[john1960]

If I don't have any significant aggravation of symptoms, would
The ethanol chemical itself be impairing healing?

[Mark in Idaho]

The comments I've read say that the relaxation benefit from a single serving can balance the negative effects. Getting a buzz would not be recommended.

What would be your motivation to drink ?

[john1960]

The super bowl. I always drink during the super bowl.

I'm just curious, that besides the obvious risk of falling/coordination problems, does the ethanol chemical itself impair healing?

[Mark in Idaho]

Yes, it negatively effects the brain. Expect to have a miserable handover and/or more.

[john1960]

I planned on having 3-4 drinks. Minor buzz. If I get a heightened hangover from that I'm ok with it.

The crux of my question: would the ethanol from 3-4 beers create a permanent deficit in how well my brain heals? Because I would be ok with healing being delayed a couple days.. But it's the permanence I have a question about.

[Mark in Idaho]

You know more than I do about the permanent effects of alcohol.

[john1960]

Not in this regard. (Not sure if that was a sincere or snooty sarcastic remark)

So you don't know if a bit of alcohol would cause a permanent effect? Its just this particular night, I plan on obstaining for However long it takes for this to heal after.

[crobert]

From my personal experience, alcohol has done far worse things to my brain than trauma itself. But, then again, each concussion is highly individualized.

If your initial concussion was alcohol-related, as mine was, I would highly recommend staying away from the stuff as long as possible. Alcohol consumption brings about a chemical environment in the brain very similar to that effected a few hours after large amounts of trauma, and drinking may trigger a "memory effect," therefore putting into motion the secondary processes associated with concussion.

It's your call; I know that, for me at least, if I crush a bunch of beers there's a good chance I won't experience any *perceptible* permanent effects. But there's also a good chance I will. Even if I don't, I know it's probably not the best in terms of long-term recovery and/or re-acquisition of cerebral "toughness." This last part is conjecture, but the toxicity of alcohol and the similarity of its effects to those of alcohol is very much so documented.

[Mark in Idaho]

I was being serious, not sarcastic. Crobert is right about alcohol having similar effects on brain matter as trauma.

I struggle to understand why people ask if risky behavior creates a risk. Researchers look at how people can best heal in controlled situations. They can not legitimately study how risky behavior effects recovery because there are just too many permutations of risky behavior. Imagine the survey, How much did you drink ? Uhh, I lost count because I was buzzed.

[john1960]

Well, I kept it to 2 amstel lights. Not worth the stress of thinking about to push it any further. Going into tonight, I honestly felt it might be ok to get a buzz considering its been a month, and 2 neuros I spoke to said "just keep it in moderation". But after this convo I put my foot on the brakes.

Maybe experienced an extremely minor buzz, but dont even think that was the case.

Hopefully I haven't impeded any kind of healing or caused a permanent healing deficit by drinking those beers...


*P.s.: to crobert, no sir, the concussion was mainly from a snowboarding fall. There were a few drinks consumed earlier on in the day, but by the time of the fall, the effects were at the bare minimum.