[soccer14]

Most of you have already read this post in new member introductions but someone mentioned i should also paste it in this forum thanks.

I have a long story for everyone but I really need some help because I don't know what to do.

I suffered a concussion in January while in a basketball. I don't remember it at all but they said what probably happened was I dove for a ball, where I hit my head, and then a girl landed on my head causing another impact with the floor. I'm not really sure though. I didn't tell anybody it had happened because I didn't want to sit out. It finally got so bad that i was failing almost every class because of very bad short-term memory loss. Then at practice one day I passed out while we were doing sprints. My coaches made me go talk to the trainer where she said it sounded like a concussion. She scheduled a doctor's appoinment for me with a concussion specialist and made me sit out the rest of the practices until i saw him.

I went to the doctor's and took an Impact Test to determine how bad the concussion had been. The average person usually scores in the 50th percentile-I scored less than 1% in every category. I was pulled out of school and sent home to rest. I retook the test five more times until I finally got a high enough test score to return to school. I got right back into school and sports like I had never been away. I did alright for a few days, then the symptoms came back. I would nearly pass out during every workout, get tunnel vision, be very confused, light-headed, and a very strange sensation where I essentially "white out". My grades started to fall again and my parents found out i was having problems-I hadn't told them. It wasn't as bad as before so I stayed in school getting assistance whenever needed but I wasn't allowed to do any sports. I was out of sports for four months total then i lied and told them I was fine because I couldn't stand being out anymore (I know it was a stupid thing to do).

I had been doing alright until recently-it's gotten so bad I'm rethinking telling them because I think something is seriously wrong. Here is a list of the symptoms I currently have problems with: 1.My memory is getting worse again 2. I "white out" during strenous workouts 3. I can't focus during class 4. I get confused easily 5. I have bad mood swings which can be from all of a sudden feeling depressed to literally the next second feeling hostile towards my best friends 6. Very tired all day 7. Tingling in my hands and numbness in my feet 8. Feeling like I will pass out again 9. Occasional ringing in my ears 10. Feeling restless like I have to move 11. Very vivid dreams 12. Some nausea 13. Sometimes I get very dizzy or the feeling that everything around me is swaying 14. Sometimes a bright light or very loud noise aggravates the headaches 15. Feeling like I'm floating 16. The newest and in my opinion worst is the headaches, I've had constant headaches since I recieved a concussion it just depended on how bad they were but recently I have been getting some, that after some research sound like ice pick headaches. They are very concentrated in one spot on the head and is a stabbing pain unlike anything I've ever experienced. In the research it sounded like it should happen once and then go away but for me it lasts a few seconds then a few seconds of relief then it comes back just as bad or worse and continues that cycle all day. I don't know if I should be worried about it or not. My parents are starting to notice my low grades and want to know what's going on. They might take me back to the doctor but I don't want to tell them what's is really happening (I don't want to sit out the rest of the soccer season).

Sorry for such a long post I just wanted to give all the information hoping there would be an explanation or someone else is also experiencing these symptoms. Thanks a lot for taking the time to read it and any help would be greatly appreciated. Any advice?

First and foremost, STOP PLAYING SOCCER!!!! Sorry to be blunt, but your soccer days are over. If you were to head the ball in practice or a game, or worse - get kicked in the head or smack heads with someone else, you could cause more serious damage than you already have.

Second, you gotta tell your parents what is going on. There are ways to rehabilitate your brain out there, but they can't help you do this unless you inform them on what is going on.

Get in to see a neurologist who is familiar with head injuries. Not all of them are - actually, probably 85% don't know anything about head injuries - so make sure he/she has experience treating this type of injury. You need to get your head scanned to make sure there isn't any internal bleeding, clots, rips, etc...

Look into neurofeedback for rehabilitation. Just google "neurofeedback" and your "city" and you should find plenty of therapists in your area who do this. Make sure they have experience treating head injuries.

