[sweettoothed]

Hello guys! So I really got into kickboxing and decided to spar for the first time about a week ago.Lets just say it feels like the biggest regret of my life.

Honestly, i'd say i got my *** handed to me, but I digress... Anyways I took quite a few good shots, but didnt lose consciousness. After the three rounds I didn't feel dizzy or confused but i knew it hurt. on a more related note, what constitutes confusion? I mean I did feel a bit shaken but I do remember all of the shots I took, as well as all the conversations and social interactions I had right after. What I'm trying to say is that it hurt, but at no point was I incoherent or had trouble understanding anything. I even drove back home 30 minutes right after.

The day after was the worst,I did feel a moderate headache and difficulty concentrating on my studies ( symptom that worries me the most).Not only that, but certain parts of my skull did hurt to the touch even though i had no visible bruises or bumps.

A week later, my head no longer hurts to the touch, but I still have mild to moderate headaches. My neck also feels tight with no neck pain. Another weird symptom is that my head feels heavy in some places. I understand theres no substitute for visiting a local doctor who can evaluate me, but I have no insurance. Anyways given the information provided above , i was wondering if you guys would say whether or not I did sustain a concussion?. I was also wondering if this one instance could permanently affect my cognitive capabilities? Like i said, whats freaking me out the most is the fact that im having trouble concentrating.

Finally, stupid me also took some ibuoprofen the day after the incident and now I'm afraid that I could have set off a subdural hematoma. I know it sounds silly, but it is the only way I can justify the "haviness" in some parts of my brain. I'm I overreacting? maybe this is just me being a hypochondriac

[Mark in Idaho]

sweetthoothed.

Welcome to NeuroTalk.

You do have a concussion. Anytime there are symptoms like yours, head aches, difficulty concentrating, etc. after a blow to the head, it is a concussion.

A diagnosis is meaningless. What is important is the symptoms you are experiencing. An ibuprofen did not likely cause a subdural hematoma. Your strange heaviness is likely due to a neck injury from having your head kicked off your neck.

Most doctors are going to be of little help. Few take an interest in concussions because there is little they can do for you. They just tell you to rest. Some send you for a CT Scan to protect themselves from liability.

Nobody can predict the long term damage or symptoms. That is as individual to you as your fingerprints.

Take this as a wake-up call to clean up your act and take care of your brain. You only get one brain and it does not heal like a broken bone does. Taking kicks to the head is irresponsible. Some people can tolerate a kick to the head but it appears you are not one of them. Even those who appear to tolerate a few kicks to the head may experience problems as they get older.

You need to rest and provide your brain with good nutrition. No alcohol, caffeine, or artificial sweeteners or other chemicals. Read the vitamins sticky at the top to see the vitamin regimen many of us have benefited from.

And, before you take on any risky activities, get some health insurance. Besides, just because you don't have any insurance does not mean you have to avoid doctors. Many of us have spent plenty of out of pocket money to get medical care. It is a part of life. Living is expensive and health care is part of the expense.

[anon1028]

I agree with Mark about the sparring. I boxed for a number of years with protective head gear and when we sparred we used 16 ounce gloves but the punches still hurt a lot and no face protection or protection from head being shot back and forth.
However, I don't remember ever have concentration issues.

Perhaps your partner didn't understand the difference between sparring and a real match. In which case, I cant wait till he/she gets theirs.

also, maybe this is not the sport for you if you have concentrating issues after one sparring match. It is not meant to be an insult, and I may have suffered concussions without knowing it, but after what I've gone through from unrelated head injuries that past seven years, I would tell you to Never spar again. It is very much not worth it.

Interesting side note, football player was shaken up in game last week, looked dazed to me, but "passed" the concussion test in the locker room and was put back in the game. God be with those players.

[sweettoothed]

Thanks guys. And trust me, I've learned my lesson as I value my health way too much to put it at risk over a silly hobby. This being said do you guys think it was a minor concussion since I did not lose consciousness or became confused at any point? Also Mark would you recommend I visit a chiropractor for the neck stiffness? I'm also having minor jaw pain and from what I've read that could possibly be causing the headaches as well. So yeah what would you guys recommend for the possible neck/ jaw issues. Thanks yall for the swift replies I really appreciate your input

[Mark in Idaho]

A chiropractor can be helpful but most chiros are usually too aggressive with the upper neck. The 'twist the head and pop the neck' is quite violent to the neck. Finding a chiro with a more gentle protocol would be best.

