Concussion support group

[puckhoggy 0]

Hey all

With the surrounding talk of concussions and the ever growing concern, I was hoping MSHers can lend some support on the case. In terms of what they have experienced, as well as symptoms or lingering pain since their incident.

I have been told I have experienced a concussion, and only now do I realize how much more aware i am of the situation and talks all over the radio and TV about it.

In addition what current testing sites have you used to assess your progress to recovery.

Edit: should mention this is not a thread about diagnosing a concussion or replacement of a doctor's wisdom. Just a support "group"

Thanks.

[greech 4]

What do you mean by testing sites? I would only trust the word of a doctor, you're messing with your brain here.

I've had a stupid number of concussions, its the result of playing at the height of most defenseman's elbows (and sometimes looking like Lindros after some nice sauce ). I've suffered from most of the usual symptoms- sensitivity to light, headaches, changes in eating and sleeping behaviors, mild depression- you name it, I've had it. Had a seizure a little less than 3 years ago that doctors had enough of a suspicion was related to concussions to shut her down in terms of competitive hockey. I've now got like a boxer's jaw, any kind of head contact is enough to make me dizzy and bring on symptoms again. As a person who most definitely has had a lot of concussions and didn't necessarily go through all the proper protocols with them, I have no other advice than to find a good doctor and listen to them. As much as hockey defined me back when, I now regret that I allowed myself to cause such damage by not taking concussions seriously.

[puckhoggy 0]

Thx for the input.

In regards to sites, I meant impact testing or other do it at home testing programs. I've been to the doctors and all, but am curious with what others have used (previous threads mentioning sites).

[DarkStar50 679]

I know I have had a few. About 5 years ago, I was playing and had my feet come out from under me. I landed on my back and whiplashed the back of my head on the ice. I was wearing an old CCM HT2. By the time I got to the bench, my hair hurt. Since I have no hair, I knew I was in trouble. I sat a few shifts and later finished. Within 2 days, I had headaches for the next 3 days. It eventually went away. I ditched the CCM helmet and bought a Mission with the EPP. It fit the best. Funny how I work in a pro shop and never upgraded my helmet. Funny and stupid. I wore this helmet with no problems for 2 years. Eventually the padding came unglued in the back. Time for a new helmet. I bought a Bauer 9500. This fit fine. I have been wearing it but am due for a new helmet. I had one of those great collisions with my own teammate a few weeks ago. The type where you look up and it's too late since you have both chosen the same real estate. Again within 2 days I had another headache. It wasn't until the next day I figured it out that it was a concussion headache. I try to be extremely careful on the ice with other players. At 5'6", I'm also perfect height for the elbow to the noggin. Then there are always the freight trains on ice who can't stop until they say "oh, sorry." Like that helps. As someone selling helmets and hockey gear for a long time, this concussion issue in travel and rec hockey is only going to get worse. Solution? I don't think there will ever be a really good safe solution to this problem.

[Jason Harris 31]

You should visit http://www.stopconcussions.com/ to see if there is any information that can help. It was founded by Kerry Goulet and Keith Primeau earlier this year.

[hampshirepuck 2]

I had one when I was 18 from hitting my head on the boards still felt serious symptoms till i was 22.

[Law Goalie 147]

I've had 9 diagnosed, and fuck knows how many undiagnosed, including a fractured skull. That they were relatively distant from one another, and that, through sheer fortune of parentage, I didn't sit still in the dark afterwards, are the only reasons I can form a coherent... you know... semblance... to this day.

The scary thing is that only one happened in hockey, and it was my own fault for demanding to skate with a provincial junior A team when I was 10. The best laid plans o' mice an' chil'n gang aft algey...

What I can say with absolute assurance is that if you suffer a concussion, you want to engage in maximum mental stimulation, to the point of disoriented vomitting, as long as you don't sustain another blow or rotational stress. Do anything, *anything* to force your bran to adapt, whether it's reading Finnegans Wake or hanging upside down watching The View.

