Hi Everyone,
I continue to browse through posts, every now and then to see how the healing is going. I am the mother of 16 almost 17 year old boy who had mild head injury wrestling last February. He had a long bout with PCS, with all the classic symptoms. This affected all last term of school. He is 7 months out and doing great now. He did make up academic work over summer with no headaches or dizziness and even was able to translate Latin, which used to really send him off into PCS la la land! He is running cross country at school and only complaining of knee issues from being out of shape. He is back to full academic load with all AP type classes and keeping pace. He most of all is happy! High on life again, after being isolated from his friends and in a fog, as he describes it for months. I just wanted to report this., since this can give hope and was what I needed to hear when we were so distraught. Alot of people do get better and move on from their blogs. I will continue to browse here and support and update on out progress. Hang in there, healing can and does happen or other compensatory brain adaptations will occur to make you better in time. BE PATIENT!

Nancy

I'm so glad to see a update on your son. I have wondered many times how he is doing. And to hear that he is running cross country is fantastic.

I can totally understand the knee problems, too from being out of condition.
But that too will pass as time goes. I hope he continues to enjoy his year.

I also hope that he can find something, if you are wanting this to replace the
wrestling. I realize its probably not what he wants. But I know how hard it would be on him if he had more problems with this again.

I hope we see a lot of you for support but not needing it.

Donna

Donna,
We are in the process of convincing him that he should not ever wrestle again. It is so hard for him because he was so good at it but both my husband and I realize that he should never go back to this sport. Perhaps he could be team manager for awhile. He will do crew in the spring. We are so grateful to have him back to full health. I watch him like a hawk and am a bit traumatized by the experience. It is so good of you to be so supportive of this community. They are so vulnerable in the healing stages.
Nancy

Nancy

Also explain to him that his experience will be valuable as crew. And that
he will make a very good team manager. BEcause he will know the
beginning signs for this very dangerous problem. And that he can help
the coachs realize that its necessary to stop the kids from continuing
when they aren't at their best.

Its very much a big deal.

Remind him that many need his insight to learn from. And that many
soccer, football and wrestling kids really need him to stand up for them
and say no to doing the things that can cause more damage.

I am happy to hear he will do something to continue this in some way.

Donna

Donna,
Absolutely! It is amazing how unaware people are of the neurological insult concussions have. I seem to find myself in alot of conversations explaining to people the importance of rest! You will never know how many kids you are helping out by explaining what happened to us when rest was not respected or understood enough. We have already helped alot! One mother called me up and told me her daughter had a concussion ( hit in head while sailing), and was complaining of dizziness while riding in car the next day. She wanted to know whether she should play soccor over the weekend. I told her our story and thet she should rest. She did rest over the weekend and is fine now. Who knows whether this healed her quicker but she is fine and recovered quite quickly. Take care, I'll be in touch.
Nancy

Nancy

That is fantastic. I think its time that we folks either with the injuries or the kids with the injuries write a book. I know that in my case I have the injuries.

But I'm pretty sure that also my middle son has some cases that in soccer especially he had some injuries too. But never realized it was this bad.

I am also starting to realize its possible that the years of his high school,
that he laid in bed with what was considered migraines were really mild
or more post concussion syndromes. And I really hate the thought that
if we had only known it then that he could have been given a different
kind of treatment and care. And maybe we wouldn't have been trying
to get him back to school each day.

I just don't know what to think at times.

Donna

That is encouraging news Nancy. A few questions for you so that maybe I can relate this to my situation:

Was the recovery sudden? I have heard people just waking up one morning, and its gone.

Did exercise trigger the symptoms? Sounds like this is not an issue any more if he is running cross country.

Did you try any treatments - medication, neurofeedback, supplements, etc. or did he just rest and get back to normal?

Good to hear that he is better. Keep him away from contact sports Just let him know that it could last twice as long next time. I know that is enough to convince me to stay away from activities that could cause another concussion.

Nancy's son's story is on here somewhere. I'll see if I can find it But no it didn't just go away one day.

ANd I can't remember exactly what all they did.

Donna

I also think that when you are that young your brain can heal a lot easier than someone in their 20's or 30's. My first concussion was around 15. with amneasia, so it was a good one. Second, third , forth, fifth between 18 and 23. But the sixth around the age of 29was the worst and even was flight 4 life to another hospital. It is was about a year after that where pcs was really starting to take a toll on me and still struggling 3 years later.

Hi Yannimac,
Sorry to be late in reply. My sons recovery was gradual. He had a nice relaxed summer and swam, played a little tennis, made up school work etc. He had no symptoms most of summer. Two times he had nausea and vomiting from riding in the back of minvans and he would be nausous and pale for hours. Interesting enough, both cases had a good amount of stress invoved with them. Family discourd, from extended family etc. Stess and over stimulation make him sick. All of August, he was great. He has been running hard and I have been trying to slow it down, but he loves being with the friends and goofing aound with them. This does not seem to affect him. Last week he was tired when stressed about drivers ed. road test and did say he was nausous. This all went away, after a good night sleep. he passed his drivers ed and has license. He bounced back and has been fine again for a week. Stress and worry seemed to be the problem and something I see as a problem for set backs, but as time moves on the bounce back time seems to be quick from these brief incidences. Hope you are doing better. We did not do anything else other than rest, no pain meds, no biofeedback etc. He does still take Melatonin for sleep. He is afraid to not take it, I am thinking he should try to wean down. Take care and stay in touch.
Nancy F