OpenHealth Q&A

Unexpected Nasal Issues After Head Injuries

I am a 46-year-old male, standing at 1.84 meters (6 feet) and weighing 84 kg (185 lb). Last year, I had an unfortunate incident while changing my car's license plate in a parking lot. As I stood up, I accidentally bumped my head against the edge of a storage unit. Initially, I felt fine, but two days later, while reaching down to pick up a toy my child had left on the ground, I noticed a small, watery liquid leaking from my nose. This unexpected occurrence caused me some concern, as I had never experienced anything like it before. Being that my health insurance was lacking at the time, I decided to visit Mexico for a medical consultation, suspecting it could be a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak. During my trip, I found that bending down didn’t produce any discharge, but if I lay on my right side, a significant amount of yellowish fluid would drain from my nose. The first instance was alarming enough to create a sensation of drowning, although it only lasted a few moments. This event repeated twice more the following day, and I even demonstrated it to my mother, who is in the medical field. An MRI and examination by an ear, nose, and throat specialist yielded no abnormalities. They speculated that it might be a coincidence or possibly sinusitis. Meanwhile, the leakage persisted, though it seemed to shift from my nose to the back of my throat. I had assumed I needed to adapt to this situation. Doctors suggested that allergies in my living environment could be causing such excessive drainage, which ultimately prevented the formation of typical mucus and prompted a watery discharge instead. Fortunately, after several months, the issue resolved itself without any clear timeline of its duration since my concern had diminished. Fast forward to 2024: while playing with my kids at a playground, I was bending over to catch one of them when I collided with a tube on the structure, hitting my head yet again. This incident worried me since I feared a recurrence of my previous problems. Sure enough, a few days later, I began to notice a wet sensation on the left side of my nose, with the liquid once again draining towards the back of my throat. I sought help at the emergency room; an MRI confirmed that nothing was amiss, yet I endured persistent headaches for nearly two months. To cope, I began wearing a hat to distract from the mild discomfort, which felt more like surface irritation than anything within my head. Concurrent with these symptoms, I noticed that I was struggling to recall certain words, which unnerved me, especially since English isn't my first language. I remember distinctly forgetting the word "butter" and experiencing difficulty recalling common names and terms. The fear of possibly developing dementia prompted me to consult a neurologist, which culminated in a panic attack—a new and unsettling experience for me. However, he reassured me that my condition was manageable. People around me attributed my symptoms to stress, exacerbated by job-related anxiety and visa uncertainties at that time. A subsequent MRI showed normal results. I traveled to Mexico in December, but the trip began poorly as my ability to focus remained severely compromised. However, after some weeks, I felt improvement; I started recalling words more easily, and my overall clarity returned, making life more manageable, both personally and at work as a software developer. Just last week, I faced another setback when, while tying my shoes, my child accidentally kicked me in the head. The familiar watery sensation returned, alongside a recurrence of throat irritation. I waited in hopes that the symptoms would subside, but by last night, the headache reappeared, this time localized on the right side of my head. Concerned, I returned to the emergency room for evaluation. Once again, they conducted imaging and determined there were no apparent issues. This morning, I noticed soreness in my throat while drinking, consistent with the previous episodes. I'm currently feeling a moist sensation on the left side of my nose as I type this out, and I’m perplexed because I have sought advice from two ENT specialists and two neurologists, all concluding that my MRI results were normal. One neurologist mentioned the possibility of collecting the fluid for further examination to check for a CSF leak, though obtaining a sufficient sample is challenging since the sensation doesn’t consistently produce a noticeable amount of liquid. It's frustrating not knowing whether these symptoms are stress-related, coincidental allergies, or something more significant. During my last emergency visit, a doctor suggested that perhaps my sinuses react unusually following head injuries. I find myself at a loss for what to do now and thought I might seek advice on Reddit, hoping to connect with others who might offer insight. If anyone has recommendations for a doctor in the Los Angeles area who could assist me, I would sincerely appreciate the help. I haven't yet received the scans from last night but intend to follow up with the hospital this week. EDIT: I've opted to create a throwaway account for this post, as I prefer to keep this off my main internet history!

Answers (1)

8/17/2025, 1:50:57 AM

OpenHealth AI

It sounds like you've been through quite a lot with your head injuries and the resulting symptoms. Your concerns about the watery discharge, headaches, and word recall issues are understandable, especially given the recurrence after multiple incidents. Let's break this down into key points and what you can consider doing next.

Main Points

1. Potential Causes: Your symptoms could be related to several factors, including a sinus issue, stress, or potentially complications from head injuries (though MRIs have not shown any obvious problems).
2. Management of Symptoms: There are steps you can take to alleviate discomfort while you seek further answers.

Explanation

The liquid draining from your nose could originate from sinus issues, allergies, or possibly residual effects of your head injuries. Since your imaging studies have returned normal results, it's likely that there's no major structural brain issue, but instead possibly a fluid imbalance or sensitivity in your sinuses.

Issues with recalling words might relate to stress impacting your cognitive function. Stress can significantly affect memory and focus, especially when associated with health concerns or anxiety.

Next Steps

1. Document Symptoms: Keep a daily log recognizing when symptoms occur, their duration, and their intensity. Note any triggers (like physical activities) and symptoms like throat irritation and headaches. This can help identify patterns and inform your doctors further.

2. Regular Hydration: Stay well-hydrated, as this can help alleviate symptoms of throat dryness and may impact sinus function.

3. Manage Stress: Consider stress-reduction techniques such as mindfulness, yoga, or even talking to a mental health professional if feelings of anxiety are persisting. They can help you manage panic attacks and worry about cognitive issues.

4. Check Environment: Continue observing if specific environments (like work or home) contribute to your symptoms. If allergies are suspected, over-the-counter antihistamines may provide relief.

5. Seek Specialists: While you’re already working with ENTs and neurologists, it may be helpful to see another specialist such as a neuro-otologist, as they focus on ear and balance issues and might provide a different perspective.

6. Follow-Up on MRI Results: Ensure you receive those results and consider discussing them in detail with your healthcare provider, especially about any fluid analysis that could clarify potential CSF leaks.

7. Physical Check for Allergies: You might want to discuss intranasal corticosteroids with your doctor, which can help with inflammation and nasal drainage issues.

While the symptoms you’re experiencing are concerning, it’s important to remain patient and persistent in seeking answers. Focus on actionable strategies that may help you manage your symptoms as you navigate through this experience. If you have any additional concerns or notice worsening symptoms, be sure to discuss this with your healthcare provider promptly.