So about a week and a half ago I fell off my bike mountain biking and ended up hitting my head hard enough on some logs to crack my helmet all the way through.

I seemed fine afterwards (only had a killer headache), and had no other symptoms of a major head injury (no severe nausea, no blackouts, no babbling gibberish, no dizziness), so I did not go to the ER.

Anyways, since then I have been getting a headache almost everyday. It comes and goes, but last night, I did not finish my bike ride because my head was killing me.

It could be a million things - tough days at work, been upset for awhile because I won't even be interviewed for a promotion at work (even though I have been basically alone in the office for about 60% of the time since I started in October - and handling things well - grrr!), hot temps here lately,
and well, I figure it could be anything.

I tend to be paranoid about things, but don't want to be overly dramatic.

Someone please tell me I am OK and I don't need to go to the Dr. I tried calling one of the clinics here, but they could not tell me over the phone if a trip to the ER is necessary, and I don't have a local doctor yet.

Could be that it's psychosomatic and that you're stressing yourself into getting headaches. For your peace of mind, I'd try to go get it checked out.

FWIW, the symtoms of the mild concussion (my own diagnosis) I had were:

HUGE headache (but not as bad as a migraine) for the next 6+ hours and generally felt out of sorts/foggy/kind of like I was on a huge amount of Robotussin or something/detached;
stomach felt very upset but did not vomit (didn't dry heave, either);
little appetite;
no loss of consciousness, but I really, really wanted to close my eyes and sleep and it took all the willpower in the world to keep myself from doing it

Head felt find the next day; whiplash took a few more days to get over.

Stay well!!

\

Thanks! that is helpful.

Sounds exactly how I felt -except seem to have some residual headache (likely I am doing it to myself though).

I really would have loved to go to sleep - but I had 3 more miles of downhill biking to go. I kept wanting to fall asleep on the drive home (I was the passenger thankfully).

Go to the ER.

If anyone ever has an accident that is SEVERE enough to crack a helmet all the way through, you need to get your noggin checked out. A lot of people don't have those initial big bad signs & symptoms, but will present to the hospital a week or two out from the accident with complaints of headache.

On the bad side, you could have a cerebral contusion that is causing swelling, which in turn causes headaches. You could a coup contrecoup injury http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coup_contrecoup_injury which is VERY common with sports. You could have a hairline fracture in your skull.

Best case...it is nothing, but it is MUCH better to get a scan and be told it is nothing than to have it be bad down the road.

__________________
I'm not a native, but I got here as fast as I could

Let us know how it goes Sheena...

I'll be thinking of you!

__________________
Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take
But by the number of moments that take your breath away~

Follow SkiNurse's advice. Don't wait around especially with having a headache showing up past the first day.

So sorry I didn't read this sooner. Take SkiNurse's advice. Get checked, listen to their advice and HEED IT. Sorry to say this, but a short period of inactivity is in order post-head injury. How short depends on symptoms, etc. Unfortunately, my son has suffered a number of concussions and a traumatic brain injury, so I know the drill. Be prepared for the possibility of needing an MRI. This isn't worth fooling with.

Please update us ASAP.
Hugs.

Hey Sheena!

Sorry I'm late to the game here. I think everyone here has great advice and thoughts. You know my story. I will share with you, that I did not go to the emergency room for 24 hours, was checked, x-rayed and fine, and 4 days later had some pretty severe difficulties that sent me back to the ER and into an MRI. The rest is history.

SkiNurse has given the most excellent of advice. If your helmet cracked, you most certainly may have had a coup/contracoup motion of your brain. You hit hard. Basically, this means (for lack of a better explaination) a sloshing of the brain. Sometimes can be short term, sometimes longer term difficulties.

