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Suggest Treatment For Soft Spot On Head After Injury
Question: My 80 year old mother hit her head on the corner of the dresser when picking up a pair of shoes. Soft spot on the left side of her head above the ear about 7 weeks ago. She mentioned it when we would talk - some good days and some where it would hurt. Throbs at times also. 2 weeks ago she took herself the the ER - CAT scan, blood workups - everything fine. A week later she called me in the middle of the night and I took her back in. They did and MRI and after a day in the hospital said she is fine. No blood clots. She has atrial fib and is on coumadin. So they wanted to be careful. She had two bad days this weekend. Hard to sleep, etc because it hurts. Said last night that she was doing alot on the computer and it was bothering her. She is due for an eye appt so told her to make the appt right away. Could there be something with her optic nerves? Dr in the ER said to followup with a neuologist if things don't improve......concerned. Did she bruise nerves?
Brief Answer:
No damage from the hit.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I am sorry about what your mother is experiencing.
Regarding on any injury to her brain or nerves though, I think you do not have much to worry about. The doctors of the ER have indeed been extra careful, by performing not only a CT scan but a MRI as well. If none of those exams has revealed any damage then you can feel reassured that there is no damage. Furthermore they have been performed at a time distance so there is no worry of a late hemorrhage which can at times happen in the elderly. An MRI would also exclude a stroke related to her atrial fibrillation.
While during the first few weeks the local skin and muscle bruising might be responsible for some pain, after 7 weeks I think that should be past and there is a component of fear and anxiety to her symptoms. So what I would recommend right now is reassurance and a relaxed environment, should try to work less on a computer for a while.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
No damage from the hit.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I am sorry about what your mother is experiencing.
Regarding on any injury to her brain or nerves though, I think you do not have much to worry about. The doctors of the ER have indeed been extra careful, by performing not only a CT scan but a MRI as well. If none of those exams has revealed any damage then you can feel reassured that there is no damage. Furthermore they have been performed at a time distance so there is no worry of a late hemorrhage which can at times happen in the elderly. An MRI would also exclude a stroke related to her atrial fibrillation.
While during the first few weeks the local skin and muscle bruising might be responsible for some pain, after 7 weeks I think that should be past and there is a component of fear and anxiety to her symptoms. So what I would recommend right now is reassurance and a relaxed environment, should try to work less on a computer for a while.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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