Returning PCS
 

On Jan 21, 2010 I was working out with my college track team when a spotting mishap ended with two 75 lb dumbbells falling on my head, I didn't lose consciousness, and because I expected some pain, I didn't consider a concussion until later that night when I was in so much pain, and so dizzy and nauseous that I had to go to the ER. They did the MRI and cat-scan and everything came out clean. Unfortunately, symptoms remained and a week and a half later I had a neurologist telling me I had PCS. I went looking around for information, found this website, and read alot of the stories and what not. After taking advice to basically just rest and do the bare minimum physically, I recovered sometime around March 13th. I slowly tested myself with track, and found that sprinting and throwing javelin didn't irritate me. Since that day, I had one episode in which symptoms returned for a day after heavy lifting. Needless to say I have stopped since then.

However, just the other day, throwing javelin, it came out wrong and hit the back of my head hard. Since then, all my symptoms have returned. Besides my roommates giving me a hard time about it (seeing as they haven't had it), my last three track meets ever are coming up, and I really can't see myself missing them. I was just wondering how dangerous it would be to continue throwing javelin for the remainder of the season, making sure to be more careful, and cutting out any other physical activity.

Thanks!

This is a question for your doctor. I know missing three track meets is a big deal for you. On the other hand, three track meets will lose their importance if you continue to suffer from PCS.

Go call your doctor. All the best-

Take it from another college athlete- I suffered a concussion back in the fall (which is our off season) and returned back to play before I was asymptomatic because I didn't want to miss my last fall ball scrimmage as a senior. If I could turn back time I would have sat out and allowed myself the time to heal properly. I ended up running into a metal pole and though I didn't hit my head I suffered from severe whiplash. I felt seriously hungover for two straight weeks after and am stiff suffering from severe headaches, fogginess neck pain and some dizziness.

so the moral of the story here- do NOT return to competing until you are completely better. It just isn't worth it. Do you want to feel like complete garbage for who knows how long just to compete in your last three meets? Believe me I know how much it SUCKS to sit out of competing, but think about how much you suffered for those three months it took you to get better.