AlexNew,

As I said, if your brain is now or is becoming very sensitive to sub-concussive impacts you will need to learn to be careful.

I know that I can not do certain activities because of the head jarring involved. With some activities, I just need to take some precautions. An important precaution is sitting while on a bumpy ride. This can be a shaky roller coaster or riding in the car on a bumpy road. I know to lean forward in my seat so my back can absorb the jarring. If I sit back against the seat back, the jarring is transmitted to my head more directly. A curved back has plenty of energy absorbing capability. I also need to snow ski with my shoulders forward to better absorb the terrain.

There are enough situations that you can not control so you need to reduce the risk in those situations that you can control.

Sub-concussive impacts are well understood by a limited few researchers. Most doctors are clueless about them.

A sub-concussive impact is any head impact. It does not need to manifest any symptoms. That is why it is called sub-concussive. If it caused immediate symptoms, it would be a concussive impact.

Your impact with the faucet handle was a concussion since you had immediate symptoms. The delay of prolonged symptoms is due to the physiology of how the brain handles a minor injury. Many minor concussions will clear up immediately but then manifest symptoms 2 to 6 weeks later. Even later than that if there is a stressful event, such as getting drunk or high or any other stress to the brain.

Getting dinged by the cabinet so soon after your symptoms cleared just means that the obvious symptoms cleared. All concussions cause lifelong damage. It just does not show up until another stress to the brain.

As a returning college student, you need to make a serious effort to avoid any chemicals that effect the brain. The very occasional single beer may be OK but if you get hung over from just one beer, it is your brain telling you no alcohol. My brain is very sensitive to just one beer. Avoid caffeine of more than a single serving per day. No late nights cramming and staying up with caffeine/NoDoze. Besides, research shows that cramming does not help with long term retention and only marginally with short term retention.

If you are interested, I can post some memory tricks, especially for a PCS brain.

I have been asked similar questions about the event leading to my concussion. I hit my head at work on a piece of equipment that was hidden behind a curtain. I had dropped some paperwork and had been sitting up on a high chair. I slid down off the chair and bent down to pick up the paper all in one swift motion. I smashed my forehead into a metal bar, not realizing it was there and was stunned for a few minutes. I had a huge bump and bruise on my head for a week. My symptoms of PCS started about 7 days after the event. Initially, I had the misfortune of seeing a doctor who insisted that I did not have PCS, and that there is NO WAY I could have struck my head hard enough to experience a concussion. I then saw a neurologist who confirmed that it was, in fact, PCS and that she sees many people for PCS who have had 'minor' head trauma. It is now three months later and I am still experiencing many symptoms. I think often of that first doctor, who misdiagnosed me, and caused me much anxiety of wondering 'what is going on with my brain?' At least now I know the reason for my symptoms and am trying to stay positive while I heal.