Brain Injury Support Group

Traumatic brain injury occurs when a sudden trauma causes brain damage. TBI can result from a closed head injury or a penetrating head injury. Symptoms of a TBI can be mild, moderate, or severe, depending on the extent of the damage to the brain. Outcome can be anything from complete recovery to permanent disability or death. A coma can also affect a child's brain.

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Traumas & Injuries
/ Brain Injury Support Group

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abbysheaffer
abbysheaffer
Hi,

I'm new to the group and am struggling right now. I live with bad stabbing and stinging pain primarily in my brain daily amongst other neuropathies, depression, anxiety, and ptsd. I was in a bad vehicle accident at age 16. Now 21 years later, I have been in daily pain for the last 8 years. I just got turned down for ssdi but am appealing because I cannot work like this. I we my pants constantly too and the urge comes out of nowhere. It is so embarrassing as I am 37 years old. My brain also malfunctions either due to stress and pain or just plain old memory loss or loss of judgment, but when it does the mistakes are many and at work that really caused me a lot of trouble. Before the pain I used to get promoted, not fired all the time. I feel lost, don't know how much more pain I can take and just need relief for longer than an hour a day if I'm lucky. I also really need support and HOPE. I should have hope because I believe in God and see all sorts of things that he does daily. I just wish the pain would finally end so I could live and enjoy life finally. Thanks for listening
cheesecake88
cheesecake88
Welcome to the group Abby, I am sorry for what you are going through, and the group has been slow lately, but if you can read past posts and threads I think you will see you are not alone. It is so frustrating, I am older than you, but keep your Hope going. Brain Injury is so often invisible and misunderstood, if you have a Brain Injury Assoc where you live I would call them for names of Brain Injury Specialists. You may need a Lawyer who also specializes and understands BI for SSDI that will not charge unless you win, and can get all your medical records together plus any other Neurological testing done to prove your case I take an anti seizure med, but I am hyper-sensjtive to meds, so I would caution you about taking it slowly. Eyes often are affected by TBI/ABI as well as the brain, in my case severe Eye/Brain pain where I could not use a computer/read books for years...I could only magnify my eyes for @ 5 minutes years ago, and slowly I taught myself how to use a tablet with limits. I am still very sensitive to light..I wear sunglasses alot! We are all so different here, yet we share many of the same symptoms, so many of the past threads also are about sharing coping skills. I have PTSD too, and that is overwhelming too at times. I wish I could tell you what would take away your pain! A site brainline.org has lots of good info that may help you too. Healing Hope to you!
anita926
anita926
I had to go to the bathroom every 5 minutes and finally has a stint put in to my bladder by my doctor at Chesapeake Urology. Now I lead a normal life from that perspective. Disability paid 80% so it was still ecpensive but worth it. I piece mealed the payments. "This happens to a lot of people with TBI", said my Dr. Shapiro. I have PTSD, depression and am bi-polar. It took 40 years but I'm finally on the right meds. Just found out my nephew is bipolar too. The meds I used to take work for him. So you never know. Everybody's different. You may just have to find the right doctor. I was lucky. I had my psychiatrist pre- TBI so he helped me with Daytana for TBI. Its for ADD but helps people with TBI. I'm not his 1st TBI.

You must have hope. Why would we keep at things if we didn't have hope. I tried to commit suicide and woke up in a mental hosp. Then I realized I just needed the right help. Not just wasting my time and life looking.

Don't give up just yet. My brother got me SSDI but it was denied first. I am disabled so I got it. My brother made a joke and said, "Thank god your disabled so you could get the help you need" "Otherwise, We'd have to take care of you." We laughed because I don't want to be taken care of. I'm fiercely independent. Things don't always work out, but if you stop trying, you've sealed you fate. This group is awesome. Come here like I did. This was my only link to sanity after my accident. I was hospitalized 2 months and lost all my friends. I was on a website called "Anita's Adventure".

Good luck and stay in touch..........
Aust
Aust
Hello Abby. This body is only for this life. I find that thought a comfort.
Meanwhile we have to live in it. Its really difficult at times. Have you got all your med records etc to help fight a claim? My first tbi was my own fault. People don't get what they cant see, like plaster for a broken leg. And if they could it would help us. Try and do one day at a time.