Hi all,

So, about 7 months ago, near the end of May, I was playing rugby for a school game and had suffered, in my opinion, a concussion. I was tackled from behind and then the tacklers knee had gone into the back off my head, while an oncoming defender's knee went into the front of my head. I blacked out for 2 seconds and had felt like I smashed my head into a brick wall. I remember looking up and not knowing who was standing over me and then all of a sudden, I could remember everything (the score, the field, the half, etc.) and continued to play. I finished the game, but felt nauseated throughout, with it only increasing after I had stopped playing. I also remember me not being able to not stop shaking, I had ringing in my ears, sensitivity to light/noise, dazed/foggy. I did not go to a hospital or doctors to get checked up on.

Now, I had a soccer game the day after, and was defending a corner and headed the ball and had severe ringing in one ear and couldn't hear anything for 2-3 minutes. Still did not get checked up on. That weekend, I had a soccer tournament in Pittsburgh. Saturday, I felt fine, with little dizziness/nausea. However, on Sunday, I was defending a free kick and went up for a header and I don't remember anything after that. I do remember, again, looking up and I could not tell which coach was standing over me (I have 4 coaches). I was down until the nurse come out and escorted me off the pitch. I originally thought I had hit my head on an attackers head as it felt like I hit a brick wall, but video evidence shows that there is not a soul around me. I finally went to see as doctor after I returned to Canada.

So, ever since then, my sleep pattern has been off, I can't sleep properly, I have a nagging headache and I get major mood swings. I went until the last week of Sept. with minimal symptoms. I was doing a football drill for school and me and a player collided, not seeing each other. I had hit him hard enough with my head, that I ruptured his spleen and I blacked out. I did not get checked up on and have been having symptoms to this day. Ever since that incidence, I have had approx. 10-15 "concussive situations" , from me hitting my head on a table, to getting hit in the head during football season. I do not feel the same, I feel like I've changed as a person. I've lost motivation for certain things, I get tired easily, very irritable, major mood swings and a nagging headache. Just recently, I ran two 200m race within 5 mins. and immediately felt nauseated and 20 mins. later, threw up.

I would like to know if I should see a doctor immediately, or if all of this is in my head and all of these incidents to my head are just making me paranoid?

KevinC,

Welcome to NeuroTalk.

You need to have your head examined. Not for concussions because definitely are suffering from your concussions, but because you are making life threatening decisions to continue to put yourself at risk. Why have your team trainers not pulled you from play ? Every reasonable concussion guideline would require you be pulled off the field and examined and be symptoms free before returning to play.

I wish I could come on stronger but it is obvious you do not have a good support structure to help you make the right choices and stay off the filed.

I'll just leave it at that because your head impact history over the past 7 months scares me to death. I know where you are headed if you are not convinced to take care of your brain. I've been living with Post Concussion Syndrome since sophomore year of high school.

Oh yeah, You should be seen at a Concussion Clinic. Hopefully, your school trainer has a referral for you.

My best to you.

Take care of yourself. I received concussions in high school and never thought anything of it. Then in the military I received more. Total of 6. Now for the past 2 years I have headaches every day of my life, even with medications and treatments. Take care of yourself before its too late.

You won't want to be spending hours and hours at doctors and therapists getting all sorts of treatment.