Brain Injury from Car Accident?

[sopranoA]

Hello! I'm new here! Is there anyone else in this community with a brain injury or PTSD from a car accident?

[marty_aus]

Yep, was in a taxi heading home after a work dinner. The taxi was turning right and failed to give away and was hit by a van. Not sure what I hit my head against but it shook me up good and proper.

Was off work for a good three months before returning part time. I had a lot of challenges with concentration as well as light and sound sensitivity which I still have to deal with on a daily basis. Not to mention the impact on my self confidence.

It's taken the better part of 5 years to get back to a new version of normal and not feel like a shell of my former self. I'm learning to accept that I'll never been my previous self but still can be me, whatever that shape takes now.

[sopranoA in reply to marty_aus]

I'm so sorry I know what you mean about the new normal. I'm 7 years post-accident and every day is still a struggle. Just trying to wake up every morning, it's like trying to climb up out of a foggy, dark well and it's painful! It doesn't seem to matter if I slept well or not. I still get light and noise sensitive if I'm extra fatigued, but those sensitivities have lessened over time. I'm currently one of the admins in a facebook group for car accident recovery by a trauma psychologist with some great tips! I can share the link if you fancy having a look? Wishing you all the best with your recovery! One day at a time I think is the only way

[marty_aus in reply to sopranoA]

Thanks, sounds very similar to my experience. Would definitely appreciate a link to the car accident recovery group. Happy to accept any help or tips. You're right that it's very much one day at a time, a lesson that's not easy to learn!

[sopranoA in reply to marty_aus]

The private facebook group I mentioned by the trauma psychologist is called recovering from your car accident and another good one is car accident survivors support group. I can't remember the exact name of the blog, but on Psychology Today, The New Normal blog, lots of insights and TBI recovery tips! Are you taking vitamin D, DHA, and high complex vitamin B? I find all help my brain and the fatigue along with brain foods like broccoli, walnuts, pineapple juice to name a few!

[Poodle_mama in reply to sopranoA]

hi, just reading posts and I came across this one. My brother suffered a tbi 2 years ago, no rehab after discharged from hospital.

12 monthes after the accident he now suffers seizures. My brother admits he's changed however gets frustrated a lot, says he feels like Britney Spears, we'recontrolling him. You mention Dr Zender facebook group, would this offer advice and be beneficial to both him and us, his family.

TIA

[Jacki66]

Hi, my husband had a traumatic brain injury from a high speed road traffic accident. He did not injure anyone else but fell asleep at the wheel of his sports car and went off a motorway into a farm field. Life changing shit. Not only did he suffer a physical injury in numerous spheres, but it caused a major stroke in A & E which made "life changing" even more prominent!

[sopranoA in reply to Jacki66]

How horrific I'm sorry to hear How long ago was the accident? Was it a brain injury that caused his stroke? How is doing day to day? Hope he has a good team of doctors helping and that you as a caregiver have good supports for yourself. Often there is so much focus on the person injured, that people forget how it impacts everyone close to that person. My TBI was from a high-speed motorway roll-over accident with me as a passenger. Absolutely life-changing!

[Jacki66 in reply to sopranoA]

It was 7 years ago. It's been a long, hard journey for both of us. Mainly because both of our careers went out of the window as I became his full time carer. I think this is a story all too often akin to most couples I'm afraid. The support has been hit and miss, unfortunately mostly miss by family. Nobody wants the problem, do they? They just want to carry on with their little lives and stuff the rest.

[sopranoA in reply to Jacki66]

The recovery is a long, hard journey. I lost my career and still trying to it back on track. Also lost many friends who couldn't understand and wanted me to be my old self. My family still doesn't get my struggles because they don't see me day in and day out, just short visits and phone calls. They don't want to hear about my life with a TBI. And I was essentially homeless for about 3 years with little to no supports. It seems to me that when an accident first happens, or someone falls ill, people show up but no one is prepared to provide on-going support for the long journey of recovery. And few understand the devastating fall-outs of a TBI on a spouse, family etc. You are not alone and it's a long journey to defining a new normal and finding the positives. I think it's important to celebrate every little improvement and focus on the good, even if small, each day. I'm part of a private group on Facebook called recovering from your car accident started by trauma psychologist Dr.James Zender who gives recovery tips if you are on fb and want to check it out. I've heard him address tips for caregivers which might help Sending you virtual hugs!

[Jacki66 in reply to sopranoA]

I think you are very right. People turn up initially, see what they're facing, then disappear and never offer any support because they don't want to upset their (often miserable) existences!

I'm not on FB because I'm a nurse and we have to be really careful with social media.

[sopranoA in reply to Jacki66]

I think you're right and people are frightened by what they don't understand and also are often struggling with their own health issues/life challenges. I've been lucky to find other TBI survivors and a couple of friends with disabilities that have been a great support. And I just don't talk about my TBI or recovery much with people that I know don't understand. Hope you can find some good support here with other caregivers who are going through all that you are. It's so much to take on and I imagine you know too well about the recovery process as you're a nurse. There's a book by the FB group I mentioned, psychologist- Dr Zender on Amazon and he has a blog on Psychology Today which you might find helpful. I want to ask him if he will do a blog just for caregivers Be extra kind and gentle with yourself. I hope you are able to carve out time every day just for you

[New_beginning in reply to Jacki66]

Yes my husbands family walked away , friend or my family dont message now or answer my calls. Lonely world. In 6.5mths everyone gone no visits knowing im my own own my apart from clinical psychologist . I dont do Social media.

[Hidden]

Oh yes..3 motor vehicle accidents,n etc accidents.Multiple brain injuries n definately PTSD.Got it all n more.

[sopranoA in reply to Hidden]

That's awful Were your accidents all in the same period? I hope you have good healthcare providers and supports.

[Hidden in reply to sopranoA]

Well..I mean life happens..

No.. first 2, 10 years apart, then last one was 6 years ago.Other accidents were scattered throughout. Fired all my doctors 4 years ago..got new ones and new types of treatment.Support...well..friends disappeared,family doesnt get any of it,SO...I have friends here on Healthunlocked in other forums. Ive learned to count on myself,help myself and just keep laughing.

[sopranoA]

I understand what you mean about people disappearing. I have 3 close friends with disabilities that give the most support because they understand. You're so right that counting on yourself and having a good sense of humor is the way to get through!

[Hidden in reply to sopranoA]

Yeah..crying isn't going to change anything except make u look like a Shar Pei puppy,with tons of wrinkles LOL

Even one good friend that supports ya..is the key.

[Christina73]

Yes, I also had a similar experience. My friend was injured while on a motorcycle last month, and the accident severely affected his brain. He has slipped into the coma stage. After long-term treatment, he has been recovered from the coma stage. The doctor suggested physiotherapy to get certain nerves back to their response and also get fully recovered. The treatment was so expensive, and it covers most of his savings. So we decided to claim for the injury and consult a personal injury lawyer(campisilaw.ca/) for legal formalities

[sopranoA in reply to Christina73]

So sorry to hear about your friend I'm glad you got a personal injury lawyer involved. From all that I've learned about brain injuries, many people that were in a coma or had more a more severe TBI, had better recovery outcomes in the first year than those with a less severe TBI. It's a long journey to recovery, but one day at a time and celebrate every small improvement Focus on gratitude for for him simply being alive and know that things will get better! There's an excellent book which you and your friend might find helpful called Recovering From Your Car Accident on Amazon by Dr. Zender. Wishing your friend all the best in his recovery and remember to take good care of yourself too!

[V8Lurcher]

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