Hello all, I'm new to this site: 26 months ago I suffered a concussion playing hockey. I improved over about 2 weeks and tried to go back to playing. I noticed that I got recurring sypmtoms from being lightly jolted, both on the ice and elsewhere (riding a bike, jumping off a box, etc). Relatively light jostling would bring back the fogginess, dizziness, and fatigue. The symptoms recede over a few days or weeks. I describe it to my friends and family as though I now have a "china cabinet" for a head. 26 months into this recovery I still am suffering from this same issue and it really restricts my ability to stay active. I have three questions: (1) What causes this "china cabinet" phenomon, does anyone know? (2) Can I expect this to ever go away given that I'm 26 months post concussion? And, (3) given the media attention given to CTE lately, is my brain suffering further damage as a result of these very light bumps and related symptoms?

Mark from Idaho seems to have similar issues. Mark, any advice??

I appreciate the help-

CTE usually takes years to develop. If you have been playing hockey for some time and taking hard hits every game, you may be suffering from Multiple Impact Syndrome (your brain has reached its limit of impacts) and/or Cumulative Sub-Concussive Impact Syndrome from a lifetime of hits. My sensitivity has gotten worse as I age and with each successive impact, no matter how light.

My neuro says that likely I have just reached a critical mass of brain impacts.

Hey Slapshot,

I suffered my concussion 11 months ago playing hockey. I went back a week later and got bumped and felt HORRIBLE after. I continued working and going to the gym despite feeling foggy and dizzy to the point where I felt like passing out. I continued playing hockey for another month. The doctors told me if I hadn't been so stupid and rested right away I would be better by now and I believe them.

This past month I've stopped working completely and focused on recovering. I haven't played hockey since July and basically haven't done any exercise besides walking. My point is you have to be disciplined! You obviously have concussion issues that aren't going away yet you continue living a very active lifestyle. Slow it down and rest! Figure out what your brain can and cannot take and work with that.

Since I've focused on my recovery I've been feeling a lot better. No where near close to being back on the ice but much better than I was a month ago. I know exactly what you're going through. You play hockey or exercise and then the next couple days you feel like crap then you start feeling better and then you go play again. I did the exact same thing.

Take it easy and rest up!

And it's taking me a long time to recover. (if you want to read about them and my advice on healing, check my post in the hope and healing sticky!) you need to rest, really rest! And stay away from hockey. I know it's hard to hear, and maybe I'm wrong, but I would stay away from activities where head hits are an inevitability. Good luck to you!

I just wanted to add that I'm no expert! Maybe people do recover enough to feel comfortable going back to playing a sport like hockey. It's just something I'd personally avoid because losing cognitive abilities scared me, and I don't want to go back to feeling like that if I can avoid it, so the risk wouldn't be worth it to me!

Slapshot,

I got a my first serious concussion back in June of 2012 and during the beginning of my PCS I thought this feeling would eventually go away.... Boy I was wrong, I continued to go about my regular routines but didn't focus on resting my first few months of PCS.

Rest is key for you right now. No hockey, no extensive workouts (light exercise is fine, I do Tai Chi), nothing stressful etc.. I haven't played hockey for 9 months but skated one time and it felt great!

Will I ever play as hard again? Eventually I will, but my brain is much more important than hockey right now. I probably won't be as aggressive I used to be playing in men's leagues...

I can tell you these past 4 months I've felt alot better just focusing on resting, no stressful situations, light exercise (Tai Chi), Chiro, and eating healthier.

m00se