in your fight against TBI. I studied this in the late 70’s early 80’s during graduate training in neural psychology. The technology has advanced rapidly towards identifying the TBI. Sadly the treatment and therapy for rehabilitation has not kept up. You both deserve credit big time for the progress you’ve made!

Hi @gregd1956, I moved your post to the Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Support Group here https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/traumatic-brain-injury-tbi/

I know you'll get more responses from others who have experience living with TBI here. I'm tagging fellow members like @badbenny @hevykevy @ethancarruthers @dawnpereda @lakelifelady @lolabelle1 @lanieg @craigdunn @kayabbott @ricj @willow11 and many others.

I think you'll appreciate browsing through the various discussions in the group and joining in.

Greg, did you get back on your bicycle since your injury? What activities do you like doing?

At the time my injury occurred there was no research around TBI and I was left on my own to figure it out. When I was in radiology technology school I had to read and reread chapters repeatedly for the info to sink in. Same thing in nursing school it was a challenge. Things have improved over the years and I try to follow the trends on improving memory by eating recommended foods to increase brain function too. I’m glad you have your wife at your side.

I had a TBI in 1972 at age 20 when a railing at my parent’s home outside the kitchen porch gave way and I fell 14 feet fracturing my skull on the left side. At that time MRI or CT Scans were not yet invented but nominal X-rays they took showed no outward spine or limb damage except for my head. Initially upon waking in the hospital a week after the accident I could not hear out of my left ear. That has now become a slight decibel hearing loss on the lower tone scale only. What ever other damage was done I added to it by falling again during an earthquake in southern Calif in 1988. That really damaged my back big time requiring a fusion. Unfortunately my body sustained damage as I now have severe spinal OA which is beginning to migrate to hips. Short term memory has always been an issue for me requiring me to reread educational material over and over to get it. Now that I’m 71 my memory has decreased somewhat but I had myself evaluated by a Geriatric Assessment Center at my local hospital and I’m good, no issues of concern.

I lost a few memories with my TBI, but I also learned a lot on how the brain works. I fell rollerblading, 31 years ago (now I bike, with a helmet). TBIs hit one emotionally and physically. That is great that you have family and a good emotional support group. It takes some work to figure out what one can still do, what interests and exercises. A shame that swimming is out for you; I don't swim because of swimmers ear.

I had a TBI in 1972 at age 20 when a railing at my parent’s home outside the kitchen porch gave way and I fell 14 feet fracturing my skull on the left side. At that time MRI or CT Scans were not yet invented but nominal X-rays they took showed no outward spine or limb damage except for my head. Initially upon waking in the hospital a week after the accident I could not hear out of my left ear. That has now become a slight decibel hearing loss on the lower tone scale only. What ever other damage was done I added to it by falling again during an earthquake in southern Calif in 1988. That really damaged my back big time requiring a fusion. Unfortunately my body sustained damage as I now have severe spinal OA which is beginning to migrate to hips. Short term memory has always been an issue for me requiring me to reread educational material over and over to get it. Now that I’m 71 my memory has decreased somewhat but I had myself evaluated by a Geriatric Assessment Center at my local hospital and I’m good, no issues of concern.