2nd time around. Knocked out again
 

Well, I'm back... After sitting on the sideline for 5 weeks after reciving a concussion on March 5th I got released to play again about two weeks ago. On Sat. I was playing in my second game back. (pro womens football) I was told I was going in for a sack and the Line backers was going in also and she hit me full force on the side of my helmet. Just a freak thing that happened with 6 seconds left in the game. I do not remember it. They say I was out for about 30 seconds. So I have been dealing with headaches,dizzness, feeling sick to my stomach, and my neck is killing me. I can't do anything but lay around.

So the Dr. advised me to hang it up this year since it's my secoond councusion this season. Last time my symptoms lingered for 4 weeks. Things got worse and worse. So I am wondering am I in for a long one again since it's the second one. I sure hope not. Has anybody had back to back councussions.

I was 100 percent symptom free when I went back and they were very slow with allowing me back.

I know one thing for sure... When you think you are fine and all healed up from a concussion, youre really not. I have experienced relapses and have had the concussion symtoms come back long after I felt fine due to overstimulation or infections like the flu.

I also know one more thing. Getting a new concussion close to the previous is BAD! Your brain is in a fragile stage long after a concussion.

Most people I have heared of having the same problems i now have (PCS 3 years) have all had multiple concussions and with the timeframe between each one beeing small.

I had to quit snowboarding which was my life and all other dangerous activities. That sucks but I know that if I get more hits to my head Im not sure I could handle it.

My suggestion to you is to seriously consider giving up your sport and try to get yourself stressfree for the PCS period you are about to experience since your last one lasted 4 weeks. Likely is this the case unfortunately.

Good luck and try to see all the possibilities you still have with a deasent functioning brain!!

I can't exactly tell you about two in a row so close.

But the symptoms you describe are so much like mine. And my injury
was from a car accident two months ago. I am still having problems
with my head. All the other problems have disappeared.

I'm working to figure out what else we can try at physical therapy.
Because I think our last thing is not working now either.

So I'm really a littel depressed.

donna:grouphug:

As rydellen said,

You thought you were 100% symptom free but you were dead wrong. You may have felt much better and not had any dizziness or head aches but symptom free is far more than that.

Symptom free would be:

Being able to stay up very late and still function the next day without any PCS symptoms.

Working out to max pulse rate and blood pressure without any symptom immediately or the next day.

Enduring a fever and no PCS symptoms.

I could go on but hope you get the point.

As posted previously, you should sit out the rest of the season while you consider how important your future is compared to the temporary thrill of playing some football games.

Your impact was not a freak thing. It was a calculated risk of playing the game. All injuries in contact sports are part of the calculated risk. You tossed the dice and lost. The next time, you will lose much more.

But then, it's your life. Those of us posting warnings are already living our own lives with PCS.

There is an axiom that goes like this.

A fool does not learn from their own mistakes.
A smart person learns from their own mistakes.
A wise person learns from OTHERS mistakes.

I was saying it was a freak thing that my own teammate hit me in the last play of the game. Not that I got hit. I understood the risk but I was cleared and felt great, no symptoms at all when working out or doing anything else. And yes I have decided to take the doctor's advice and sit out the rest of the year. I love playing but he said I can't take another hit like that. I get it, just hope this does not linger.

I am an avid snow skier. I was once a member of the National Ski Patrol. I learned lots about the statistics of injury. Injury is far more common at the end of an athletic activity because the athlete is tired. Their reactions are dulled and their strength is reduced. The last quarter of a game is a very likely time to suffer an injury. In some cases, there is an increased risk of injury due to a "We have to win this game" effort that may cause players to take risks beyond normal.

When I was a private airplane pilot, we called this "Get there itis." Reaching the final objective starts to cloud the judgment and accidents become more prevalent. Watch the news reports about aircraft accidents. They are far more likely to happen at the end of a flight than at the beginning.

In soccer, the most dangerous headers are those in the goalie box, especially from a corner kick. Multiple players try to get to the ball and brains get injured.

In your case, it sounds like multiple players tried to get to the quarterback and your brain got injured.

Keep in mind, coaches have a desire to get players back into the game so they use standards that support that goal. Some recent research into the attitudes of coaches and trainers found that they are becoming reluctant to label a head hit as a concussion because it causes a mandatory time away from play in many leagues.

They are totally ignoring the proven science that any head hit should be recorded and responded to with conservative return to play decision making.

Zoe22
 

Hi. I was absolutely horrified when I read this thread - and it has actually prompted me to start posting again.

Please, please stop whatever you are doing and shut yourself in a dark room for 3 weeks!

Coming up 10 years ago my head was knocked twice or rather I knocked my head twice. - the knocks were 6 weeks apart.

I thought that I had got over the first one straight away, but approx 2-3 days afterward I had severe headaches etc.

The second knock gave me instant headaches, memory loss and all the other symptoms to go with it. Because I couldn't get the right diagnosis etc I kept trying to work full time. I believe this been the cause of my non recovery. (Plus my age did not help being over 40)

Like Mark I have got my survival/ self protection tricks - which I think are developed instinctively for self preservation.

All the best, I will no doubt have more to say later.