There are also other things you should be doing such as vitamin B supplementation, eating lots of protein, Hyperbaric oxygen therapy, etc.

The good news is that you are still young and your brain is still developing, which means you have a good chance for recovery. But you can't do anything unless you tell your parents what is going on.

And please - stop engaging in activities that increase your chances of hitting your head.

Originally Posted by soccer14

Most of you have already read this post in new member introductions but someone mentioned i should also paste it in this forum thanks.

I have a long story for everyone but I really need some help because I don't know what to do.

I suffered a concussion in January while in a basketball. I don't remember it at all but they said what probably happened was I dove for a ball, where I hit my head, and then a girl landed on my head causing another impact with the floor. I'm not really sure though. I didn't tell anybody it had happened because I didn't want to sit out. It finally got so bad that i was failing almost every class because of very bad short-term memory loss. Then at practice one day I passed out while we were doing sprints. My coaches made me go talk to the trainer where she said it sounded like a concussion. She scheduled a doctor's appoinment for me with a concussion specialist and made me sit out the rest of the practices until i saw him.

I went to the doctor's and took an Impact Test to determine how bad the concussion had been. The average person usually scores in the 50th percentile-I scored less than 1% in every category. I was pulled out of school and sent home to rest. I retook the test five more times until I finally got a high enough test score to return to school. I got right back into school and sports like I had never been away. I did alright for a few days, then the symptoms came back. I would nearly pass out during every workout, get tunnel vision, be very confused, light-headed, and a very strange sensation where I essentially "white out". My grades started to fall again and my parents found out i was having problems-I hadn't told them. It wasn't as bad as before so I stayed in school getting assistance whenever needed but I wasn't allowed to do any sports. I was out of sports for four months total then i lied and told them I was fine because I couldn't stand being out anymore (I know it was a stupid thing to do).

I had been doing alright until recently-it's gotten so bad I'm rethinking telling them because I think something is seriously wrong. Here is a list of the symptoms I currently have problems with: 1.My memory is getting worse again 2. I "white out" during strenous workouts 3. I can't focus during class 4. I get confused easily 5. I have bad mood swings which can be from all of a sudden feeling depressed to literally the next second feeling hostile towards my best friends 6. Very tired all day 7. Tingling in my hands and numbness in my feet 8. Feeling like I will pass out again 9. Occasional ringing in my ears 10. Feeling restless like I have to move 11. Very vivid dreams 12. Some nausea 13. Sometimes I get very dizzy or the feeling that everything around me is swaying 14. Sometimes a bright light or very loud noise aggravates the headaches 15. Feeling like I'm floating 16. The newest and in my opinion worst is the headaches, I've had constant headaches since I recieved a concussion it just depended on how bad they were but recently I have been getting some, that after some research sound like ice pick headaches. They are very concentrated in one spot on the head and is a stabbing pain unlike anything I've ever experienced. In the research it sounded like it should happen once and then go away but for me it lasts a few seconds then a few seconds of relief then it comes back just as bad or worse and continues that cycle all day. I don't know if I should be worried about it or not. My parents are starting to notice my low grades and want to know what's going on. They might take me back to the doctor but I don't want to tell them what's is really happening (I don't want to sit out the rest of the soccer season).

Sorry for such a long post I just wanted to give all the information hoping there would be an explanation or someone else is also experiencing these symptoms. Thanks a lot for taking the time to read it and any help would be greatly appreciated. Any advice?

[soccer14]

Originally Posted by mhr4

First and foremost, STOP PLAYING SOCCER!!!! Sorry to be blunt, but your soccer days are over. If you were to head the ball in practice or a game, or worse - get kicked in the head or smack heads with someone else, you could cause more serious damage than you already have.

Second, you gotta tell your parents what is going on. There are ways to rehabilitate your brain out there, but they can't help you do this unless you inform them on what is going on.

Get in to see a neurologist who is familiar with head injuries. Not all of them are - actually, probably 85% don't know anything about head injuries - so make sure he/she has experience treating this type of injury. You need to get your head scanned to make sure there isn't any internal bleeding, clots, rips, etc...

