Quote:
Originally Posted by J0HN_TIT0R
Hey all,
Sorry to bring back this old thread, but I just had some more questions related to this incident. One on understanding more about G forces and concussions, and one on concussion recovery in general.
So scientifically I know that it usually takes at least 60Gs for a concussion to occur. But I'm having a bit of trouble understanding what 60Gs truly means, and I'd like for someone to check my understanding.
If I'm understanding it correctly, the head is about 10lbs at 1G. So for the brain to experience 60Gs, you need an impact of at least 10 * 60, or 600lbs at max force? And to conceptualize the force of that punch, you'd basically need to deadlift 600lbs with a punch? If that's how much force it takes, then I know that an accidental hit from an elbow couldn't have been 60G. It probably wasn't even 10G...
The other question is a bit more health focused. I know that many people dont think my hit could have been a concussion, but the symptoms I had scared me, so I've been playing it safe just incase. One specific way in which I've been trying to help my brain is by giving up alcohol, which aside from the first week, I've successfully done for a month now. But tomorrow some friends are meeting up, and I was wondering if there is any problem with having one or two drinks over the course of the night with them?
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Hey John I have very similar concerns as you. After a concussion in a cycling accident 8 months ago my symptoms (headaches, fatigue etc) went in to remission 3 months in to my recovery (which I did terribly because I drank alcohol a few times in the first few weeks including the first day after, continued to heavily use screens and study etc) but then had a relapse of symptoms after getting shoulder barged in football/soccer. I'm pretty sure I at least had a relapse because I was mostly symptom free for a month before it.
It's been 4 months since the relapse and I've gradually gotten better again. I relapsed again the other day after violent shaking my head side to side (I overdid the gaze stabilization vestibular exercises, lol).
Now I'm pretty sure a shoulder barge or head shaking or taking an elbow to the head is nowhere near the force required to cause an acceleration of 60g but people with a history of concussions (let alone people with PCS) have a lower threshold for concussion.
It seems ridiculous but I read an article about a highschool aged girl who had reached the point where she lost consciousness after an accidental stray elbow but then again, she had had more than 10 concussions by that point. The girl's name was Popyer if you're interested in the article.
Not to scare you here or anything as I don't think your case is comparable but just to make a point here that people with multiple concussions have significantly reduced thresholds for concussion. As for permanent damage I do think you are being overly anxious there... unless you are playing American football or boxing or doing something else involving regular blows to the head you aren't going to go beyond PCS and exacerbating PCS.