So I'm a 21 year old guy from New Zealand and I'm just wanting someone to answer my questions if it makes sense, its hard to describe the feeling so it might not make too much sense

So a long story short, I hit my head (temple region) on hard packed soil at the beginning of February 2011 coming off my mountain bike over the handle bars, I wasn't wearing a helmet (thought I wouldn't need as I was "too close to home for something to happen"). I ended up getting up from the ground, my bro said I was repeating things all the time and took me back up to the house where a nurse came to check me out and then recommended I go to the hospital.

I started gaining my consciousness back later that night before my parents left me to stay over night there. I got a CT scan the next day and they said my brain was fine and sent me off home.

Anyways learnt my lesson to wear a helmet and seat belt at all times when on the bicycle or in a vehicle.


So what I'm here for is that I'm not sure if I'm fine, or its just my anxiety telling me that I'm not. I was a big worrier even before the crash.

I can still remember things from the hospital, who was across from me in the next beds so my brain seems to be logging events even that far back (I still have all my memory before the crash too).

My memory seems fine but I'm always finding myself trying to go over what happened during the day or the week just in case I some how forgot what happen and to see if I'm having memory problems, then I freak out if I somehow don't remember doing the smallest things that I do in my routine everyday like having a shower in the morning etc.

Its as if I'm expecting my memory to remember 100% of the things during the day. Then I get down if I can't somehow remember a small thing. Which I think is the anxiety making me not let go and making me think I'm having problems.


My learning seems fine, I'm remembering things people taught me, I can remember the small things and the thoughts I was having at that time during the day or week.

I'm sorry if the stuff I've just written doesn't make sense but I'm thinking maybe its the anxiety keeping myself from knowing that my mind/brain is 100% healed now? Does anxiety have a big affect on me preventing that I'm feeling all good?

I want to start training Judo again but I always think "should I just wait a month more or so?" Just so I don't happen to hit my head and make me more worried.

I don't think you said how long it's been. But, the most critical thing you can do after a concussion is total, absolute rest! That includes thinking. Try to get as much quiet time as possible.

Your brain is going through a process of reversing some chemical changes that happened right after you hit your head. This process can take a few weeks. Basically your brain needs glucose to repair itself, but your blood vessels aren't allowing as much blood to your brain as they normally would. So physical and cognitive rest are so important.

Wish someone had told me this. I went about my regular life. I'm pretty sure this is why I'm having issues 2 months out. The last of my symptoms, (vertigo, dizziness) didn't start happening until almost 2 weeks after hitting my head.

Other things you can do:
Eat lots of protein
Eat anti-inflammatory foods like turmeric and resveratrol (grapes)
Take an omega 3 supplement, (fish oil)
You could also consider taking creatine.

This is all stuff I learned after it was essentially too late to get the most benefit.

I would wait 3 weeks before going back to Judo. Make sure to work with a doctor. I know it probably seems like a really long time, but I'm 7 weeks out and dying to get back on my bike. I was training 15 hours a week. It will probably be another month or two before I can start again. That's a lot longer than 3 weeks.

mae-7,

Your anxiety is common to PCS. The repeating of thoughts are just a subset of the anxiety you are experiencing. You need something to do to occupy your mind in a simple, non-stressful way to help prevent the obsessive/repeating thoughts.

chitown's food recommendations are a good start except, avoid any soy based protein. You should also add some serious B-6, B-12 and B complex vitamins plus all of the anti-oxidants. Avoid caffeine and alcohol except for one serving per day max.

And, find a way to chill out. Anxiety is the worst thing you can do for PCS.

And, seriously rethink you plan to return to Judo. You brain will not tolerate another impact. If you think you are having a hard time now. Try getting another impact and developing Multiple Impact Syndrome with the permanent PCS that goes with it.

It is very likely you have suffered many "sub-concussive" impacts during your Judo training. These head impact that did not cause any concussion symptoms are just as damaging because they are repeated in a close time span. They set your brain up for a much more damaging result from the single concussive impact.

If there is one thing to worry about, it is that another impact will likely cause much more damage with likely permanent symptoms. But, you can make life changes to reduce this risk of another impact. Bike helmets help but not as much as expected, especially for the previously concussed brain.

Now, make some good choices, try to relax, and give you brain plenty of time to recover.

My best to you.

chitowndizzy it was at the start of February this year when it happened so about 4 months.

With judo I never hit my head, its just the jolt of slams im worried about.

I also hit my head 2 days before that crash too but seemed fine, I went over the handlebars and landed on the top of my head but after a little rest I was fine for the rest of those 2 days but I'm guessing that didn't help.

Anyways I got rid of that bike and got a bike with a more relaxed head angel to stop that problem more of going over the bars.

Also I think I missed the rest boat, I've been using the PC quite a lot and my sleeping pattern wasn't that great. But I defiantly feel better than I did two months ago.

Have you tried exercise yet? I bet the biggest problem with Judo will be the exertion bringing back your symptoms. And I don't know how you feel, but for me the thought of thrashing around on a gym mat sounds like something I would avoid. Makes my head hurt thinking about it. Of course I have some vestibular issues, so I'd probably end up throwing up everywhere pretty quickly...

You should probably also consider the long term risk of further sub-concussive impacts. I'm an athlete myself, so I understand wanting to get back to sports, but I think the risk is worth some careful consideration.

I also feel better than I did 2 months ago, but every time I try to ramp things up too quickly I find myself regretting it. Just a heads up. For me at least, it's really hard to figure out what is too much. My symptoms tend to creep up on me out of nowhere a day or two later.

You do wear a helmet on your mountain bike right? I know there are some Snell certified mountain bike helmets that meet very exacting standards. I would look into those.

Mark,

I've seen the recommendation for abstaining from soy based protein a couple of times, what's the danger or hinderance from taking it? I drink soy milk as I'm lactose intolerant and eat other soy based products.


Mike

Yeah I wear a helmet, and wear it at all time now even if I'm at home playing about on small stuff. I bought a full face helmet too. But yeah maybe I'll lay off the judo for a while and just wrestle/bjj with friends (wont be getting slammed).
But I'm no way letting it scare me away from mountain biking! I'll just take it easier out there though.

Hearing about tony hawk having dozens of concussions makes me feel a little better :P

Mikey,

The problem with processed soy is that it almost always contains "processed free glutamic acid" that is bad for the brain, especially an injured brain.

Mae-7,

Even if you do not hit your head to the mat, you can still cause enough G Force to cause cumulative damage to your brain. It is called subconcussive impact. Whiplash forces usually include sub-concussive impacts to the brain. The biggest problem with sub-concussive impacts are that they are rarely recognized and as such, are allowed to accumulate to the point where the brain suffers serious damage.

A single sub-concussive impact per training session with a few days between sessions may be acceptable to a resilient brain. Once a brain has suffered a concussion, this resiliency is usually lost.

Download, print out and read the TBI Survivor Guide at www.tbiguide.com It will give you an idea of what your symptoms truly are.

Think seriously before you subject your brain to more jolts even if there is no contact involved. The fact that you recognize them as jolts means you at least have a recognition of the forces involved.

My best to you.