Look into neurofeedback for rehabilitation. Just google "neurofeedback" and your "city" and you should find plenty of therapists in your area who do this. Make sure they have experience treating head injuries.

There are also other things you should be doing such as vitamin B supplementation, eating lots of protein, Hyperbaric oxygen therapy, etc.

The good news is that you are still young and your brain is still developing, which means you have a good chance for recovery. But you can't do anything unless you tell your parents what is going on.

And please - stop engaging in activities that increase your chances of hitting your head.

Do you think ill ever be able to play soccer again?

Well, not until they find a cure for brain injuries. However, I have heard of professional athletes returning to their sport after they took a few years off to recover. I believe Larry Johnson did this after taking two years off from a serious concussion he got while playing. However, please don't let that be any indication for you returning to soccer. For all we know, he could be damaging his brain by playing but just doesn't care b/c he is getting payed millions to play.

Like I have posted before, with the advent of stem cell therapy, the cure is around the corner - probably only 5 - 10 years away, conservatively speaking.

One day, we may all be treated the same as cars are...get an injury, walk into a clinic, have them extract bone marrow cells, induce them to your specific need and - blammo, just like a new organ.
(for those of you who have lost your sense of humor, of course I'm joking here, but you get the idea.)

Originally Posted by soccer14

Do you think ill ever be able to play soccer again?

[AintSoBad]

You've got to stop playing ALL CONTACT SPORTS< NOW!
(That's been mentioned to you before, hasn't it?)

There will no cure for TBI in my lifetime, mine happened a decade ago.
I'm glad I'm alive,
but,
I've lost my family, my home(s), my business's, my dreams, my fortune, care for me to go on?

I wouldn't count on any 'cure' until it's proven out, and that's a long way off.
Even if we had it, it would not bring back lost memories and such.
I just don't see it happening.

Please, read up on it, you've got an entirely new, unplanned life now.
Forget the old one, and learn how to deal with what's happened.

I'm not trying to be rude, or unfeeling.
I KNOW, so take it from one who does?

You're done with sports, and anything that's close to that type of activity!
Your job now, is to try to heal.

Pete

My apologies for posting such a controversial statement. Before this gets out of hand, let me retract that statement.

Originally Posted by AintSoBad

You've got to stop playing ALL CONTACT SPORTS< NOW!
(That's been mentioned to you before, hasn't it?)

There will no cure for TBI in my lifetime, mine happened a decade ago.
I'm glad I'm alive,
but,
I've lost my family, my home(s), my business's, my dreams, my fortune, care for me to go on?

I wouldn't count on any 'cure' until it's proven out, and that's a long way off.
Even if we had it, it would not bring back lost memories and such.
I just don't see it happening.

Please, read up on it, you've got an entirely new, unplanned life now.
Forget the old one, and learn how to deal with what's happened.

I'm not trying to be rude, or unfeeling.
I KNOW, so take it from one who does?

You're done with sports, and anything that's close to that type of activity!
Your job now, is to try to heal.

Pete

[soccer14]

Originally Posted by mhr4

My apologies for posting such a controversial statement. Before this gets out of hand, let me retract that statement.

wow so i really probably wont ever be allowed to play contact sports again?

[Mark in Idaho]

Soccer14,

You should consider your brain permanently injured. It may heal to a level that will allow you to function at a very high level, but you will suffer from occasional "decompensations." Another term you may know would be relapse.

As the others said, NO MORE CONTACT SPORTS. Basketball and baseball are contact sports. Soccer is as dangerous as football.

Your primary focus should be to avoid "second impact syndrome" or "multiple impact syndrome."

FYI, The average soccer player has an IQ that is 10 points lower than non-soccer players.

From what you have said about your symptoms and decompensations, I would suspect that you will be very sensitive to any second impact. Keep in mind that as concussions go, impact can be cumulative. The studies show that a heading drill in soccer is more damaging that a single corner kick header into the goal.

