Am I re-injuring myself?
 

My initial concussion occurred in early May of this year, and it was "just" a rather intense head shaking experience that resulted in dizziness, extreme exhaustion, and potato-provoked headaches. Since then, I haven't had any other major injuries, not on the same scale. That said, if my head is jolted or jostled, I will experience dizziness/light-headedness for a few hours.

Yesterday, I had an incident wherein my hairdresser pretty aggressively rubbed my scalp, to the extent that I was quite noticeably dizzy and light-headed afterward-- probably the closest thing I've had thus far to an actual re-injury. No headache or exhaustion, thankfully.

My question is this: Obviously I need to minimize these kinds of incidents, but do they constitute a full-on re-injury? The reason I ask is that one reads constantly about the fact that a second or third TBI dramatically increases the risk of dementia in old age. I feel like I need to live in a bubble until I can withstand a vigorous scalp massage... :-(

Avoid hairdresser for a while as it makes you feel sick. It hardly sounds like you are a candidate for tbi induced dementia. I'm quite sure they don't constitute a full on head re injury.

May is only 3 months ago. Early in recovery period. you should be fine. Others will be along with more knowledge than me to answer your questions. In the meantime I wouldn't worry too much.

I do not think it caused additional injury however, were you laying down? Do you have vestibular damage from the initial incident? this could cause the dizziness..

You stated "The reason I ask is that one reads constantly about the fact that a second or third TBI dramatically increases the risk of dementia in old age."

Where are you reading this 'constantly' ?

You are likely causing yourself undue anxiety. You are overstating the case. Just take reasonable precautions to avoid head impacts. Regardless of whether 2nd and 3rd concussions dramatically increase the risk of dementia in old age, you want to avoid these injuries anyway. The short term symptoms are distressing enough.

My hairdresser knows to be gentle when she shampoos and towel dries my hair. I also try to hold my head very still against her hands.

It appears your head is still very sensitive to movement. As SarahSmile said, a vestibular assessment may be worthwhile.

Um, this is my story
 

(kind of.) I had an initial concussion in college 17 years ago, and this June a hairdresser pressed really hard on my scalp over my old injury about six times during a 5 minute shampoo. It was some kind of stupid aggressive pressure massage.

While it felt uncomfortable, I didn't tell her to stop because I had no idea it would lead to these crazy symptoms. Developed nausea, daily headache, dizziness, noise/light sensitivity, etc. Now ten weeks later I am much improved, but still not all better.

This has been the scariest thing I have ever experienced. I think I am done with hair salons.

Just Google "concussion dementia" and you can see a whole slew of articles on the subject. I realize that I am doing myself no favors from a healing perspective by obsessively searching the Internet for things to worry about. I went away for an off-the-grid camping trip two weeks ago, and that was the best I've felt since the injury. I attribute that amelioration at least in part to getting away from my anxiety-ridden electronica. The trip was not entirely stress-free, because we got caught in a sleet storm, but said anxiety didn't weigh on my soul, and there was a ton of just sitting around staring idly at a campfire and laughing at silly jokes.

I have not looked into the vestibular angle. I assume whatever that might consist of, it's more treatable than a TBI?

JuliaBertha, your story is certainly alarming. I guess the lesson for all of us is to speak up THE VERY INSTANT someone is doing something unwanted to our heads. Like you, I was uncertain of the outcome, and didn't want to unduly scold the young lady.

I have thus far avoided jogging for this very reason: Because I assume that no matter how good my form is, it will constitute an unhelpful amount of gentle jolting (if that's not a total oxymoron). Much as it bums me out, I figure I may never jog again. Thank God for a bicycle!

If you have your mind set on worrying about dementia there's nothing much anyone could say to diminish your fear. However, based on what you have told us, it is VERY remote that your injuries will lead to dementia. Football players who get clocked a zillion times a year should worry. You, not so much.

Always grateful for the input. I am always conscious of the fact that my symptoms are practically non-existent when compared to the majority of this board's denizens. Still, it's scary, when you make your living with your brain, as pretty much all of us do these days.

Yes, you are looking for things to worry about. Google brings up many web pages that refer back to the same study. Most of the dementia related to concussion is due to football careers full of concussions and sub-concussive impacts. There is a huge difference between getting literally thousands of sub-concussive impacts with a related number of full concussions from a life of playing football and suffering a single concussion then a few bumps to the head.

If you want to return to running, get some foam ear plugs and run/jog with them in. You will hear the impact of your foot plant and be able to learn a softer gait. With the right shoes and a soft gait, you will be able to run.

Great tip! Conversely, I have always been interested in "natural" running techniques, whereby you essentially go barefoot, and use your calves and feet muscles to absorb the impact of your body, versus cushioning the blow a landing on your heel with more foam. I assume that's the least impactful way to run.