Hello,
Last September I had a major trauma horse riding accident, I am only just coming to terms with it. Doctors described my injures as a bruised brain. I am struggling to think past it and think of the positives in my life. I just wanted some advice on how people come to terms with it and stop it from affecting their daily lives
beccagoodison how has it affected you so far?
It makes me anxious and scared to meet new people. Sometimes makes me think that there is no point to my life as I no longer have a horse which has being part of my life since the age of 5
beccagoodison i get the fear of strangers because im affected in the same way, who got rid of your horse?
My parents as when I was hospitalised they thought I would be scared to face him again
Hi Becca, may I ask whether you are over 18 years old? I had a fall from my fiancee's 16h3" horse 10 days before our wedding in 1989 when I was 26. I was wearing a crash helmet which had a huge crack which demonstrated the location and power of the impact so no fracture but a TBI. I was unconscious for 4 days and have no memory for 24 hours before and ten days after the accident.
Every TBI is unique and actually the medics really know very little about the brain and only have scans to see some big changes. I have concluded that our brains simply get on with the job of repairing and compromising but in doing this the 'subconscious' part of the brain has to 'trump' the conscious part because its task is more important!
BW Caroline
No I'm only 17. Did it only take the 10 days for your memory to return to normal?
Hi again - not to normal no, just to start 'recording' again. It seems that the brain 'saves' things to memory during sleep and this process may not happen - or happen completely - if the brain has more important things to do and depending on exactly where the damage is. In fact it did get back to normal for many years but now I have problems and am getting help from a neuropsychologist. This may well be because my breathing reflex was affected and I suffered from hypoxia - I am now on oxygen.
Re your horse it is common to keep in touch via Facebook. We do this with horses and ponies that we have had/loaned out when they do not have a rider. It is sound advice not to continue riding as repeat head injuries are a big no-no. As I had no memory of the accident I had no issues about being nervous but when I rode a bit and had a minor fall - landing heavily on my feet - I had double vision for two days and decided that enough was enough and I stopped riding! But I love looking after them and my husband and now children/young people are keen riders.
Hi Becca, there is very good video on here, Nathalie Kelly, an American who suffered a brain injury and she gives you good pointers as to how to try and improve your particular problem. As others have said, each brain injury is unique, and sadly medical doctors have no idea about how to help. Have a look at it, the TBIcoach.com, it gave me some really good ideas as to what to try next. You have to search out cures. Good luck!
Trudi
Thank you, I have watch the video and it was a great help
That's great, I'm glad you found it, she has others on Youtube, I find I watch one a day to see if relates to me and my problems. She is very clueful! Don't give up, keep searching for someone who can help your particular problem. And I like the advice on here about helping with the RDA to re-introduce you to horsers gently, horses are a basic part of my life, like you, I need to have them in my life, and when I started being led around on a horse again, two and a half years after my accident, my husband said I was transformed, I became the happy, laughing person he always knew. Now I am hacking out quietly on a bomb proof horse I have been lent, so, gently does it, and you'll get there.
Thank you I'll try to find her videos on YouTube and see if they help
I had a minor TBI that turned my life upside down. I went through a similar period of depression where I felt completely useless and not having a purpose. It's hard rebuilding your sense of self. Start with the little things, what else do you enjoy? Try to do something enjoyable each day. Also list the things you are grateful for each day, like your parents.
Another idea could be to find out if there is a local disabled riding charity. It sounds like horses are very important to you, and so contact with them through a charity could help you start to rebuild through baby steps.
The fear of meeting people, etc I can recognize in my mum who got PCS after hitting her head on a tap when she was washing her hair, which also led to frontal lobe injuries from the concussion. She is improving but she is still scared of doing things, more so than before the injury. I tried to help her using diet. Try Tina M Sullivan, Nourish Your Noggin which still has lovely recipes. You can even have dark chocolate. The smoothies are also nice. You can get the book on amazon. This recipe book came about as Sullivan's son went to see Dr Diane (see drdiane.com ) who gave them dietary advice. Sullivan turned it into a cook book because she is a nutritionist. Dr Diane's book about recovering from PCS is also good.
If you ring or mail headway, they will point you in the direction of their booklets too and you can download some info from this website.
Hope you feel better soon
Thank you I will give the cook book a go
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