Is momentum required in an impact to create a concussion?
 

Back again with another nervous question

A week ago I bumped my head while helping my friend shoot a video. I was holding the (large, kind of heavy, maybe 2-3 lbs, 5 at most) camera close to my head, and momentarily forgot that the small view screen was extended. I bumped the screen into my ear, and it kind of hurt. Started to panic internally. I was already feeling pretty poorly when the impact occurred so it was hard to tell if it made it any immediate difference. I Haven't felt very good at all ever since that day

I'm really freaked out that I've given myself a new concussion. My symptoms have been especially bad today. I hate bumping my head :((

my neurologist looked at my eyes and balance a few days after the impact and said she doesn't believe it caused any damage (not enough force/momentum) and that our skulls are designed to protect against minor impacts like this. For what it's worth, several weeeks ago I lightly bumped heads with someone and that turned out fine. This felt a liiiittle stinger of an impact though.

but I'm still freaked out. I guess she has a point, as my skull did not reslly move or whip or anything, and thr camera was close to my head. Is there merit to this? Your head/neck would have to move and cause your brain slide into the skull to be injured, right? Or does it not matter? I'm Scared to death

Before your first concussion would you have given the camera event any thought, not likely.

It would basically be impossible to,receive a concussion from such an event you described, your safe.

Call anxiety the liar it is and find truth to focus on.

Bud

nickd,

You need to find a new neurologist. She should have given you a much firmer NO answer and referred you to a psychologist or psychiatrist or other therapist to help you with your OCD and anxiety when something TOUCHES your head.

As Bud said, your anxiety is a big fat liar. I agree with the importance of the thought, "If this bump would not have upset you prior to your concussion, let it go."

But you need to know the truth. YES, you can get a concussion with very little head movement/momentum. BUT, that impact would likely fracture your skull first and comprise of 200 to 400 G's of force. A 4 pound camera would have felt like 800 pounds or more. It would have been traveling about 80 miles per hour.

A Newton's Cradle is a good example of how force can pass through an object with that object moving very little. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...ion_book_2.gif

At most, you pinched your ear. Ouch. The ear has sensitive nerves. The view screen likely weighed a few ounces and was flexible because it is on a hinge. The common consumer grade video cameras are only 2 pounds.

I got a concussion about 10 years ago when I dropped an automatic transmission on my head. My head was lightly against the concrete driveway so it did not move much at all but the transmission was 200 pounds and fell about 6 inches. I saw stars and had headaches on and off for 6 months. I'm lucky it hit me in the forehead where the skull is very strong. It only left a dent.

I suggest you do some desensitization training. Get a dozen eggs. Hard boil 10 of them and mix them up. Now, play Jimmy Fallon's egg challenge by smacking them on your forehead. Neither will harm you but the raw egg will startle you. Get used to being startled.

Thanks to you and Bud so much for such a detailed and attentive replies. Your commitment to this forum and the people on it never fails to amaze me.