Traumatic Brain Injury: Come introduce yourself

Welcome to the Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) group on Mayo Clinic Connect.
This is a welcoming, safe place where you can meet people who know first-hand about living with a traumatic brain injury. Together we can learn from each other and share stories about challenges and triumphs, setbacks and the things that help.

Pull up a chair and connect. Why not start by introducing yourself? What is your experience? Got a question, tip or story to share?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Support Group.

Hi my husband is suffering from what I believe is CTE from years of football. In 2023 he had a head injury that resulted in part of his skull removed. I asked the doctors if they could save anything or retrieve anything from the removal. They looked at me like I was crazy. Just her for some support and to learn more in how to help him.

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Profile picture for markmac @markmac

Almost 2 years since I was in car accident.
I ended up with whiplash and a concussion.
I still have headaches, nausea, dizziness, depression and other things.
I was at a standstill waiting for a car in front of me to turn left.
A car hit me going 60mph. She was on her phone and didn’t even have time to slow down. I’ve been a mess since the accident. I’m not the man I was and I no longer know why I’m here on earth anymore. The pain is unbearable both physically and mentally. When will it end?
Thank you for letting me vent.
Mark

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@markmac check out theFNC.com in Minnetonka MN

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Almost 2 years since I was in car accident.
I ended up with whiplash and a concussion.
I still have headaches, nausea, dizziness, depression and other things.
I was at a standstill waiting for a car in front of me to turn left.
A car hit me going 60mph. She was on her phone and didn’t even have time to slow down. I’ve been a mess since the accident. I’m not the man I was and I no longer know why I’m here on earth anymore. The pain is unbearable both physically and mentally. When will it end?
Thank you for letting me vent.
Mark

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Profile picture for Randy Shields @randallshields56

Welcome to the group John,
you will have lots of people answering a few of your questions. This site is awesome at helping out and sharing. i just use what is at my feet when i get up or responses from other members of my family and what they see. they have been here to see me hit bottom and 2 brain surgeries and everything in between. Monitoring daily my progress was a difficult journey as my short term memory gave me and still does many days worth of grief to say the least. Doctors said a year to the rest of my life for parts to heal and some may never heal as i would like but i can function pretty good and improving every month. Baby steps still but i will take what i get dealt and be happy to wake up every day to a new day. hope you find your answers here. Have a blessed day.

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Thank you for the helpful

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Welcome to the group John,
you will have lots of people answering a few of your questions. This site is awesome at helping out and sharing. i just use what is at my feet when i get up or responses from other members of my family and what they see. they have been here to see me hit bottom and 2 brain surgeries and everything in between. Monitoring daily my progress was a difficult journey as my short term memory gave me and still does many days worth of grief to say the least. Doctors said a year to the rest of my life for parts to heal and some may never heal as i would like but i can function pretty good and improving every month. Baby steps still but i will take what i get dealt and be happy to wake up every day to a new day. hope you find your answers here. Have a blessed day.

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Hello,

My name is John and I just passed the one year anniversary of my accident. February 9, 2025 I was on a bicycle training ride with a couple of friends, a 40 mile route we’d done 100’s of times in the past. There are some RR tracks to cross on this route and on the way back to the car I apparently crashed over the tracks. Still not sure how it happened, but was life flighted to a trauma center with 9 broken ribs, broken collar bone, and a grade 3 DAI head injury. I did regain consciousness that evening, or at least according to my wife and daughter, but I really don’t have many memories until I “woke up” on March 5th in the rehab hospital. Up until that point I thought I was dreaming. I actually asked my wife that day, “Is this real?” and I feel like that was the day I started to understand and appreciate all of the caregivers and support I was receiving. Spent a month in the Rehab hospital and went home with a walker and participated in outpatient rehab for a month. Through intense PT, SLP, and psycho therapy I was able to walk, talk, and get back to work in May, 4 months to the day of my injury. My recovery has been pretty remarkable according to my medical team and my family, although I’m still facing some fatigue and occasional cognitive issues, like short term memory loss and occasional anxiety issues, I feel like I’m getting back to normal.

