![]() |
If you are recovering from a concussion, can small bumps be serious?
Hey guys
Last thursday (1 week ago), I was diagnosed with a "very mild concussion." I wont get into the nit and grit as my other post explains it but I accidently got a small bump to the back of my head from my partner tonight while lying in bed. She went to grab something reaching over and just bumped the bag of my head. It wasn't that hard just felt like a small bump but now I feel headachy and dizzy and lightheaded. For the last year, I've been getting better and better at working through my anxiety and telling myself it is ok but because I was told I had a mild concussion 1 week ago I am now worried that a small bump could do serious damage. I am overreacting? To be honest, I don't even know if the "mild concussion" was a concussion as I was pretty much fine the next day (friday) and was pretty much 100% normal 2 days later (saturday) and apart from yesterday where I randomly woke up all dizzy, been doing everything normal. |
Quote:
|
Your issue is not getting bumped. You issue is you have ideas that just aren't true. Then, you add your concern about practicing combat arts.
If you continue your BJJ, this will be your life. Every hard toss or jerk will have you in anxiety mode. Then, touches like in bed will set you off. The concept of getting a concussion after a prior concussion has to due with serious concussions. If the 1st concussion caused serious headaches and other symptoms, that can signal that the brain is struggling to maintain proper fluid pressure. A second substantial concussion that happens before the brain has recovered control of fluid pressure can cause a life threatening increase in fluid pressure. These 1st concussions have serious symptoms and maybe even a brief hospital stay to monitor fluid pressure symptoms. Many years ago, an Olympic snowboarder named Kevin Pearce suffered a serious concussion and returned to training and competition before his brain was ready. A subsequent concussion put him into a coma and almost killed him. |
Quote:
I'm going to be getting one of those ribbed/padded hats as my anxiety has gotten worse since the latest knock. I was getting better but that last knock made me super sensitive. It's been 5 days since that knock and I kind of just want to get to the 3-4 week so I feel a bit better psychological wise. Just been a tough time since that last knock. I'm at the point where I don't even like my partner touching me or hugging me much because if she accidently bumps or touches my head etc my brain overracts. And then tonight, was lying down and she put her arm behind my head to pull me in and kind of knocked her arm into the back of my head to pull me forward and that set my brain off big time I got dizzy, nauseous and pressure. I really need to get this under control as it is not fair on my partner and is making life hell for me. |
Another poster mentioned how he learned to deal with this. It is quite simple.
If the touch, bump, knock to your head would not have caused you to react with fear and anxiety before your first concussion, there is no reason to let it trigger you now. Bumps and knocks DO NOT TRIGGER CONCUSSION SYMPTOMS. That is a game your mind is playing. Your problem is you do not believe and accept TRUTH. You will drive your girlfriend away with this behavior. Others on this forum have. Stop researching concussions. Stay away from Reddit and other forums. Too many Concussion Reddidiots on Reddit. From what you have said, I don't believe you ever suffered a concussion. You suffered a neck injury that messed you up and, absent anything/anybody that suggested it was a neck injury, you decided those symptoms were a concussion. Now, you suffer from Concussion Anxiety Syndrome. Your fear of concussions is causing your mind to become anxious and manifest anxiety symptoms that are similar to concussion symptoms. You don't have a clue what real concussion symptoms are. You confuse the symptoms you have. I have dealt with concussions and anxiety as separate issues. Also neck injuries. I used to think I was giving my self a concussion with quick head turns. NO. I was exacerbating an upper neck injury that presented with concussion like symptoms. Once you understand concussions, the anxiety symptoms are easier to identify and resolve. When you get a head touch, you may jerk your head causing NECK symptoms. |
Quote:
|
Can being pushed/hit in the shoulder cause a reinjury?
