[bwhiteii]

Hello all!

I am very thankful for finding this resource. Realizing that others are experiencing some of the same things we are is very comforting.

My son is 15 years old and suffered a concussion in football practice on August 31st 2015. He is a freshman and had never played football before. As he is a pretty big / strong kid, they had him participating in drills with more experienced upper classmen. After one particularly hard hit, his head whipped back and he fell to the ground. He was able to get up and return to practice, but by the time he arrived home an hour or so later, he was dizzy and vomiting.

After seeing a concussion specialist, he missed the first 4 weeks of school and was given academic accommodations, which few teachers actually followed. Upon returning to school, he was expected to perform just as any other student would. Finally, the school psychologist got involved and started to enforce the accommodations with the teachers. My son was also allowed to study in "the Lab" which is a small room monitored by the school psychologist where students can study and take tests in a less stressful environment.

Now, 4 months later, he is doing much better, but is still having symptoms. He missed the entire football season and is hoping to be able to play baseball, his primary sport. We have been seeing a rehab trainer reccomended by is doctor, but he is only able to exert himself for 9-10 minutes before having symptoms.

He has been working hard to get himself back on track in school and just spent his entire Christmas break completing make-up work. He has lifted most of his grades up to A's and B's, but it is a REAL struggle. We are looking forward to the new semester where he will only have to worry about the current work, not the current work and the make-up work.

One of the most difficult things about this is the lack of a clear and delineated recovery protocol. There doesn't seem to be much, if anything that one can really point to and say "do this, and it will help" I am open to any and all suggestions. Not looking for a "magic bullet" just hoping to benefit from the collective wisdom of the group.

This is very frustrating for him and me. It is hard to stand by and watch your beloved child suffer so much. It is easy to be sucked into a negative thought pattern and wonder if he'll ever be better. I just have to keep reminding myself that he WILL recover, in God's time, not mine...

[Mark in Idaho]

bwhiteii,

Welcome to NeuroTalk.

There is not a "do this" recovery protocol that works. The better recovery protocol is "Don't do this." His brain needs moderated rest. He should not be pushing to a level that causes symptoms. If he is not in shape for baseball, that is the way it will have to be. His brain is far more important than any sport or even maintaining his academic timeline.

The brain does not heal like a broken bone or pulled muscle. It can be a long slow process as the brain settles down and is able to return to mental exertion. The brain only improves when it is symptom free. So, maintaining a low stress, symptom free, moderated life is most important.

He should not be returning to any sport until he can maintain a normal class work load without any symptoms. A pitch to the head could change his life FOREVER.

Personally, I would never let a son on the football field if the coaches are not teaching safe contact. There is no excuse for suffering a concussion in practice. There is no purpose in teaching hard hitting. If the coach can't teach tackling and blocking where the helmet never touches the opposing player and the player is never thrown to the ground, that coach is teaching dangerous football.

Check out www.MomsTeam.com. Here is their 'return to play' page. http://www.momsteam.com/health-safet...return-to-play

As one who suffered long term consequences from a concussion in high school sports (soccer), I am more conservative than MomsTeam. They have too much focus on getting the student back onto the playing field as quickly as 'safely' possible.

I am a firm believer in the axiom "When in doubt, sit them out."

At 15, his brain is in a very critical stage. It is going through all the changes of adolescence. It is very early in its maturing stage that will continue until he is 25. Disrupting this maturing process can cause lifetime struggles like impulsiveness, poor judgement skills, a tendency to have outbursts (he may have these now) and cognitive struggles.

So, please give yourself and your son time to accept these limitations and slowly seek a return to normal activity levels. As I said, he should not be pushing to a level that causes a return of symptoms. The Buffalo Protocol says to find that level than causes symptoms and stay below it by 10 to 20%. They use heart rate as a primary indicator. Keep in mind that activity one day can cause a return of symptoms the next day. Symptom return is not always immediate. A day delay is very common.

The goal should be to link as many symptoms free days together as possible. Try to think of it this way. There will be more healing on the second consecutive symptom free day that on the first. More healing on the third consecutive symptom free day that the second. And so on.

The Buffalo Protocol suggests increasing effort on a 2 week schedule. After 2 weeks of symptoms free effort, increase the effort by 5 to 10%.

It will be beneficial if he gets on a brain health nutritional supplement regimen. The Vitamins sticky at the top has good information. Just a good multi-vitamin is far from adequate. The injured brain needs much more. And.... No caffeine or alcohol. My neuro in high school advised me to never consume alcohol. The few times I did in college, I was miserable from just on tall bear.

I know how much struggle it can be for a parent to watch a child struggle. I've experienced it with two daughters. Anything you can do to lower stress levels will help you both. You can lower your expectations then be able to celebrate those 'unexpected' improvements. First, you want your son back. Then, you want him to be able to achieve academically. Only then, should you and he expect sports achievement.

I know it is hard. Parenting can be that way.

My best to you.

[Bud]

bwhiteii,

I wrote to you in another post before I saw this...my best wishes and prayers for your son.

Tell him he isn't a faker...this is hard stuff.

Bud