[ProAgonist]

There are stairs near the building where I live and there is a palm tree next to them - it has giant green leaves that are just above those stairs. These leaves have quite sharp edges as well.

Sometimes when I climb up these stairs, I accidentally smash my head against some of the leaves when I jump up to the next stair (the leaves are hanging low above the stairs and I sometimes jump and by accident get hit on the head with their edges).

It hurts in the head when it happens, and it has already happened a few times, so I'm slightly concerned about this.

Is it OK that when I jump up the stairs I sometimes hit my head against the leaves that above the stairs? The leaves are giant and have sharp edges (which are not soft), so I'm wondering if it might be dangerous and possibly worsen my brain injury.

In case you've never seen these leaves, this is how they look like:



So is it OK, or it could be dangerous and make my head injury worse?

Thanks,
-ProAgonist

[mrsD]

The dangers of palm trees:

http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/2904/

This link says that if a leaf fan falls from a considerable height, it can do damage... as it can weigh 50 lbs.

Many tropical palms have very nasty spines on them too.

[ProAgonist]

mrsD,

That's sad to hear. I will try to be more careful about that from now on.

Even though the leaves didn't fall on me (I jumped into a few leaves by accident), could it worsen my brain injury and harm my recovery? Does it count as a sub concussive impavt or even a mild concussion?

I initially didn't think it could be a sub-concussive impact, but now I'm worried that it might be.

What do you think?

Thanks,
-ProAgonist

[mrsD]

I think you should not be jumping up the stairs. And I would not walk beneath a palm tree any time soon either.

[ProAgonist]

Can you please give a more clear answer? That sounds like a "yes, you worsened your situation" or something in that sense, but I just want to be sure.

I'm now much more worried that I added some more damage to my brain (in addition to my 2 concussions), which is perhaps irreversible. I don't want to be a paranoid, but this had happened a few times and I'm anxious about it now. Do you think I won't recover well because of that?

Thanks,
-ProAgonist

[Mark in Idaho]

I think mrsD gave you good advice. The jumping could be as traumatic as the palm fronds. I can understand how the palm fronds feel painful. It's like being hit with little bars. But, I don't think you could consider these hits to be sub-concussive impacts. The speed of contact is just not enough. When a frond falls, it is going much faster and you can be hit by the thick part at the base of the frond. Then, it can be like what the timber industry calls a 'widow maker.' But, at the speed you make contact going up the stairs, it's just not enough speed.

If you are causing your brain to bounce around by running and jumping, that could slow your recovery. I doubt it will cause new damage, just a delay in recovery.

[ProAgonist]

Mark,

Thank you for the comment. I am trying to be more careful right now about these things and I'll try to stay away from that spot under the fronds from now on.

At the same time, I am trying to reduce my anxiety (OCD) related to the injury (wondering if I hit my head when I didn't), and it has reduced a bit (there's still a long way to go). By the way, I still haven't started CBT treatment because this is considered very expensive in my country, but I might start one soon.

Thanks again for your reply,
-ProAgonist