[penguinsfan7]

So, I got my first documented concussion March 26, 2011 during my lacrosse game. I didn't lose consciousness and felt fine after the hit. Later that day, I started feeling not "myself". I felt fatigued, foggy and kind of out of it. That monday the trainer at my school referred me to a concussion doctor and he confirmed it was a "mild" concussion. Well, two weeks went by and I started to feel pretty good, although i will admit now that i was not 100%. I would say i was at like 85%.

Anyway, when I came back for my first game three weeks later. I got hit kinda hard, but I felt fine and kept playing. Later that day, i started feeling tired, got a migraine, and felt nauseous. I went back to the same doctor and he told me that he thinks I re concussed myself. He told me that my season was over (which I was upset about) and told me to take it easy. And that is exactly what I did. My life revolves around weightlifting and I do it everyday. I had to stay away from the weight room for two months, wich mentally took its toll on me. Well, June came around and I started feeling pretty good. The headaches were very mild, the fatigue was wearing off and I was starting to feel myself again. I saw the doctor one more time and he told me to gradually get back into the swing of things, but not too quick! And low and behold, I was jackass and didn't listen to him. The day after he told me that i went to the weight room and went hard as hell. I felt fine, but I still was not 100%, but I was sayign to myself "the hell with it".

Since then, I have bumped my head a few times, taken some falls without hitting my head, not hard at all, just a regular old bump on something, I have done dives off diving boards and it seems my head isn't feeling "worse" just not better.

9 months later, here I am. I have mild headaches every day, I get lightheaded all the time, my vision is kinda foggy, sometimes my ears feel like I am on an airplane and feel like I want to commit suicide thats how much I can't stand living like this. My short term memory has gotten a little worse, concentration has gotten a little worse. Last week I went back to that doctor and he told me that I HAVE to stop the weightlifting for a while and this time I listened. he also prescribed me amantidine for the fogginess and it kinda works. The only physical activity I am doing is bodylastics bands in my basement. I start vestibular therapy next week and I hope it helps.

I have also had an MRI and it was negative

Another thing that I have been suffering from my whole life is hypochondria. I have really bad anxiety and the concussion has made it worse.

I just can't get this thought out of my head that anytime i bump my head whether it is not hard at all or if it is kinda hard that i have a concussion. I feel like everytime I move my head I am giving myself a concussion. Anytime I am sitting down or bending over and coming up I am getting a concussion. is this a realistic thought or do I sound like an idiot?

[Mark in Idaho]

There are events called sub-concussive impacts. These are jostles of the head that cause very minor trauma to the brain that is not immediately notice but cumulatively can have the same effect as a concussion.

Your refusal to give your brain a rest has left it very susceptible to any form of quick motion.

So, yes, your brain is permanently concussed. Every concussed brain has lasting damage. For some, it does not manifest until the brain is put under stress. For others, it includes a severe sensitivity to any quick motion.

Bending over and then back upright is not a concussion. It is a challenge to the vestibular system.

As I said before, you need help with your anxiety and hypochondria. It is not conducive to brain healing.

My best to you.

[EsthersDoll]

You don't sound like an idiot. You sound like someone who has the intuition that he needs to really take it easy. You need to trust your intuition and take it easy. At least until you feel ALL better and then give it more time. And, if after, two years, you still feel a little weird, THEN consider yourself to maybe have some permanent effects. Give it two years before you start talking about anything permanent, BUT take it EASY.

[enoko]

Originally Posted by Mark in Idaho

There are events called sub-concussive impacts. These are jostles of the head that cause very minor trauma to the brain that is not immediately notice but cumulatively can have the same effect as a concussion.

Your refusal to give your brain a rest has left it very susceptible to any form of quick motion.

So, yes, your brain is permanently concussed. Every concussed brain has lasting damage. For some, it does not manifest until the brain is put under stress. For others, it includes a severe sensitivity to any quick motion.

Bending over and then back upright is not a concussion. It is a challenge to the vestibular system.

As I said before, you need help with your anxiety and hypochondria. It is not conducive to brain healing.

My best to you.

I was reading through old threads and found this about quick head movements, MarkInIdaho you said bending over and then back up is not a concussion, but you say you get concussions from shaking your head 'no'. Are they not similar movements?

I did a couple of quick head movements turning my head looking back very fast and this left my head tingling and all foggy brained, is that more of a decompensation or a concussion? Mostly for my peace of mind I feel its interesting to know if I'm causing new concussion with movements like this..Any advice on the matter?

[Mark in Idaho]

I think it is more of a decompensation. My rapid head movements cause a metallic taste in my mouth and other concussion symptoms that can last for an extended period of time. If the symptoms are momentary, say just a few minutes, I don't think you have anything to worry about other than the uncomfortableness of the event. .

[enoko]

Originally Posted by Mark in Idaho

I think it is more of a decompensation. My rapid head movements cause a metallic taste in my mouth and other concussion symptoms that can last for an extended period of time. If the symptoms are momentary, say just a few minutes, I don't think you have anything to worry about other than the uncomfortableness of the event. .

Thanks Mark for the input! Since you seem very experienced in this topic of concussions I
have something I have been wondering about regarding concussions. I tend to connect conc ussions with brain bleeds and being quite urgent to get checked out,

and of course if the injury is big the ER is important, but for minor bumps and movements like I described above, are they really urgent if some concussion symptoms arise, I mean is there normally a risk of brain bleeds in those scenarios or more just uncomfortable symptoms?

I think I am so quick to think all concussions/concussion symptoms mean danger, maybe they don't(unless the obvious bleed symptons arise)? Maybe it's SAFE for me to just relax even if I bump my head slightly or shake it a little too much one time, would you say it is a good idea to just let go of the idea of it being dangerus until I clearly feel like I'm in real physical danger?

This may sound obvious or odd to you, but since I've never really been familiar with feelings of safety it's hard for me to decide by myself when situations actually are safe for real or not...

[Mark in Idaho]

A concussion or head bump is not a reason to be seriously concerned about a brain bleed.

Here is a quote from Brainline.org :
After a concussion, the chances of this happening are not large — about 1 in 1000 — but the only way to diagnose it is with that hospital-based CAT scan.

Here are the symptoms of a concussion that should prompt an immediate trip to the hospital or emergency department.

Loss of consciousness, even if only briefly
Any period of amnesia, or loss of memory for the event
Feeling dazed or confused
Headache
Vomiting
Seizure

I think the 1 in 1000 is overstated. It is more likely 1 in 1000 concussed patients who show up at the ER. Very few concussions result in a trip to the ER.

I prefer to not be exposed to the massive radiation dose of a CT Scan.

If the symptoms are mild, I don't get concerned. Head aches are normal after a head bump. Severe head aches may justify an ER visit or Urgent Care visit.