Here's what I can tell you about concussion (which can also be known as mild tbi) from my own experience and also from a medical diagnosis:

Immediately:
you want to sleep
you have slower thinking
you have a headache like you have never experienced
you seem confused sometimes and other times not so much
you may have visual disturbances (reading...you don't track like you used to)
you forget what you are doing


Later down the road:
you may have tinnitis (ringing in the ears)
lights are too bright and sounds are too loud
your neck hurts and you feel tense in your neck and shoulders
you may be a little clumsy (or a lot in my case )
migraines or seizures (or both)....oh my! (silly Wizard of Oz reference!)
You can't multi-task or filter out more than 2 sounds at a time
You have word-finding issues...(which can be fun around the right people )


Some symptoms of a concussion or tbi may not even show for up to 6 months or a year, but it really is imperative to get it checked out immediately. The sooner you get someone's attention with this, the easier a time you will have.
It may be nothing....but it may be something.

Psychosomatic or not, you hit your head. Fact!
You cracked your helmet. Fact!
You have some "pink flags". Fact!
Go get it checked. Your loving husband will thank you for it!

I'm REALLY thinking of you. PM me if you would like. I'll be here for you.

__________________
Kelly
"Wrinkles will only go where the smiles have been." ~ Jimmy Buffett

Hey all. I am fine. I started to get even more worried because I was having tension in my neck/shoulders too.

I guess I have been more stressed out about work than I should be, well, pissed off beyond belief, angry, and feeling extremely taken advantage of is more like it.

They decided to add a position in my office (currently just me and my boss), and I applied. I was told that they were only interviewing people with significant advising experience related to study abroad right now. Fine. I guess I can deal with that. But I have been left alone in the office for about 60% of the time due to the boss's heavy travel schedule. She tells me how much she trusts me, and how nice it is to have things taken care of when she is gone, and that things run so smoothly. It is hard enough to be alone in the office, when I have not even been there 9 months yet, had no training, and figured most stuff out on my own, but it is such a kick in the stomache to basically be told that I am good enough to handle things in the office when she is gone, but not to interview for what would be a promotion for me.

Friday I about had it when I found out they are bringing in a candidate who just graduated. And on Wednesday are brining in someone who has never left the country.

Oh man, that is really frustrating, Sheena! You need extra sparkly things in your care package from NVG!

I'm glad to hear that you are physically okay, Sheena!

I'm so sorry that your employers aren't recognizing your contributions and efforts. You never know what may happen down the road though...good things are bound to come your way eventually! In the meantime... is always a good temporary solution!

__________________
Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take
But by the number of moments that take your breath away~

You Got it!!!!!

The Sparkle Factory is at work!

Chin up, young person. This will all work out. In the meantime.....treat yourself to something special! A movie, an ice cream or a massage! I personally think the massage is JUST what you need! (Your neck and shoulder tension will thank you for it!!!!!)

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Kelly
"Wrinkles will only go where the smiles have been." ~ Jimmy Buffett

Adding my vote of relief to hear that you're okay, Sheena! But, oh yes, the frustration(s) of the working world Really sorry to hear this, wish there was something your online friends could do......but we're here? How about:

Sheena, Have you been able to get back out and ride? That was a nasty fall you took...I'm sure it is going to take a while to feel as comfortable riding as you were before.

__________________
Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take
But by the number of moments that take your breath away~

Heh, I have been on two rides. My latest was yesterday - and ended up falling again. I really need to learn how to stay ON my bike. I rolled off a log (no more than 12 inches) and did that fine, but it was a steeper section of the trail, and I guess my front wheel got stuck in the soft sandy trail, and I flipped over the handlebars. Just got the wind knocked out of me, hurt like hell, and it took me for-ever to finish the rest of the decent. I walked my bike most of the way down, and even when I did ride, I felt like I was not in control. I am going to be sticking to some easy dirt roads, and practicer riding off curbs for a bit until I can get some confidence back.

Good god, woman, you need to get your head checked!

__________________
I'm not a native, but I got here as fast as I could

I agree!

__________________
Kelly
"Wrinkles will only go where the smiles have been." ~ Jimmy Buffett

But I LIKE mountain biking.

Then go for it!

For me, when I have a scary fall when skiing, I usually dial back the difficulty for a bit until I have my confidence back. It is amazing how reduced confidence can affect my performance, thus increasing the likeliness of an injury.

__________________
Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take
But by the number of moments that take your breath away~

Then, like Min said, GO FOR IT!!!!! (Just be careful out there! You make me.....)

__________________
Kelly
"Wrinkles will only go where the smiles have been." ~ Jimmy Buffett