[wrangler 157]

I couldn't handle Ulysses. As to Finnegan's Wake, I'd rather sing it.

[Thinkingjack 51]

THE only person i trust is my doctor and if its not the same guy, My Neurologist.

I've had two bad concussions the first one shifted my brain to the right side of my skull the second shifted it back and crashed into my skull, making my left frontal lobe very damaged i almost needed brain surgery.

But one thing that he told me that really helps with healing faster from any concussion.

Vitamin B12 the liquid form, daily make sure it coats your tongue, its bitter but worth it.

other than that, GO TO YOUR DOCTOR. Screw websites, in this country the main problem is self diagnosing. Big problem.

The side effects for the first major one went from age 17 until age 19, then i got the second major one and that was from age 21 to i think age 23/24. I had another one from a car crash at age 24 so that didnt help. Worst soul less feeling ever. Post-Concussion syndrome is the worst thing.

I had one when I was 18 from hitting my head on the boards still felt serious symptoms till i was 22.

thats post concussion syndrome

[Law Goalie 147]

I couldn't handle Ulysses. As to Finnegan's Wake, I'd rather sing it.

Best musical ever.

[puckhoggy 0]

Thanks to everyone and keep them coming.

In my case, the opposing player hit my head when I was along the boards. My head was crushed between him and the glass, and all this behind the damn play. :(

[wrangler 157]

Best musical ever.

Fair enough, but I do the Clancy Brothers version.

[hampshirepuck 2]

thats post concussion syndrome

whats the difference? I have heard that tossed around before

[jds 20]

What I can say with absolute assurance is that if you suffer a concussion, you want to engage in maximum mental stimulation, to the point of disoriented vomitting, as long as you don't sustain another blow or rotational stress. Do anything, *anything* to force your bran to adapt, whether it's reading Finnegans Wake or hanging upside down watching The View.

That seems contrary to all of the information I have seen. My understanding was to completely refrain from any mental stimulation (hence the dark room).

[Law Goalie 147]

And yet that gyro therapy Crosby and Pronger have undergone would seem to suggest that fairly major stimulation under controlled condition is the best way to heal the brain.

After my mother-in-law had her hip replaced, they were practically whipping her out of bed and making her walk on it to the point of passing out with pain, even on a huge dose of Percocet. She had to start using the leg, under certain conditions, or it would heal wrong.

From what I understand of Barton and Carrick's methos, that is precisely what they're trying to do to the brain: give it maximum stimulus with minimal risk of internal force or impact.

Going for a skate the day after a concussion would be very dangerous; sitting in the dark will protect you from a second injury, and may in the short term be advantageous, but I can't think of any injury that improves with total inertia.

THE only person i trust is my doctor and if its not the same guy, My Neurologist.

[...]

other than that, GO TO YOUR DOCTOR. Screw websites, in this country the main problem is self diagnosing. Big problem.

Ordinarily, this would be very sound advice. However...

"If you have a head injury and go to a neurosurgeon, they don't really deal with concussion," says Dr. Blaine Hoshizaki, Director of the School of Human Kinetics and Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Ottawa. "If you go to a GP, they're very rudimentary in their practice -- they're basically making sure the patients don't fall asleep."

This is one area where most doctors, even brain specialists, don't have a clue. As long as you're providing your doctor with information - bringing in printouts from PubMed, even newspaper articles, etc. - and not trying to outthink the doctor, there isn't a thing wrong with being informed.

[wrangler 157]

Maybe

That seems contrary to all of the information I have seen. My understanding was to completely refrain from any mental stimulation (hence the dark room).

Mental stimulation, or certain types of sensory stimulation?

[Law Goalie 147]

Fair enough -- I did overstate it.

[jds 20]

Maybe

Mental stimulation, or certain types of sensory stimulation?

Well it is impossible to refrain from complete mental stimulation, unless you are a Blackhawks fan . My understanding was the less amount of any activity for your brain, the better but I would guess that sensory stimulation is the only thing you could consciously refrain from.

