Originally Posted by Mark in Idaho

Welcome to NeuroTalk. Sorry to hear of your struggles.

First, You are not suffering from Second Impact Syndrome. You would have had disabling head aches and be in the hospital fighting for your life.

What you have is Multiple Impact Syndrome. Your second concussion has magnified symptoms because of the accumulation of injuries.

SIS is when the brain loses its ability to control blood and cerebral spinal fluid pressure and swells to the point of brain death.

MIS is like getting a second sunburn on top of a sunburn that has not healed yet. The cell damage is worse but not fatal. It just takes longer to get the maximum level of healing.

MIS also creates a much greater risk if long term or even permanent symptoms, such as PCS.

When you collided playing soccer, did you collide heads? Did you head the ball during your play? Did you play to a point of body or muscle fatigue?

These all can cause a return of concussion symptoms. The first two can cause a concussion like cluster of symptoms even if you did not sense an immediate concussed sensation.

It will help to understand a bit more about you? Gender, age, lifestyle choices etc. Your skiing injury leads me to think you are male and like to push the limits.

For the short term, you should stop all caffeine, alcohol, and any chemicals that may influence your brain. You need quiet rest. You should minimize physical exertion to no more than a brisk walk and even less if you feel any symptoms after a brisk walk.

If you play soccer frequently, you likely have suffered previous concussions that did not cause symptoms beyond a momentary bit of confusion. You surely have experience many sub-concussive impacts from heading the ball. The combined history has left you much more susceptible to any head impacts.

Regarding finding a doctor, it will not likely be much help. There is little a doctor can do, even a concussion specialist.

If you have head aches, Tylenol is a good start. It you need more relief, combine Tylenol and aspirin. If you struggle with head aches and insomnia, a doctor may prescribe a low does of Elavil (amitriptyline, an antidepressant).

Many of us use nutritional supplements to help our brain detoxify and heal. Start with B-12 (500 to 1000 mcgs daily), a B-50 complex, D3, Omega's, calcium, magnesium, and good protein for the essential amino acids ( pork is the best source of Broken Chain Amino Acids.

If you have any severe head aches or loss of balance or motor function, get to an ER immediately.

Otherwise, let us know how you are doing. There are plenty of great people here with lots of experience with PCS.

My best to you.