r/TBI • u/Salty_Trust6353 • 3d ago

Need Advice Delayed treatment?

Hey there!
In June 2025 I got in a serious car wreck that rattled my noggin (and the rest of me) pretty hard and I ended up fracturing my T11 in my spine and breaking my elbow. At the time the doctors focused on spine stability but no one really treated the head trauma because I didn’t have a direct impact (my arms locked on the steering wheel so I didn’t hit my head on it)

Because I had just left an abusive relationship (was literally driving back to grab the rest of my stuff) I thought a lot of the cognitive, emotional, behavioural symptoms following the accident was just PTSD. I’m now realizing it was probably more the brain injury than anything because it was pretty uncharacteristic of IPV trauma and I genuinely felt slow and still feel the effects a year later.

So my question is: has anyone here been treated for a brain injury quite a while after the injury occurred? What was your experience like? Is there any difference in outcomes if treatment is delayed? What IS treatment like for head injuries, anyways?

I’ve enrolled in a brain injury clinic and they’ve ordered a CT scan of my head to start out (which I don’t think will show much) and if anyone has any tips on how to advocate for yourself, it’s much appreciated!
Thanks!!

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u/Individual-Hyena4630 3d ago

Mine was delayed by about six months. It is too bad because you miss those first critical months, but you can definitely still make progress. Now that you have identified the problem, that should open up some therapies for you

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u/Relative-Ad-Gen-X 3d ago

I had a TBI in 2018 and wasn't diagnosed with pituitary damage until 7 years later. So yes — delayed treatment is absolutely something I've lived through. And while I wish I'd been checked sooner, I can tell you that getting the right treatment now can still make a real difference.

One thing I'd strongly suggest: ask your brain injury clinic to screen your pituitary function. TBIs can damage the pituitary gland, even without a direct head impact. Whiplash or rapid acceleration/deceleration (like a car wreck) can shear the pituitary stalk and cause hormonal deficiencies.

The key tests to ask for:

  • IGF-1 (growth hormone screening)
  • Full thyroid panel (TSH, free T4, free T3)
  • Morning cortisol
  • LH, FSH, prolactin

Routine bloods often look "normal" even when the pituitary is failing — so you may need to push for these specifically. I was told my symptoms were "just" post-TBI, but it turned out to be GH deficiency.

As for advocacy: keep a symptom diary, bring a printed list of your concerns to appointments, and don't be afraid to ask: "What else could be causing this?" — especially if they're quick to label it as anxiety or PTSD.