You may find that you get car sick or other motion sickness much more easily. These events should be considered mini concussions.

You also MUST avoid alcohol at any level.

For your reference, my history is:
8 years old, minor bump from fall.
10 yo, major concussion from bike accident, severe personality change
academic problems start and come and go
11yo, concussion/nausea from riding bumpy roller coaster
played soccer from 12 to 15 yo
15 yo, suspected minor concussion playing soccer
developed seizure disorder, absence seizures and mild cognitive impairment
serious academic struggles, dropped 1 grade point, seizure meds for 2 years
17 yo, recovered academic skills, graduated with Honors
18 yo college, struggled with stress load of coursework
19 yo college, second semester, minor concussion and severe high fever (above 104.7), almost flunked a few classes, had to drop dream of dental school, eventually left school completely before graduating
20 to 42 yo various minor head bumps with decompensations requiring brain training to regain mental skills,
43 yo concussion, developed severe motion sensitivity, insomnia, head aches
44 yo, concussion from assault by slug to the head from behind, personality change
46 yo, very minor concussion, severe mental confusion, memory problems, had to stop driving, more personality changes, inability to tolerate bright lights, noisy environments, seizures returned, work limitations,
Now, 54 yo, on permanent Social Security Disability at 15% of previous earning ability. IQ in top 2% of population, immediate and short term auditory and visual memory in the bottom 5 to 10% of the population

Very few opportunities to enjoy life due to my brain condition, except playing with my young grandkids.

So, it is important to protect your head from another impact.

Want me to draw you a picture?

Seriously, get Dr Glen Johnson's TBI Survival Guide at www.TBIGuide.com. You can download it and print it out. Let family and friends read it.

Important, do not let the IMPACT test give you a false sense of security about returning to play. It is extremely limiting in its ability to adequately diagnose your brain's health. It is more valuable at helping athletes and their parents accept the coach's or trainer's decision to keep the player out of the game. It gives coaches and trainers a way to track a very MINIMUM level of recovery that can help lessen insurance liability. It does not reveal any long term risk potential.

btw, Did you establish a baseline with the IMPACT test before the season?

Now, go rest up, stay away from chaotic and stressful environments, eat healthy, get plenty of vitamins, especially B vitamins and BE PATIENT. Healing takes a long time.

My best to you.

Unfortunately, yes. I was in the same boat as you about 10 years ago - In college, I was on my way to All-American status in rugby and possibly a spot on the national team. It may seem like your life is over now b/c you can't return to something that probably defines who you are, but life does go on. Once you heal your brain, you will find that there are many sports out there that you can participate in that are just as rewarding. For example, I run half marathons and marathons, and none of the contact sports I did when I was younger were as satisfying as finishing a marathon.

Also, it may seem trivial, but you should also lay off the sports that aren't considered contact as well: softball, volleyball, basketball, baseball, etc. b/c there is a chance you could be elbowed in the head, or have a ball smack you in the head, or fall and hit your head, etc...

But like I said, there is a slight chance your brain could heal enough to allow you to play soccer again. But the probability of this happening is so slim that I wouldn't count on it.

The main thing to worry about now is telling your parents and getting into some sort of rehabilitation program. Like I mentioned earlier, your brain is still developing, which means you have a high chance of recovery. Your brain is still in the process of developing neural stem cells at a high and constant rate, and you need to take advantage of this while you still can.

Originally Posted by soccer14

wow so i really probably wont ever be allowed to play contact sports again?

[Hockey]

Hey Soccer,

The truth of the matter is that most athletes do return to their sport after one concussion. Should they? The more we learn about brain injury, the more it seems that the answer is probably "no."

Did you watch the 60 Minutes show on athletes and concussion? After I sat through those sad stories, I knew I'd made the right decision to cheer from the sidelines. It's tough, but I can't use a puck to think.

By the way, has your neuro-psych report come back?

Cheers