In the mean time, icing your neck frequently will be helpful. If the muscles are tight, some warmth on the muscle may be good. Ice on a joint. Heat on a muscle.

The 'I did not lose consciousness' concept is a misleading idea. There is no valid correlation between LOC and long term outcome.

[anon1028]

try not to worry too much. monitor the symptoms but don't worry or dwell on them. you're only a week out. give it a little time to recover and follow mark's advice.
and if you do see a chiro, they love to do those violent neck jerks, as was done to me even after I said be careful and gentle. so stress that you don't want the twist the head...

[bobbyr]

Originally Posted by sweettoothed

Hello guys! So I really got into kickboxing and decided to spar for the first time about a week ago.Lets just say it feels like the biggest regret of my life.

Honestly, i'd say i got my *** handed to me, but I digress... Anyways I took quite a few good shots, but didnt lose consciousness. After the three rounds I didn't feel dizzy or confused but i knew it hurt. on a more related note, what constitutes confusion? I mean I did feel a bit shaken but I do remember all of the shots I took, as well as all the conversations and social interactions I had right after. What I'm trying to say is that it hurt, but at no point was I incoherent or had trouble understanding anything. I even drove back home 30 minutes right after.

The day after was the worst,I did feel a moderate headache and difficulty concentrating on my studies ( symptom that worries me the most).Not only that, but certain parts of my skull did hurt to the touch even though i had no visible bruises or bumps.

A week later, my head no longer hurts to the touch, but I still have mild to moderate headaches. My neck also feels tight with no neck pain. Another weird symptom is that my head feels heavy in some places. I understand theres no substitute for visiting a local doctor who can evaluate me, but I have no insurance. Anyways given the information provided above , i was wondering if you guys would say whether or not I did sustain a concussion?. I was also wondering if this one instance could permanently affect my cognitive capabilities? Like i said, whats freaking me out the most is the fact that im having trouble concentrating.

Finally, stupid me also took some ibuoprofen the day after the incident and now I'm afraid that I could have set off a subdural hematoma. I know it sounds silly, but it is the only way I can justify the "haviness" in some parts of my brain. I'm I overreacting? maybe this is just me being a hypochondriac

Hello guys,

i would like to share my story. its very similiar to the original poster sweetthoothed. i was sparring with a guy who thought he was manny pacquoi . i'm a beginner so i didnt expect the hard blow that came straight into my face.i think he pulled all his power and felt like a sucker punch. i felt jolt my head and cut my lip a little bit and i took a couple more shots that round. i foolishly continued for 2 more rounds. if i knew what would become of the punches later on i would have probably killed this guy in the ring. the next two rounds i made this guy loook like a fool but i didnt not pull all my power because like a previous poster said this is sparring not a real match. i did about 2 laps and an ab workout after that. i never lost conciousness never felt dizzy or etc.

shortly after i felt a light headache on the left side of my head. it wore off in like an 1 hr or 1.5. but then came the slight pressure feeling/light pulsating on the top left side of my head. i felt nauseous thinking about doom. but then again maybe the nausea could be related to the head injury. i decided to go to the ER because the pressure on the side of my head made me assume im having a brain bleed. so about 10 hours after the incident i got my ct scan and came back normal.

what im dealing with now 3 days after the event :

1. constant slight pressure feeling on left side top and back of head (sometimes it feels like its transient - moves from one place to the other)

2. muscle soreness in my left thigh (which i feel is wearing off now?)

3. 2 instances of ringing in my left ear

4. depression and feeling of doom (i suffer from depression and anxiety regardless so this is not a foreign feeling)

i'm been very depressed since i have no one to turn to about my concerns. so im glad this community exists . please provide input to my folllowing concerns.

1. the hospital says my ct scan looks normal but i still have the pessure/pulsating feeling in the left side of my head --- what do you make of this ?

2. i feel fine other than that annoying symptom can i go back to exercising ?

Thanks in advance for you time and advice.

[Mark in Idaho]

Doesn't the boxing gym has information about the brain damage one can expect from boxing ?