Thank- you both for your response. As I read trough the post on this site all I can do is hope and pray that things will clear up for me in the next week or so. I also hope and pray that the people that have been dealing with PCS get well. These pass few days have been rough and I could not imagine having to deal with all this stuff for a long time.

Mark, thank you for all the great advice. As much as I want to play again I know that it's not the smartest thing to do. I also gave thought to what you said about this not being my first head blow. I remember a fee weeks ago tackling somebody and hitting my head on the ground. I got a bad headache for about 10 min. After It went away I went back in. I do play MLB so I was always going full force into sombody.

I have also started to have sunlight sensitivity. I just went outside and even with sunglasses on the light hurts my eyes and brings on a pain in my head. I would also like to know have any of you felt like a presure behind your eyes? And why am I developing new symptoms almost a week after. I was thinking that things would be clearing up.

Like, I said thank you for the response. I hope you all are doing ok, and if not I hope things get better soon for you.

I developed symptoms more and more over the first month!! SOrry to say that but the light sensitivity came on after about 2 weeks...but got better (that's the only thing that is resolved).

My symptoms came on gradually over a period of about 8 weeks or so. I read somewhere (??) that some of the axons (the connections in your brain) are stretched and torn. The stretched ones eventually die off which. as I understood it, means that the communication links get broken. But I also read that the brain will "re-wire" itself by creating new pathways. This is where rest and patience comes in.

Early on, my light sensitivity was constant, but it has improved and now just comes and goes.

I'm glad you're taking Mark's advice and not playing again. Although I didn't play anywhere near your level, I loved playing soccer. It was my passion and I really struggled with having to let it go. Now that I'm 16 months into this PCS stuff, it's an easy decision - another knock to the head and who knows how bad it might be.

Take care,
Tammy

I had no clue that the development of symptoms could come on after some time. I got the number to a neurologist and I may go see them if things have not cleared up a little by next week. I can't say I have taken Marks's advice about not playing. I was saying I know playing is not the smartest thing to do. I'm kind of thinking about seeing if the neuro guy/gal will clear me to play after a few weeks and then this being my very last year playing.

This is crazy. You should absolutely take Mark's advice and not put the rest of your life into danger just to try to play out the rest of the season, when you are thinking of retiring anyway.

There are people on this site (including me) who have had these symptoms for years and would do anything to get rid of them. You don't want to give up on recovery while there is a chance that you may escape and make a good recovery.

You should not play again until you are completely free of symptoms and have been free of them for some time. Doing anything else is sheer madness.

Also, you might want to consider that if you become permanently disabled by playing on, which is a possibility, you might be in a difficult position regarding insurance. I am assuming that as you are playing professionally, there must be some sort of insurance in place to cover those who become disabled through their injuries. If you play on when you know that you are injured and therefore at risk, will you invalidate the insurance? You may want to think about that.

Sorry to be harsh, but you need to think about the possible consequences before putting the rest of your life at risk.

But, it's your life.

Concussed Scientist

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread140214.html

Look at this link...it will give you some ideas for what to do at the beginning.

If you are thinking of playing again while you are still suffering, look around this forum. You will find story after story of people who thought they were fine and went back for a second hit, or people who never got the chance to recover from hit #1 before hit #2 came and knocked them down for years and years...I am fairly new to this I only have 2 years of constant headaches, fighting depression, fighting to smile and make people think I am OK when I feel like I would rather chop off all my limbs than deal with some of the stuff I deal with daily. I am 21 years old but I can't participate in sports or even work out hard at the gym or I will feel sick for months. I haven't hit my head in a year, but still I am having trouble looking at this computer screen because it is so bright.

Do you really want to be sick for the rest of your life simply for one or two more games? If you go in you will probably be hit or jostled enough that you will re-concuss. Sometimes the 2nd concussion can kill you, and it might be lucky if it does because otherwise you have another 30 years of pain and sickness to deal with.

I feel strange as a 21 year old telling a 29 year old not to go play sports, but believe me when I tell you it isn't worth it...the 20's are supposed to be the best years of your life with lots of fun and crazy stunts...not for me, I got my concussions before I turned 20 and I don't see healing any time in the near future. You don't want your 30's to be like my 20's will be.

Like Concussed Scientist said, sorry for being so forceful, but for us we see hope for you and we want to save you from the pain...

I hope you make the right choice and I hope you heal quickly,
Margarite

If you are thinking of playing again while you are still suffering, look around this forum. You will find story after story of people who thought they were fine and went back for a second hit, or people who never got the chance to recover from hit #1 before hit #2 came and knocked them down for years and years...I am fairly new to this I only have 2 years of constant headaches, fighting depression, fighting to smile and make people think I am OK when I feel like I would rather chop off all my limbs than deal with some of the stuff I deal with daily. I am 21 years old but I can't participate in sports or even work out hard at the gym or I will feel sick for months. I haven't hit my head in a year, but still I am having trouble looking at this computer screen because it is so bright.

Do you really want to be sick for the rest of your life simply for one or two more games? If you go in you will probably be hit or jostled enough that you will re-concuss. Sometimes the 2nd concussion can kill you, and it might be lucky if it does because otherwise you have another 30 years of pain and sickness to deal with.

I feel strange as a 21 year old telling a 29 year old not to go play sports, but believe me when I tell you it isn't worth it...the 20's are supposed to be the
best years of your life with lots of fun and crazy stunts...not for me, I got my concussions before I turned 20 and I don't see healing any time in the near future. You don't want your 30's to be like my 20's will be.

Like Concussed Scientist said, sorry for being so forceful, but for us we see hope for you and we want to save you from the pain...

I hope you make the right choice and I hope you heal quickly,

Margarite[/QUOTE]

Wow, thank you for your reply. I had planned on playing only after I had no symptoms. There was pretty much no doubt that I would play again. Now after 15 days dealing with the after-effects I am for sure rethinking it. I love playing but I may have to wait until next year or mid-season. I have an appointment with the netoulogist next week so I will see what they think.