I’m curious if anybody else has experienced a similar timeline and am wondering if I should be participating in some sort of therapy to help with the cognitive challenges. I have a one year check up with my neurologist this month and am not sure what to ask for?

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Thank you Colleen Young!!!

Long story short, fell on the back of my head, woke up 3 days later in ICU, minor pain, short term memory, slow speech due to inability to think of the words I want to say, could not remember anything of what I tried to read, loss of balance, and the list goes on.
April 2024 will be 2 years, lots of various PT, Gaylord Rehabilitation Specialty in Wallingford Ct., and most important, a very patient wife.

I continue to attend zoom calls, held by Gaylord, these show me, I am not alone, not the only person experiencing a TBI rehab, and communication with my peers. Extremely important.
Thank you, Rich

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Profile picture for jemollica @jemollica

Hi Chris
My son had emergency surgery in 2016 for a intraventricle central Neurocytoma of a massive tumor- had no symptoms of a headache - major complaint frequently was upset stomach with vomiting that the emergency room always dismissed as a bad virus or other digestive ailments which all proved not it was from the tumor growing in his brain- he’s since had 9 brain surgeries one of which they inserted a VP PRO GAV SHUNT - result of these he remained with many disabilities and seizures- he’s tried multiple seizure meds thru the years to finally after 2023 having his last surgery of an anterior temporal lobectomy and taking xcopri along with onfi he has been free of experiencing his constant outward seizures , but he is suffering on a daily basis inward seizures like electrical painful sensations in his brain that neurologists can’t seem to alleviate - he tried migraine meds , Botox and injections to no avail and stopped - he continues with his daily therapies and keeps a positive outlook it’s our hope they will find a relief for him to have a quality life

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@jemollica

Thank you

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Profile picture for patty78962 @patty78962

Does anyone still have pain around the eye? If you were hit there. Airbag hit me. I'm curious how long that will last.

I saw an ophthamologist. But it's like my eyes are at different depths. Last week, I had significant more pain and a weird electrical, shockey, feeling. Tingling between eyes and down along nose. Bad enough that I made a DR appt. I've been battling chronic sinus infections on that side too (19mo). DR commented my face was asymmetrical; cheek flat - then asked me to smile and said that left side wasn't responding right. That it could nerve damage or tingling from healing.

So I'm off to get a couple of CTs. MDsave.com is $586 (total for both). First time using this service. Prepaid for vouchers, told DR where to fax orders, then have to call and set up appointments tomorrow.

Can anyone relate?

Have no idea what to think. Have no one that had this happen to them. But I'm guessing it's facial fractures and nerve damage. Any ideas?

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Hi @patty78962 - so sorry to hear that an airbag caused damage around your eye. Hopefully the airbag prevented other worse occurrences?

Sounds wise to be pursuing the scans you are getting. I hope this provides some helpful information for you and your doctor.

What did the ophthalmologist think might be the underlying cause for what they noticed in your face? Were they thinking fractures might be lurking underneath? Did the doctor mention if they'd treat you or refer you elsewhere if that is the case?

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Does anyone still have pain around the eye? If you were hit there. Airbag hit me. I'm curious how long that will last.

I saw an ophthamologist. But it's like my eyes are at different depths. Last week, I had significant more pain and a weird electrical, shockey, feeling. Tingling between eyes and down along nose. Bad enough that I made a DR appt. I've been battling chronic sinus infections on that side too (19mo). DR commented my face was asymmetrical; cheek flat - then asked me to smile and said that left side wasn't responding right. That it could nerve damage or tingling from healing.

So I'm off to get a couple of CTs. MDsave.com is $586 (total for both). First time using this service. Prepaid for vouchers, told DR where to fax orders, then have to call and set up appointments tomorrow.

Can anyone relate?

Have no idea what to think. Have no one that had this happen to them. But I'm guessing it's facial fractures and nerve damage. Any ideas?

REPLY
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