AS above
I know a lot of my issues are anxiety related and have been referred to see a psychologist about it now however this event has me worried a bit more as it was more than just a light head bump. I was lying in bed on my side with my partner and I said a joke thing and you know how some people react and push you and be like "excuse me haha." It wasn't meant to be malicious or anything but I'm a bit worried as I felt the hit/push send me backwards a decent amount. I felt like I had been really pushed back and my head did get jerked back. Because I read that a blow to another part of the body can cause a concussion, then with me only 1 week into a concussion I am worried that I have reconcussed/reinjured myself? My head feels pressured but that could be anxiety. Anyway, I was wondering does it need to be a BIG bodyhit or can a semi-hard push/punch to the shoulder cause another injury, especially to someone recovering? |
DeanBJJ,
After your irrational post about being pushed by your partner, I know that nothing I say can make a difference. Sorry. You are on your own with your therapist. I will not waste my breath anymore. |
Quote:
Sadly because the push was different to a light bump etc I got worried and couldn't calm down and because I read that body hits can cause concussions I got worried. I know you said to stop researching concussions but as you know anxiety is a ***** and is not rational haha. I'm sorry I overstayed my welcome I wont post again until I update everyone in maybe 6 months - 1 year on my progress. Thanks again mark |
Quote:
I had my 94 year old mother stuck here over Covid, a forest fire not 10 miles from were I live....This year lost 2 dear friends on the same day! I openly speak to my friends that I cant do things without help...I openly speak about my therapy and therapist. I use to be that ruff construction worker, now I am a different but better person...I am happy to be alive even though life is very difficult. I am very happy you are seeking help, it takes time and no simple fixes...Be honest and dont fear....They are there to help...Good luck |
DeanBJJ,
Where did you hear that body hits can cause a concussion? That is false. |
Quote:
Quote:
|
Quote:
|
I am sorry you're having this experience- it is scary to have multiple bumps to the head (slight or heavy), especially in the context of the increasing focus on CTE in research, media and (finally) athletics. I do feel Mark's initial point is a good one. Not only is anxiety from raised awareness a potential contributor here, but there is also the pragmatic question- how likely is it that there will be a compounding injury? When it comes to two concussions in isolation, regardless of their proximity to one another, the answer, according to research, is "not very". Even so, in the unlikely worst-case-scenario, focusing on what we can find control over is a good place to start. This brings us back to Mark's point- Anxiety can not only bring focus to normative sensations, making them feel heightened but can also generate physiological responses which feel abnormal and concerning. I hope you are able to find the support you need to identify the impact of anxious thoughts on your physiological, emotional and cognitive state. Wishing you well.
|
The amount of force to the body that can result in a concussion will cause serious injury to the body. Injured shoulder (football players wear pads that can protect the shoulder while transmitting the hit to the neck.), cracked sternum (seatbelts in a car crash).
These concussions are usually more of a upper cervical injury with strain on the brain stem. This can disrupt blood and fluids to the brain and cause problems from the inflammation. Some experts call these cervical concussions. The symptoms overlap with brain impacts. If you watch the slo mo replays of these hits in football, you will see the violent whiplash of the head and neck. That takes a lot of impact force |
Quote:
I've seen a psychiatrist, specialist and phsyio and about to see a psychologist but I feel like Im getting worse!! Just now, I pulled my duvet covers up really quickly and the corner was all bunched up and it basically was folded back over itself creating a thick bunch of material if that makes sense. Anyway, when I pulled by duvet this part came whipping down onto my head and felt like I'd been punched in the head. Obviously I know the material is soft but it still felt like it had weight to it. Anyway, I couldn't help myself and I had a panic attack and now my head is pressured and sore and I'm sick to my stomach that I have another concussion. I don't know what to do anymore. I was getting better but the recently concussions really set me back!! It is so hard when these incidents set me back! |
What is your rest/activity level like? Does work aggravate your head? Do you have to take pain pills to get through the day?
|
Quote:
This last knock set me back tho. For the last 3 days I havn't been quite right. Just slightly light headed and dizzy as well as pressure in my head. I know it was only a duvet hitting my head but it honestly felt like a punch to the forehead in a way. Usually when I have flare ups they go away the next day after a good sleep. I had this flare up on Thursday and it is still here on Saturday. Could being hit with a duvet theoretically give a concussion in someone who is suspetible? Like lets say you took a bunch of it and wacked someone over the head with it. COuld that technically give a concussion? It wasn't quite that hard as I was lying down in bed and was on my pillow I just someone ripped the duvet up and it was bunched up and it flicked over and smacked me in the forehead. |
Glad you're doing well. Take a double dose of curcumin and omega 3 DHA immediately after the incident to minimize the flare up.
But trying to analyze an impact to determine whether it caused an injury is futile. Just take it easy for a day or two to allow the flare up to subside. You would do the same if it was an actual injury, so that's why you shouldn't over-analyze the incident. |
I suggest if you think you need to analyze a head bump, instead, analyze your distant past. Would you have ever been concerned about a Duvet slapping your head 5 years ago? Would it have caused you to react 5 years ago.
5 years ago should be your truth, not some anxious online question. |
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:33 AM. |
Powered by vBulletin Copyright ©2000 - 2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
vBulletin Optimisation provided by
vB Optimise (Lite) -
vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2025 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.