Head, skull, and brain injuries

So, what exactly are you looking for from this forum? 🤷

Look, there's no way you're passing these exams while dealing with concussion symptoms that serious—and let's just pray that's all it is 🤷 . Your memory might snap back in a few days, or maybe it won't... who knows? But if you don't go see a doctor, you're flying blind. You won't know what's actually going on, and you'll miss out on whatever treatment could help you bounce back faster and hopefully dodge the worst of it.

Honestly, nobody on this board can give you any advice that's actually going to help you pass these tests while you're dealing with something this intense—hopefully just a concussion. Repeating "tests take forever, but I have to pass" isn't going to magically fix your memory.

Like someone already mentioned to you, if you've got enough cash for a ski trip, you definitely have enough to book a private appointment at a clinic with an MRI machine and a neurologist who actually knows how to read the results properly. I'm guessing if you book something today, you could probably get in for an MRI and see a specialist by Monday... maybe for a couple hundred bucks to start.

Alright, I suppose I am heading in for that MRI next week.

If I were in your shoes, I’d head straight to the ER to get a CT scan just to rule out any kind of internal bleeding; even though three weeks have crawled by, it’s still worth the peace of mind... and then, down the road, you could probably look into an MRI to get a much clearer picture of whether there was any actual damage to the brain tissue

I have managed to schedule an appointment with a neurologist, and it looks like I will likely be heading in for an MRI this coming Monday. To be honest, I am feeling somewhat conflicted about the whole thing; I had a CT scan performed about six years ago, and I cannot help but wonder if it is truly wise to subject myself to more radiation exposure at this stage.

Sure, there’s a massive amount of radiation involved, and you really ought to minimize exposure whenever possible, but let's be realistic: it remains the gold standard for getting a rapid, reliable diagnosis when you need to check for brain bleeds... If you're dead set against a CT scan, fine, but if things start taking a turn for the worse—specifically if you deal with nausea, vomiting, dizziness, or intense headaches—you absolutely have to head straight to the ER and let the doctors there decide on the next course of action...

Eric Taylor13 said:If I were in your shoes, I’d head straight to the ER and demand a head CT just to rule out any internal bleeding. Even if it’s been three weeks, it's better safe than sorry... then down the road, you could grab an MRI to get a much clearer picture of whether there was any actual brain damage.

They can certainly try, but since it’s been three weeks since the fall, there’s a real chance they’ll just brush it off and tell you to follow the standard outpatient referral process. Your best bet might be to emphasize that the symptoms are actually getting worse and make sure to mention that heavy hit to the head from three weeks ago.
Whether they run a CT or an MRI isn't really up to you—it all comes down to the doctor's clinical judgment.

I was wondering if anyone here has dealt with head injuries or has any insight to share.
My mom is 39, and she was involved in a car accident that resulted in some serious head trauma. She was in a coma for a few days. It’s been six months of recovery now. Her memory of everything prior to the accident is intact, and her speech is normal, but she’s constantly disoriented. She can't grasp what’s happening in the present—she gets lost, doesn't understand how this happened, or even where she is, though she does recognize all of us. At one point, she was walking quite well, almost running, but then she became aggressive, and they had to put her on sedatives. Since then, her mobility has dropped significantly; she just doesn't want to walk anymore. Lately, she's been incredibly sad and cries constantly. The doctors say that once her brain settles, her physical movement will follow. She’s currently doing rehab at a wellness retreat, but they're bringing her home soon because they believe being in a familiar family environment will help her recover better. If you have any experience with this, please, let me know.
I'm only 16, and since it's always just been her and me, she means everything to me. This whole situation feels impossible and so painful... I'm trying to stay strong for her, but it's hard.

