Head Injuries? Concussions? Recovery time?

[Rick Martin]

Since I did truly work as a certified tree surgeon from 1977 until 1991, I feel confident in offering this medical advice. A specialist like a neurosurgeon probably won't see a new patient unless he is referred by a family physician. If you want to see the regular Dr. first, it's likely that the receptionist will offer you an appointment many weeks away. If you tell her that you fell on your head and don't feel quite right, she may sqeeze you in or she may tell you to go to the hosptital emergency room. Here in Florida. we have independent 'walk in clinics' all over the place. They are like fast food of medical care and sometimes referred to as "Doc in the Box". They have real Dr.s and nurses and they charge around $90 for an exam. The waiting rooms are like the scene from Beatlejuice, but so is the hosptital emergency room in a big city. Either way, if you do get to see a Doc, they will look into your eyes with their little light. They get a lot of brain info from that. I'm betting that they won't see anything amiss there. They may send you for some sort of scan which would be expensive and then you would have to come back so they could tell you the scan doesn't show anything bad. I predict that they will listen to your story and symptoms and then tell you to rest and take it easy and don't do any strenuous physical activites for a couple of weeks. My bet is that when you banged your head against the floor it caused a little bruise type thing in there that will heal on it's own. I say little bruise, because if it was a big bruise you would have an awful headache or you would suddenly be able to speak Chinese or some other dramatic syptoms. With this type of thing the stress of wondering when it's going to get better can sometimes take over and generate symptoms stronger than those caused by the injury, so watch out for that. I suggest letting a regular family Doc give you the once over and then I'd try the rest and relaxation, hot tub, therapuetic massage, lots of sleeping, no booze, drink lots of water approach. I bet the syptoms are hanging on because you aren't giving things a chance to heal. Let us know how it's going.

[ 07-28-2003: Message edited by: Rick Martin ]

[ 07-28-2003: Message edited by: Rick Martin ]</p>

[Jim]

Thanks everyone for your kind suggestions. I spoke with a doctor (friend) on the phone today and he told me exactly what Rick just said below... that I need to see a general doctor first and they may or may not send me to a neuro specialist. I guess that's kind of obvious, but anyway.... I'm taking the first step.

I've also done quite a bit of research on the web and found a lot of overlapping information. (Basically most web sites say pretty much the same thing about head injuries.) It's clear what I have is a mild concussion and I'm exibiting classic "post-concussive syndrome" symptoms. They all say the same thing about treatment, too: REST and lots of water. And they also say the dizziness and mild headaches could last for weeks or months (urgh!), but they generally work themselves out eventually. Apparently, less than 10% of the 8,000,000 head injuries in the USA each year require surgery, so I think I'm going to be OK.

I'm still going to call a doctor tomorrow and try to make an appointment. If I wind up getting some kind of CT scan or MRI, you can bet it'll be scanned and on my web site as soon as I get home.

I'll keep you posted.

Now it's time for bed.

<img src="graemlins/square.gif" border="0" alt="[square smile]" /> Jim

[Lynneski]

Jim, horrible to read that your paperbag bonk is still with you. There should be copies of the tape available soon if you want to see exactly where you landed.

Not that your whack upside wasn't worthy of a little lasting disorientation, but there may be another cause. Several performers and a few staff in Edmo were complaining of feelings of imbalance, slight nausea, headachy and woozy. Apparently there was some virus of unknown origin passed along. Seriously, this was something more than booze and sleep deprivation could explain.

If your scan proves inconclusive, maybe this is another route to look into.

Steady on, pal.

[Rick Martin]

so, Jim, how's the head?

[Jim]

[quote]Originally posted by Lynneski:
<strong>Several performers and a few staff in Edmo were complaining of feelings of imbalance, slight nausea, headachy and woozy. Apparently there was some virus of unknown origin passed along. Seriously, this was something more than booze and sleep deprivation could explain.</strong><hr></blockquote>

That's kind of spooky. I didn't hear about that. That's what I was feeling for the past 10 days or so, but I think my symptoms arose after slapping my head on a wooden stage, so I think it would be a wild coincidence if I had some sort of dizzy virus, too.

I took yesterday off and went to the movies. I took today off and I'm doing laundry. I have tomorrow day off and one show in the evening. After just 36 hours of rest, I'm feeling waaaaay better. No dizzy spells and only a mild headache, but I think that's just because it's 2:30 and I haven't had a coffee yet.

Finding a doctor is a freaking pain in the ass. I'm glad I'm not bleeding or anything. Jeepers! The receptionists are clueless and I've been hung up on twice. I just talked to a nice lady at the Cambridge Hospital ER and she suggested just walking in. She said, "If you just go to the ER, you will see a doctor today and they'll check you out and refer you to where you need to go. If you try to make an appointment, it could take a month or more."

It's funny because now I feel much better and I don't think I need it, but I guess I should go to the ER. I'll be waiting for hours probably, but I could use the rest, I guess.

I'll let you know how it goes.

Jim [img]confused.gif[/img]

[Cybele]

Jim-

Did you go to the ER? Did they do a CAT scan?

