Today I learned what a stagger headache is. I’ve had them since my injury, but I didn’t know what it was called.

Imagine you are walking down the street in NYC. All of the sudden someone bangs you in the head with a large heavy pot. You didn’t see it coming. Explosive pain in your head. You stagger trying not to fall over. But then the pain is gone quickly. No one noticed (or cared) that someone whacked you good. Did it even happen? The pain is gone, so you don’t mention to anyone around you.

This is what happens to me somewhat frequently. Except there is no bad man with a heavy pot. It’s like a lightning bolt, and I try to continue to sit still or walk normal. I usually don’t even say anything if I am with someone, because what would I say? It becomes a normal occurrence, so then you just sound like you are complaining.

These headaches are similar to some longer lasting ones I used to get. Especially when I tried to fly on an airplane with in the first year of the injury. My head was in so much pain it felt like there was a sharp knife driving into it and slicing it open. I am not exaggerating. Very scary.

And then I discovered that the expensive Bose noise cancelling headphones I bought to lessen my symptoms due to the noise of the plane were actually exacerbating the problem. Apparently my brain did not like the headband resting down upon my head with the weight of the earphones. It look months before I made this discovery.

One step forwards, 3 steps back.

Bad Bose headphones, bad.