[Chadd 916]

What I can say with absolute assurance is that if you suffer a concussion, you want to engage in maximum mental stimulation, to the point of disoriented vomitting, as long as you don't sustain another blow or rotational stress. Do anything, *anything* to force your bran to adapt, whether it's reading Finnegans Wake or hanging upside down watching The View.

I spent a lot of time making absolutely no progress at all until starting vestibular therapy. It was a huge help in allowing me to get back to my usual routine.

Well it is impossible to refrain from complete mental stimulation, unless you are a Blackhawks fan . My understanding was the less amount of any activity for your brain, the better but I would guess that sensory stimulation is the only thing you could consciously refrain from.

I beg to differ, you should see the lack of mental activity with Flyer fans.

Initially, I had to refrain from any activity to prevent nausea, dizziness and vertigo. After a few months I stopped making progress until starting vestibular therapy and made more rapid progress when that went from once to twice a week.

[jds 20]

The Blackhawks quip was directed at Wrangler. It's apparent that there is a lot of information floating around about concussions , some of it conflicting. I really think that given the "epidemic " (read: increased awareness) of concussions now, the research will continue around treatment and, ideally, prevention.

[Sed27 0]

_{I’ve had two major concussions in the past twenty years, and likely a few others that were less severe.}

_{The first major one happened while playing bantam hockey. I was on the left wing and had just laid a clean body check on the opposing defenseman at our blue line. When I turned to receive the breakout pass, the opposing player I had just hit crosschecked me in the back of the head. I never blacked out, but immediately after the blow everything in the rink looked yellow (i.e. the ice, boards etc.) and my legs felt like they were filled with cement. Thankfully, my coach at the time recognized the symptoms and sat me down for the rest of the game.}

_{The emergency room doctor said that I had simply had my “bell rung” and it wasn’t officially a concussion because I hadn’t lost consciousness (remember this was some two decades ago). For months after the incident I woke up with headaches and often went through extended periods where, for lack of a better term, I just felt fuzzy.}

_{The second one was some ten years later and occurred while mountain biking. After a miss-timed drop, I proceeded to go over the bars and crash into a large fallen log. Luckily, I was wearing a full face down hill helmet. Again, after hitting my head I was dizzy and my legs felt extremely heavy.}

_{This time, the doctor who assessed me determined that I had suffered a concussion. However, she seemed less concerned about the nausea/ disorientation I was experiencing, and more annoyed with having to stitch up my jaw. The post concussion effect was not as notable this time around. I still had periodic headaches, but the fog I have previously experienced did not last nearly as long.}

_{The only advice I can offer is to take your time getting back and listen to what your body is telling you.}

[jds 20]

_{The emergency room doctor said that I had simply had my “bell rung” and it wasn’t officially a concussion because I hadn’t lost consciousness (remember this was some two decades ago).}

_.

Whether one loses consciousness or not is now understood to be irrelevant in the diagnosis of a concussion ( as you alluded to) and that was from a doctor. Just goes to show how continuing study and education is important for physicians as well as the patients.

[wrangler 157]

Well it is impossible to refrain from complete mental stimulation, unless you are a Blackhawks fan . My understanding was the less amount of any activity for your brain, the better but I would guess that sensory stimulation is the only thing you could consciously refrain from.

President of the World, or not, meet me in the parking lot.

[wrangler 157]

ESPN concussions page: http://espn.go.com/nfl/topics/_/page/concussions

[oldtrainerguy28 478]

Along with http://www.stopconcussions.com/ a group I work proudly is a http://www.thinkfirst.ca/index.aspx is a great website to get information. As well as of course http://www.bu.edu/cs.../chris-nowinski being the lead in research.

Unlucky for me 17 later with 7 from having epilepsy when I was younger I have also joined the donor group!

Being one of the older ones and have looooooooooots of experience with this situation don't hesitate to ask if you have any questions. I am of course NOT a Dr but have some pretty smart Dr. friends from the study's linked here.

Merry Xmas to all!