Concussions, while not cureable and usually self-resolving, are nothing to fool around with, and it sounds as though your was/is pretty serious. What I'm worried about (not to scare you or anything) is the possibility of a blood clot in the brain (there's a special word for that,which I can't think of right now) which, if ruptured, is known as an annurism, and causes DEATH. Well, not always, but often enough that you should worry, and wonder if you've got one. Check, get back to us.

Of course, my friend Stephen Lampredi would tell you, "You need brain surgery." But he says that to everyone.

[Butterfly Man]

I believe Cybele is referring to a subdural hematoma ... and yes, she's right ... it's nothing to make light of ...

P.S. Jean Michele of the Flying Dutchmen headbutted me once in Halifax and before I forget ...

[Danny Hustle]

Jim,

I spent a pretty large part of my life as an amateur boxer. Better yet, I was never very good at it so I have a lot of experience with getting my bell rung.

Anytime you get knocked out or take a good shot that leaves you woozy (this sounds like your situation) there is always the potential for a more serious problem.

99.9% of the time it is nothing, but that last tenth of a percent always scared the shit out of me.

I know several people personally that have suffered head injuries such as you describe and have wound up dead, paralyzed, or worse spending the rest of their days as a turnip.

Because you are feeling better doesn’t mean anything. There was a boxer from Connecticut about a dozen years ago who dropped dead from a boxing related head injury two weeks after the fight. One of the last things he said was, “I feel great”.

Don’t mess around with your head my friend. It is probably nothing but I would get a CAT scan or an MRI and find out for sure. Especially if a few days later you were still experiencing pain, double vision, dizziness, a sense of being tongue tied, and maybe a bit slow on the up take. These are all signs that something potentially dangerous is going on.

Best,

Dan-

[Mr.Taxi Trix]

This may be coincidence, or cosmic oversight, but several performers and a few staff in Kingston were complaining of feelings of ambivalence, slight ennui, and rain saturation. I know you weren’t there (unless that mime with the skirt was you), but it could have had a ripple effect, spilling over into Edmonton.
You must determine if the wooziness is from the fall, from Kingston ennui ripple, or from sudden random enlightenment. Have you tried hitting your head again, to see if the symptoms repeat?
Good points, Danny, but how will Jim differentiate normal waking life from "dizziness, a sense of being tongue tied, and maybe a bit slow on the up take"?

*

[ 07-30-2003: Message edited by: Mr.Taxi Trix ]</p>

[Jim]

Alright Mom, Mom, Mom, Mom, Mom and Mom... I'll go to the doctor. I have no problem with GOING to the doctor, I have a problem FINDING a doctor. And about half a dozen people have talked me out of the ER option.

I'm paying for the visit, tests, etc. out of pocket so I'm a little bit picky about where I want to spend potentially 2000-3000 bucks for MRIs and CT scans. I have insurance, but it's only major medical and I have about a $2000 deductible so I'm not really looking forward to the bill.

Plus, II ffeeeell ffiinnee aanndd II ddoonn''tt hhaavvee ddoouubbllee vviissiioonn oorr aannyytthhiinngg. It's all very stupid and frustrating. I'll keep you all posted. Please stop telling me I'm going to die!

Jim <img src="graemlins/square.gif" border="0" alt="[square smile]" />

[Stephon]

I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news Jim, but. . .you're gonna die. Probably not today, probably not tomorrow, but some day, and for the rest of your life. 'Course, so are the rest of us. I have a theory that it has something to do with underwear; statistically speaking, 100% of people who have worn underwear at some point in their lives, die. 100%! Pretty sobering.

As for the expense, I sympathize with you, but this is a bit important. And besides, you sustained the injury during performance--write the medical bills off as a work-related expense.

Take care

[ 07-30-2003: Message edited by: Stephon ]</p>

[Rick Martin]

Hey Jim! Hows the head?

[Jim]

[quote]Originally posted by Rick Martin:
<strong>Hey Jim! Hows the head?</strong><hr></blockquote>

Much better. I'm still not 100%, but I'm improving every day. The headaches are pretty much gone (they were never even bad enough for asprin, but now they're not even there), the dizziness only comes in after pirouettes or extreme movement, and I don't feel perpetually drunk anymore. My coordination is still slightly shaky with things like 5 clubs, but it's definitely improving. If I keep on at this pace, I should be just fine in a couple weeks. Rest and fluids, baby.

Jim <img src="graemlins/square.gif" border="0" alt="[square smile]" />

[Rick Martin]

That sounds good. Did you make any progress in getting to see a Dr. or was that process enough to give you a headache? What is a Dr. going to say anyway? " Get plenty of rest and drink lots of water" or, "I want to saw through your skull and work on your brain with hand tools" (not likely) or if you go to that guy that The Stooges often ran into, he might want to transplant your brain into the body of a gorilla.

[Rev]

Jim,

I wouldn't worry too much. I mean Frack has had some bad head injuries and he's fi...

errr...

Seek medical help.

Travis