[EmkRyan21]

I was a top athlete going into my freshmen year university where I was competing at the division 1 level. I collided one practice with a goalie and fell pretty hard. I was taken to the emergency room where the doctor diagnosed me with whiplash. I took a day off and then continued to practice and play games. After about a week of playing my headaches got so bad that I couldn't manage the pain and stopped playing. I had headaches constantly and was under extreme pressure from m coach to get better. There were times when I was extremely depressed and mad about the whole situation. During Christmas break I was put through brain training to try and help but there wasn't that much time for it. I tried to play again at Christmas but after a week of training and one game I found myself nauseous and sick. Since then I have been constantly trying to get back. It has been eight months now and the worst is over, for the most part I am fine except whenever I try to exercise I get headache and pressure behind my eye. I am home from school now for the summer and in desperate need of help to get back into training. If anyone knows of anything that can help with the process would be greatly appreciated. I am meeting with a sports doctor and dentist for my jaw. I also heard acupuncture is suppose to help? I am taking omega three's and B12 vitamins. I did drink for a bit at the end of school but I am done now.I would love any tips or advice that can help in any way!

[Concussion]

Were any tests done - CT, MRI, evaluations by a Neurologist, Physiatrist, practitioners interested in your health - not just interested in your return to play?

Who is/was responsible for this "brain training " regimen? - was it a responsible Physiatrist or the team trainer?/team 'doc'?

I'm sorry, but if you continued with headaches during the season, you should have been sidelined until their cause was thoroughly explored - minus 1 for your caregivers......there are too many reasons for that problem alone.

Do Not proceed with the Sport Doc under the auspices of any IMPACT guidelines, until you have had a thorough workup evaluatiing your injuries for completeness for concussion, PCS, and upper cervical injuries, if that has not been already done. Actually, IMPACT quidelines aren't worth much, anyway, with an injury that has continued to plague you this long.

Do yourself a favor and get a good workup, and take a break from contact sports until you get that.

Best Wishes.

[DFayesMom]

Could you describe your headaches a bit more? What are they like? Were you diagnosed with a concussion or PCS or just whiplash? I only ask because neck injuries can cause headaches. Lastly, who did you see regarding your neck injury and did you do any physical therapy?

I had headaches and pain above And behind my left eye for a month+ after my last accident. My physical therapist, who was trying to treat me for my concussion-related symptoms, was at a total loss, so she consulted her collegue, a spine specialist trained in the mulligan technique, and after a gentle adjustment that took less than a minute, my headache was gone. I had a gap between my C2 and C3 vertabrae that she was able to fix, and she was even able to show me how to fix it myself if i needed to. It was amazing! I did several more weeks of physical therapy, and then she said I could just continue doing it at home if I wasn't having any more pain. I've been fine! She really was a miracle for me.

I wouldn't head to a chiropractor. If you havent already, I'd consult an orthopedist and get a referral for physical therapy, if that is what you need. I do recommend looking for someone trained in the Mulligan technique if you do physical therapy.

This may sound wierd, but I hope you have a neck injury rather than PCS. Whiplash injuries are easier to deal with than PCS. If I'm way off base and you do have PCS, you need to try to alter your mentality. Taking care of your brain is more important than returning to play right now. Your coaches are not thinking of your wellbeing; they just want their star player back! I'm sorry you've had to deal with that kind of stress while trying to recover. The best thing you can do for yourself with PCS is rest and keep your stress levels as low as possible. Easier said than done, I know! Good luck tO you!