I’ve seen something similar happen within my own family.
A car hit someone close to me, causing severe traumatic brain injuries.
It was about two years ago. She was in a coma... nobody knew if she’d make it through or what life would look like after.
She spent months in rehab at a specialized facility out in Colorado, where she was immobile, disoriented, and dealing with these intense, sudden mood swings.
Her daughter stayed with her at the facility during that whole time.
Honestly, having that massive family support system made all the difference.

Once she finally got back home, there was a long adjustment period.
Socializing was a struggle. And, of course, she had to relearn basic things from scratch.

Today, she functions pretty normally, though she’s on medication. She has no memory of the accident or the immediate aftermath, but everything from her time in rehab onward is clear in her mind.
There is a psychological shift, too, but nothing "bad"... she used to be more shy, maybe a bit more reserved, but now she’s much more outgoing and social. You can see the subtle differences.

Another case I know involves a colleague’s mother, though that was over a decade ago. She was in a car wreck, too. Went through the same grueling rehab and dealt with all those physical and mental hurdles.
She also functions relatively normally now, just with those little behavioral nuances.
In her case, the personality change was a bit more obvious than my family member, but still nothing extreme.

My colleague was roughly your age when this happened to her mom. It was incredibly tough on her, especially since her father stepped up and took on so much of the heavy lifting and caregiving.
It’s going to be hard for you, too. You’re at an age where you need her support most, but instead, you have to be the one providing it to her.

You’ll need to be strong and ready for anything. Ready to essentially step in as a mother figure sometimes. To teach her how to do things all over again.
You are going to need a mountain of patience.
I don't know how much you'll be able to handle on your own. It would be a good idea to have someone else in your corner to help shoulder the load.

What she’s going through isn't "crazy." The brain is unpredictable and incredibly sensitive. So, expect anything. Those big, sudden shifts in mood and behavior? They’re totally expected.

It is absolutely vital that she stays on her prescribed medication, so once she's home, you'll need to stay on top of that.
Stay firm. Don't give up easily when she decides she’s done with something.
She’s young, and her body is capable. If she says she doesn't want to go for a walk, walk with her anyway.

You’ll have to learn how to judge what needs to be pushed and what shouldn't. You'll hear "I won't" or "I can't" a lot, and you'll have to figure out when to push her and when to let it go.

I really hope you find the strength to get through this, and I hope you find some support so it isn't all on your shoulders.
There is definitely hope for a good recovery, but it takes time...

Seeing things like this gives me a sense of hope and the strength to keep going.
Thank you so much for such a thorough response and for the encouragement!
How long did it typically take for people to really start feeling like themselves again?
And how are they doing physically? My mother is heading home soon, and I’m honestly a little worried about how she'll manage her physical progress without the structured rehab.
I’m not facing this alone, though—her parents are here with us, along with her brother and sisters. We’re all just hoping that once she’s back home, having us all around her will help her feel a bit better.

I’m not quite sure what you mean by "getting back to themselves"...
The only specific case I know involves someone close to me. For them, things started looking up after about a month and a half. But honestly, that might not apply here—it all depends on which area was hit and how much damage was done to her versus what happened to your mother.

Physically, they’re both doing fine—totally mobile and active. You can see the scars, but that’s nothing to worry about.

It’s definitely a plus that they have your support right now.
She’ll almost certainly feel more comfortable being in a familiar environment. Even with all the other issues she's faced, she still remembers and recognizes everyone.
Just don't give up. There will be good days and bad days, but you just have to hang in there...

It takes time to adjust to everything, including the current treatment plan. If she was particularly restless, they probably had to increase her dosage, which could easily explain why she seems more depressed lately. That should level out eventually. Just keep a close eye on things.

She actually had her psychiatric follow-up today. They decided to scale back on the sedatives—they were just making her too sluggish—and added some antidepressants instead. The goal is to get her to a place where she can actually engage with her doctors and participate in therapy, rather than just being stuck in that cycle of aggression and crying.

Of course, we have to give it time to work. One step at a time.

I was thinking about that moment when everything finally starts to click for people and they become truly aware.