Multiple hits to the head
 

Hey guys this is my first post and I wanted to give you my history of getting smacked in the head (17 yrs old). About 2 or 3 months ago I was playing lacrosse and a rather large fellow checked me in the head pretty hard. I was confused and dazed for a moment, say out for most of that game. The next day I practiced and everything, however I was getting winded easily, told coaches and they said it may be a concussion.
So I went to see a doctor and she said I had one, however I had no headache, only trouble with memory, concentration, irritability, and overall cognition. I rested well for a few weeks and decided to play again as I was feeling better. I was hit in the head again, with a lot less force than the first time. I was dazed for a second and quit playing. After this pretty much sat out for the rest of the season.
Despite siting out over the past ~~ 2 months or so, I've managed to be repeatedly plagued by knocks to the head. I was tossing the ball around with some friends and got hit in the head, I've bumped my head on things many times, I'd say around 10 or more small bumps to head. I've never gotten headaches really but every time is hit my head it'd seem like id be a little more sluggish/foggy, then I'd start feeling a lot better only to do it again.
I was feeling pretty good last weekend, until a couple days ago I was driving with my girlfriend and she stopped suddenly and I jolted forward a bit, however I didn't hit my head. Then yesterday's friend who was driving suddenly stopped at a stopped sign, jolting me forward even harder, but again not hitting my head. Today I still have no headache but I just feel foggy and mad that this keeps happening. To make it worse I have admittedly drank and smoke a few times on the days where I'm feeling like me again, tht seems to have an effect for a day or two after.
So with all of these sub concussive impacts, do you think I could've done some permanent damage? It really depresses me and provokes my anxiety considering I'm only 17 years old. However ive never had headaches which is a good thing. I just don't feel like myself, I don't feel as quick witted and deep thinking as I used to be, I just want to go back to normal :(. Do you think if I take it easy and rest I'll recover fully? Is this actual damage or just PCS would you guys say. Any input is wanted, please I am desperate, thank you

I would say since summer is about to start that you take it easy this summer... no more blows to the head... I know here they have a program where they do a test at the beginning of the season for students as a baseline for future head injuries... did they do that with you? Can you go to your doctor and see if they can test against a baseline before you go back to lacrosse?

Plan to just kind of lay around the pool and do a whole lot of resting... I have been told that rest and time will be your best friend... you are young and should recover but I would see a doctor to get a baseline and mark improvements.

The no headache thing is a little odd, but not unique. I was in the same sort of cycle as you a couple years ago. For 3 years straight I could not get a break, I just got bumped and jostled until I stopped counting because the number of bumps was too depressing. I now say that I have had between 4-12 concussions and multiple additional bumps to my head. But one day, two years ago, I got my last concussion/bump and I have been free of any further injury since. I didn't start doing anything differently, it just stopped. I don't know about permanent damage, but just give yourself time.
If it is permanent stressing about it will not help, so just live life as the new you and if it gets better then great, but if it does not, well at least you have started on the road to coping with the new you. I am determined to stay away from any more opportunity for concussions, but I still maintain a life, just a calmer life.
Rest is great, but for me it is important to still have fun so that I do not become depressed by my injury.

It has been 2 years since my last concussion, and I am fairly high-functioning. I have headaches daily, but they are less obtrusive and I am better able to cope. I am also better at noticing when I need to slow down, or when I need to have that cup of coffee to offset the oncoming storm.

I enjoy a beer every night, it makes the pain a little more pointed, but the relaxation effect is worth it.

DO NOT GET ANY MORE HEADACHES!!!! Tell your friends so that they are careful.
Good Luck!
In Christ,
Margarite

I'd say rest up until you have felt better for an extended period of time.

No alcohol for sure. Not sure about smoking (marijuana, I assume) as it can have a calming effect which may help the healing process but it could do harm as well.

I know it will be hard to rest and get better. At 17 I would be doing the same as you. Back to it as soon as I felt better.

I've had symptoms for over a year now due to the same pattern of starting to feel better and then doing too much.

One summer of just rest and recovery could save you a lifetime of feeling like crap.

jajaa,

Welcome to NeuroTalk. Every concussion leaves a some permanent damage. usually, it is not noticeable until under stress.

It sounds like you have hit your limit of head impacts. I bet you have a long string of head hits in your past, but they cleared quickly so you did not get concerned.

Time to hang up the lacrosse cleats. I doubt you will regain an ability to tolerate simple body checks let alone body checks that include a shoulder to the head. The jolts in the car likely aggravated a whiplash like injury. Whiplash and concussions go hand in hand. If you get one, you usually get the other too.

If you continued to play and suffered more hits, you would likely be chipping away at you future.

Read the sticky at the top called Vitamins and Supplements. It is good brain nutrition. Avoid brain altering chemicals. Plus, you may need to get some treatment for your upper neck. At least be careful with head and neck posture during rest and sleep.

tell us more about your symptoms. Are you sensitive to light and sounds ?

btw, Thanks for the many paragraphs. A good start but add double spacing after each paragraph so those of us with visual tracking issues can follow from line to line.

My best to you.

Wow. Sounds like you need to go to the doctor. It's never a good thing to experience changes in level of consciousness.

jajaa,

You are concerned about permanent brain damage but continue to drink and smoke. Every time a person gets drunk, they damage brain cells. The drunker they get, the more damage. Research has found that the teen age brain is far more susceptible to damage from alcohol. This weakness can last until about 25 years old.

Just an FYI.

Thanks so much for the responses everyone, it's just been a constant struggle for so long and I just want to know that everything WILL go back I nomal. I most definitely won't be playing lax for a while and just resting/recovering. As far as additional symptoms I really don't have and nausea, light sensitivity, eadaches, etc. but I do get depression and mood swings in addition to cognitive reduction. I feel as though I'm less energetic and creative as well. It is hard to different what is concussion and what is actual depression, as I'm going through a hard time with some personal stuff as well. However I was having symptoms just like these before said personal problems arose, and I think they may have a cumulative effect as sometimes the depression is dibilitating. Thank you everyone and I hope to hear more responses

Jajaa listen to them they know what theyre talking about. I was once in your position borderline fringe of some days good and some days not so much. I played soccer and this year i just had a string of bad luck and could not stop hitting my or getting hit. Seemed every ball or door or whatever was magnetized to me haha (i played soccer). Do not make my mistake i rolled the dice and am paying for it right now. Ive had pcs since January and have been in college since then so i have little rest.

I hope to get some rest soon, and heal but time will tell. As a teen its hard to say no b/c you become the outcast but waking up everyday feeling dizzy, nausea, fatigue, headaches and brain fog are not worth it for a couple years of good times. Im 22 btw