Concerned about possible damage being done after plane landing
 

I havent fully recovered from my pcs and its been going on for the past 6 years, as well as on and off before then. I havent been able to tolerate head shaking/bumps much since then.

Anways, I went on vacation for a week. The flight there was ok. The landing was relatively soft, and I stood up so that my knees could absorb some of the impact.

On the way back, the landing was very hard, causing some passengers to go "ooh" when we landed because of the bump. I was again standing up to soften the blow, but as soon as we landed, the impact immediately forced me into my chair. At the time, i didnt feel any immediate symptoms. However, since then (this all happened yesterday) Ive had a feeling as though im still moving (not dizziness) and I had a very restless sleep, which normally happens to me after some sort of head trauma. Also, ive felt slower (processing speed) since then.

Fwiw, no one else on the flight was hurt, and no mention of it afterwards by any passengers (other than me).

Could this force have caused a concussion/damage? Thanks

No, this force did not cause a concussion. You may be experiencing a startle response that can cause weird sensations for a bit.

Just curious. How are you allowed to stand during a landing ? Not even the flight attendants can be out of their seats during landing ?

Ok. Thanks. Im sure Im not allowed. I just stand for 10 seconds during take off and landing and no one has said anything. If they did, I'd probably still do it and hope they dont kick me off the plane ;)

Why do you stand ? Are you trying to reduce the impact forces of touchdown ?

You greatly increase you risk of a head impact by standing than reducing any risk of a hard landing. Plus, you become a projectile if there was a severe turbulence event.

You would be better sitting with your seatbelt fastened with your head forward as if you are trying to hug your knees. This is standard crash or impact position because it reduces the forces to the head from a hard landing.

When you head and shoulders are forward, the spine will bend to absorb most of any jarring force. Just hunching your head and shoulders forward will reduce the forces transmitted through the spine.

My guess...standing is possibly a flight or fight response and therefore you are tense and in no real position to be nimble using fine motor skills to minimize any bumps.

You are far better off to remain seated on the cushion and relax...you can roll with the punches so to speak.

Not to mention stressing out the folks seated around you, airplanes in this day and age are no place for perceived abnormal behavior.

Bud

I've lived successfully with some form of PCS on and off for 10 years. I know how you feel. Its hard for me to play down being scared of how plane landings or little head shakes are affecting. Essentially I fear the worst every time.

Some way or another, it's always fine in the end. Its the fear of reinjury and burden of constant self evaluation that are usually the main forces at play, as opposed to further physical trauma. Despite sensing this deeply, after 10 years, I still can't bring myself not to worry about things like rough plane landings. But maybe there is a way to change all of that. That's what we both need to figure out.

impalpable,

Welcome to NeuroTalk.

A simple start to letting go of anxiety about plane landings is understanding the impact forces we endure every day. Walking down stair often causes more vertical G force than even a rough landing will cause. The difference is when walking down stairs, we know to expect the impact sensation. When landing, there is heightened anxiety that magnifies any sensation.

Just because you feel and hear the landing touchdown does not mean the impact force was strong.

You just have to choose to believe that these bumps are not strong enough to cause damage, because they are not strong enough to cause damage.

The plane would suffer structural damage before the passengers could ever be subjected to enough force to cause damage. When people are injured by turbulence in a plane, it is because they are tossed about the plane and injury their necks hitting the ceiling.

I could get technical but it usually does not help.