I mentioned in another thread I had found various articles about increased susceptibility to head injuries following concussion, even after supposed 100% recovery. Couldn't re-find them all, but here are some. For me my PCS seems to be slowly lifting at last and I am optimistic of feeling completely normal at some point in the next 6 months. However these articles show why I will never play a contact sport again, however recovered I feel.
1. Large study in the Journal of the American Medical Association article "Cumulative Effects Associated With Recurrent Concussion in Collegiate Football Players":-
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Conclusions Our study suggests that players with a history of previous concussions are more likely to have future concussive injuries than those with no history; 1 in 15 players with a concussion may have additional concussions in the same playing season; and previous concussions may be associated with slower recovery of neurological function.
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http://jama.ama-assn.org/content/290/19/2549.full
2. Men's health article discussing the above study along with various other findings and the thoughts of affected athletes:-
http://www.menshealth.com/fitness/yo...le-concussions
3. Medscape article on 'Repetitive Head injury Syndrome'
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Importantly, even if the effects of the initial brain injury have already resolved (6-18 mo post injury), the effect of multiple concussions over time remains significant and can result in long-term neurologic and functional deficits.
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http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/92189-overview
4. Legal article on 'Proving Mild Traumatic Brain Injury', taking susceptibility to further concussions later in life as a legal given which makes proving blame for a specific head injury problematic:-
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However, research shows that one concussion -- even if it caused the victim no lasting symptoms -- leaves the victim at risk of permanent symptoms should he receive another concussion. That is why professional football players retire after receiving multiple concussions despite "feeling fine", and why boxers who don't retire eventually become "punch drunk."
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http://www.capersonalinjurycaselawno...-brain-injury/
5. Article from British Journal of Psychiatry on PCS. This article was really helpful to me early on, but does also mention previous concussions as a risk factor:-
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Other evidence suggestive of organic factors includes the following: slower recovery with increased age (cut-off at around 40 years) ( Binder, 1986); poorer outcome and a cumulative effect of previous and successive mild head injuries ( Gronwall & Wrightson, 1975); and poorer outcome with a history of alcohol or substance misuse ( Lishman, 1988).
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http://bjp.rcpsych.org/content/183/4/276.full