Welcome to NT!

It saddens me when a young, active person has to deal with concussion.

As for your first question, helmets can reduce the severity of concussion, but they can't always prevent it. That's because the concussion is caused by what's going on inside your head: the impact of your brain against your skull as the force of a sudden stop makes it move back and forth and/or side to side. There are a number of excellent videos on YouTube that explain the mechanics on concussion.

As for depression, it's common after a head injury. Part of it is caused by the sudden alteration in one's lifestyle and health (headache, can't play sports, go to work/school, etc...) and anxiety about the future. However, it is also an effect of physical changes wrought by the brain injury itself. That's why even the most positive, optomistic, naturally cheerful people (like me) can have dark moments after a TBI.

As for testing, CT scans and standard MRIs are pretty useless in diagnosing PCS. You really need neuro-psychological testing.

I am really concerned because this is your third known concussion. The effects of multiple impacts can be devastating. You need to make "brain care" your number one priority. You might want to visit the Brain Injury Association of America webpage to learn more about your condition www.biausa.org As I said, YouTube also has a number of excellent videos on concussion.

Please take care of yourself.

Thancks for your guys support! As you guys said i go for the testing which is tomor. I have done research and am not to optimistic about it as it doent show real promise. I still feel really depressed about life in general, but have been eating and sleeping a lot which is a good thing, no suicidal thoughts..... lol. Although i am in constant pain i am going to try to fight through this and not have to repeat my junior year, worst year in high school., and see all my friends go off to college w/o me. I have a question, if they mak me repeat a year, do i get to skip school, cuz that would just suck in general. not seeing my friends, and also i wouldnt be gaining any ground if i had to stay for two more years.

JT,

Don't try to make sense of the impact. The helmet will not help if your brain has had a previous concussion like you described.

Your main problem is you have second impact syndrome/multiple impact syndrome. This impact may have had less force to your head, but your head is MUCH more susceptible to a concussion at a lower force.

To add to that, you are in a stage of life that makes concussions more difficult. Your prior concussions, during adolescence, interrupt your brain's growth and maturing stage. This can be a difficult time to deal with the symptoms.

You need to find some way to relax and lower the stress in your life. Your brain needs some time off from stimulation. This includes mental exercises or tasks, loud and chaotic or heavy beat music, caffeine and other stimulating foods and beverages, and anything that you might do that raises your blood pressure or adrenaline levels.

I deal with head aches frequently. I know to take some Tylenol and try to relax. Prevention is highly effective, too.

High achievers often struggle more with concussion. It interrupts their achievement goals and attitude. You may have to prepare yourself to a new way of achieving. Some things may be more difficult than before. Memorization and recall skills may be effected. Over-reacting to stressful situations may become common. This stressing out may cause you recall skills to fail. When I was your age, I would freeze mentally during a test or exam.

So, your first need is to learn how to live a more relaxed lifestyle. This is an outer and inner issue. Activities you engage in (outer) and what you think about (inner) will both impact your ability to heal and achieve.

So, slow down and let your brain have some time off. It will be worth it.

I have been there, done that, lived through it, and learned to slow down and relax.

You can get through this. Just don't try to force it and you will do much better.

My best to you.

Have you missed so much already that they will make you stay back a year? Is there any way you can get extra help to try and get through it? I know how badly I feel every day and how difficult it would be to try and do school on top of it. I'm sorry!

Maybe you can get extensions and extra help enough to help you finish by the end of summer school, so you can at least get passing grades. Short breaks and naps might help, if you can do a little bit at a time.

There are also home school courses that can help you do things at your own pace with a tutor. I don't have a lot of concrete information on any of this, just brainstorming.

Try talking to your school councelors and see what they can do. Good luck!

im in the same situation as you right now ive been out of school for 2 months now and they are starting to talk about holding me back a year. is there anything at school that deals with something like disabilites that could get you the extra help to keep you from being held back. or could you get a tutor that could help bring you a little work while your still at home so you could get a little bit done. i dont know what your school offers but i hope you can find what you need to get through the year.

Rest for a week. Thats what they want me 2 do. I am frustrated. 2 new symtoms, nausea and lack of balance, feel like im leaning or fallling to the left all the time. I didnt take the test, not well enough. Hopefully in a week i will be. He put me on medication for the balancing issue but i forgot the name...... ofcourse............... Family getting frustrated, my dad talking about other methods like acupuncture to cure me or bowel something????????? Furucet helping w/ sleep.

Hi to you both. When it comes to school issues you would be eligible for services under a 504. What you would need is for your doctor's to write a script or letter stating that while your out of school you should get homebound schooling.

Donna

Soccer14,

Your school should have a disabilities coordinator. They help set up IEP's. Individualized Education Programs. Sometimes it is like puling teeth to get this going. It may require than you be tested by a education psychologist.

Ask about it. You could also see if you school has a work from home program. It is sort of public home school. A tutor could also be available, though most likely, you just need a slower pace of learning, etc.

Are there any virtual academies in your area? These are on-line schools where you may meet once a month or maybe every two weeks. You have online lessons and chat sessions with teachers and study groups.

If we knew your location, we could do some research for you. Each state and county has different programs. Just a city or county and state would be good. Never give out anything more online.

yea thanks but we did actually finally get something going i have a tutor that comes over a few times a week now and brings me work from 3 classes right now. once i get more caught up in those 3 we will start adding on more and she said once i get caught up more i could start doing maybe one or 2 classes a day. yay

we also got something started with a thing called the tbi team that does a lot of testing which i finished today and then they help the teachers make a modified plan so i can keep up with the class. it will be nice to go back to school.

im also doing an on line math class because i would be too far behind to try to go back so i can go at my own pace and if i get caught up this semester i can rejoin the class next semester which i really want to do. So yes we are finally getting some stuff going and its been good thanks for the suggestions

JT5493,

The good news is that you are young and your brain is still in the process of growing. You need to take advantage of this and begin doing therapy as soon as possible. Unfortunately, your neurologist will probably be of little help to you because most still don't understand concussions.

You and your parents should google these therapies which have been shown to rehabilitate brain injuries:

Neurofeedback
Hyberbaric Oxygen Therapy
Oxiracetam
Cerebrolysin
Vision Therapy

Good luck, and get to work on rehabilitating your brain.