Head injuries.

Ok we did this before, but have some new members.
We were discussing on another thread how many of us rode horses.
I did and had a bad fall and of course my hat fell off...

I also had a bad bang on the head when I was about 6/8
On a bumper car. My cousin in the one behind tried to bump his mate.
He hit me from behind and my nose smashed the metal steering wheel.
What a lot of blood.....my nose has never been the same.

But I wonder, as we are exploring every avenue....

Head injuries......
Oh and I was a forceps delivery....

P

Head injury 1:
Thrown from horse, Helmet flew off..my head right into jump post. Ouch. Got back on though!!

Head injury 2:
My horse was mad from me being on vacation so when I came back he galloped off with me and dead stopped, giving me whiplash.

Head injury 3:
Rocking on a rocking chair, fell off and slammed back of head on brick fireplace. Bled a lot, Dad was home...he's manly machinist, saw no need to go to hospital All toes and fingers were in their places! Haha!!

Head injury 4:
Heavy impact crash with rollover. Head went through windshield, came back through and slammed on roof of car with each roll (4 or 5 rolls). Declared concussion at hospital.

Head injury at 17 - horse spooked and I went off the back, lost consciousness and was definitely concussed.

I got tossed off a horse in college, but I landed flat on my back - no head injury that I recall.

Was in a car accident at 21 - Seemed really minor, no major injuries except for leaving Post-Concussive Disorder (acts like ADD and is treated the same way). Was on meds a long time to function (stimulants) and was able to wean myself off 3 years later or so.

There were a few other minor car accidents but nothing that stands out as a head injury. But when you come to a sudden stop...there is a potential for a bump to the brain.

Hmmm.
Lets see if anyone else has similar experiences shall we?
With or without the horse.

I rode horse every day for approximately 10 years while I was growing up. I remember being bucked off three times and landing on my head each of those three times (approx. age then was 15). Back then no one wore helmets. There were other times that I fell off but I don't remember my head getting the brunt of it.

Every time I fell off, I got right back on and rode again. My dad taught us to always get right back on so the horse didn't win.

Knock on wood.....I've never been in a car accident.

I really don't see any correlation between these injuries and my migraines. I started having hormonal migraines in puberty.

I gave up my horses about ten years ago because my migraines were so frequent that I was spending very little time with the horses. It wasn't fair for the horses not to have daily care and exercise. My husband and sons were not interested in horses.

I really think that riding horse was therapeutic for my upper back and shoulders. I had no problems when I was regularly riding horse, but the migraines are a whole other story.

Becky

There may not be a correlation of head injuries with migraines for everyone. When I told my neuro that I'd had Post Concussive Disorder - he told me that contributed to the migraine problems. That condition messes with (I can't quite describe it so bear with me) a gate that controls the electrical signals sent by migraine condition. The gate doesn't shut or doesn't shut all the way in my case (and is the reason why I'm chronic)...which he is assuming is the only cause. Not sure I buy that but if we can get it to function somewhat normally I'd be glad.

This is another one of those discussions that not everyone will find a correlation. I didn't find a direct for genetic in myself, willing to entertain the possibility however. The cause of mine is unknown. I have no food triggers and it's not tied to hormones - so treating the symptoms as I may never know the real cause. It's probably more likely that mine are traumatic in origin.

Whoaaa!!! Did I miss something here? Is this a former horsebackriders migraine forum?? I am wowed at how many of u have horse stories... Lol I've only ridden 2 times in my life but never fell off.

I did, however, play soccer competetively from 5-17 and had lots of concussions. One where I lost consciousness.

Also been in about 3 car accidents and as a toddler hit my head so bad it needed several stiches.

Hmmmmmmm.

I've never seen this thread b4, nor have I considered the cominality of head injury.

Fell off playground equipment at 3. Head concussion. Migraines started shortly thereafter. Received no treatment for injury. Also I was a forceps kid.

Chris

The correlation between head "inuries" including difficult/forceps deleiveries was first raised with me when I went for a CT scan.
I was actually asked at the hospital if anythng was pertinent to me.

I have said before i have no KNOWN family connection, so they were interested to see if I had any sort of injuries as a youngster.
I think their theory was with no known genetic link, and despite my migraines being hormonal. They didnt come on until peri menopause, Without head traum I may not have developed them.

Every woman has hormones, not all develop migraines and not everyone with head truams has migraines either...its complicated.
Also this appointment was about 10 years ago and I dont recall it accurately.

There has been further discussion of this nature I believe in our MAA newsletter.

Bottom line is I guess.....we are all different and some of us may have a physical cause or exacerbation???
Maybe those without a genetic link, like myself, and again myself have a nec problem, could be a trauma?
I dont know, just speculation...
As I always say, as we dont k now what it is, we dont know what it isnt...

pen, sorry if my memory lapses...

have you had an MRI and an MRA (magnetic resonance angiography) of your brain?

-mgb

Dumb question: difference between MRI and MRA? I've had MRI and have heard of MRA but didn't really know the difference.

no head injury that I know of, no forceps. But huge amount of family history on both sides.

Amy

I dont know the difference either and no I havent. I was told CAT scan sufficient.
Is that right Amy....I dont know of anyone over here who has anything other than CT scan...cheaper....
BUT now Ive said that someone will step forward...

I'm the bane of your life, 'cos I'm going to contradict you again (sorry).....

I've had two MRI's and no CT scans. There are slight differences, but I'm not sure which is really 'best'. Marc?

Amy

Hi,

I have had one possible head injury. When I was 16, my brother and I were in a car accident- I was driving, it was dark, I over-corrscted when changing lanes and the SUV rolled three times. My brother had a concussion and a broken tooth. I had cuts and bruises. We were extremely lucky that our injuries were not more serious. Both of us went to the hospital though, and they did take x-rays of my head- which were fine. 10 months later, the migraines became chronic. I am not sure if this event is related or not- I tend to think that something happened, but we really do not know. All the doctors have said that there is too long a period between the accident and onset of severe migraines. In addition, I had migraines before the accident- my first headache occured at age 12. So yes, there is an injury, but we are not sure if it is related.

Also, I have always had a very sensitive head. Even when I was an infant, I would scream bloody murder when Mom washed my hair. I hated to have my hair blown dry or curled or brushed when I was little. I suppose that is why I had very short hair for years.

I have had numerous imaging studies- 5 MRIs, several CAT scans, and at least 12 CT scans. (Most of the CT scans were done in ER due to presenting with slurred speech and other stroke-like symptoms. All read as normal.

Pain free days,
sailingm