(post)Concussion advice

[JohnZ622 0]

Hey guys,

Looking for some advice about returning to non-contact hockey. Full contact is out of question with concussion history.

Concussion history:

- 10 years ago, mild concussion during ski fall. no loss of consciousness but had slight anterograde memory loss for about 3 minutes. I was like, where the **** am I???

- Recently last December, started light/medium sparring in Thai boxing. During three sessions, one/two week apart each, I felt a bit slow after taking some light shots. After these sessions, there would be very mild headache. I didn't take this seriously and this type of "slowness" came again after a collision in adult hockey (no head hit). After that, small bumping of the body (jumping for example) will bring this symptom back. I started getting light sensitivity and headaches.

- Took a break from sports for a while. Slowly worked my way back into swimming, cycling, running, off-ice drills. It's been about 8 months now since my string of mild concussions.

Does this mean I'm doomed from playing in a rec/beer league again? Doctor's advice on this seem to vary. One neurologist is convinced I don't have concussion but rather have anxiety from grad school, another rehab doctor told me it's very serious.

I've never done much full contact sports before this Thai boxing thing. Needless to say, I need to quit Thai boxing.

MRI was negative.

Thanks so much for your time!

[MR MIZUN0 0]

I recently had a concussion, lost conciseness for 3 to 5 min, came to wondering what just happened to me etc. Was sluggish, and would wake up with vertigo so bad to the point I couldn't get out of bed a few days. Those symptoms subsided very fast, and slowly returned to activities. Quite apprehensive at first, but after a few months off, I started doing light skating again, with no return of symptoms...thereafter returned back to non contact hockey once a week and have been fine. My neurologist also mentioned that sometimes the worst part of having PCS is the anxiety, and at times depression due to symptoms, and the stress involved. I was warned that you could receive another concussion even if you don't hit your head so, I am more cautious on the ice. Just keep taking it slow, and dont push yourself until you feel better, and symptoms diminish during physical activity.

[JohnZ622 0]

I was definitely stressed and anxious for the better part of the last four years in my life. Just finished a PhD in a math area and have been depressed over it. I feel it's kind of useless and I spent all those efforts working on something very theoretical and removed from the real world. Mostly suffering alone in an office staring at piles of equations. Mind you I really enjoyed math as an undergrad student and still like it. It just seems a bit useless to do research in it. Just apply it to something.... Anyways, back to hockey lol

I recently had a concussion, lost conciseness for 3 to 5 min, came to wondering what just happened to me etc. Was sluggish, and would wake up with vertigo so bad to the point I couldn't get out of bed a few days. Those symptoms subsided very fast, and slowly returned to activities. Quite apprehensive at first, but after a few months off, I started doing light skating again, with no return of symptoms...thereafter returned back to non contact hockey once a week and have been fine. My neurologist also mentioned that sometimes the worst part of having PCS is the anxiety, and at times depression due to symptoms, and the stress involved. I was warned that you could receive another concussion even if you don't hit your head so, I am more cautious on the ice. Just keep taking it slow, and dont push yourself until you feel better, and symptoms diminish during physical activity.

Is this your first concussion? How did you get such a severe concussion in beer league?

[Jason Harris 31]

Send an email to Kerry Goulet at Goulet29@StopConcussions.com. He and Keith Primeau started the organization about four years ago to raise awareness on the issue, and Kerry (Gouche) has been to countless meetings with doctors and researchers.

I always tell him to come here and post, but he never does, so just send him an email with your story and tell him I suggested that you do so.

[MR MIZUN0 0]

I was definitely stressed and anxious for the better part of the last four years in my life. Just finished a PhD in a math area and have been depressed over it. I feel it's kind of useless and I spent all those efforts working on something very theoretical and removed from the real world. Mostly suffering alone in an office staring at piles of equations. Mind you I really enjoyed math as an undergrad student and still like it. It just seems a bit useless to do research in it. Just apply it to something.... Anyways, back to hockey lol

Is this your first concussion? How did you get such a severe concussion in beer league?

I believe I had several minor concussions from hockey back when I was at the pewee level. Being that I now play in college I know I received one minor concussion due to a nasty elbow to the head. But the most recent concussion occurred at a bar due to an assault.

[JohnZ622 0]

I believe I had several minor concussions from hockey back when I was at the pewee level. Being that I now play in college I know I received one minor concussion due to a nasty elbow to the head. But the most recent concussion occurred at a bar due to an assault.

Wow sorry to hear that. If you were unconscious, I would stay away from contact hockey for a while, perhaps a year or more. Bummers but you don't want to end up with my PCS condition.

[MR MIZUN0 0]

Wow sorry to hear that. If you were unconscious, I would stay away from contact hockey for a while, perhaps a year or more. Bummers but you don't want to end up with my PCS condition.

I guess I recovered quick, but the incident occurred in May, and as of now symptoms have cleared up, and are non-existant at this point.

[Chadd 916]

When recovering from my concussion, I found that I was pushing myself to get back too much. I would feel better and then experience a setback after playing or doing something else. The truth was that while I felt better, I still had not fully recovered. It can take a lot longer than you think. If you think you're better after a week, take another week off and see how you feel after that. If you feel better than you did after the first week, then take another. Repeat this until taking more time off doesn't make you feel better. There is a huge difference between feeling better and being fully recovered.

[chk hrd 164]

Have to agree with Chadd, take as much time as you need both mentally and physically.

[JohnZ622 0]

Saw a concussion specialist for the last two days. He thinks I had several repeated concussions earlier this year, each one mild. My Impact score looks completely normal and is actually above average for my age group. He told me to quit boxing (which I will follow) but he thinks non-checking hockey is ok even though there are risk of head injury involved.

Is there a significant risk of head injury in beer league? (Head hitting the ice, collisions <- I will keep my heads up for this)

[Chadd 916]

Saw a concussion specialist for the last two days. He thinks I had several repeated concussions earlier this year, each one mild. My Impact score looks completely normal and is actually above average for my age group. He told me to quit boxing (which I will follow) but he thinks non-checking hockey is ok even though there are risk of head injury involved.

Is there a significant risk of head injury in beer league? (Head hitting the ice, collisions <- I will keep my heads up for this)

Glad to hear your tests are normal now. I wouldn't say the risk in beer league hockey is "significant" but there is certainly more of a risk than if you didn't participate in a sport of some kind.

[JohnZ622 0]

Glad to hear your tests are normal now. I wouldn't say the risk in beer league hockey is "significant" but there is certainly more of a risk than if you didn't participate in a sport of some kind.

Yea I agree. Or just do non-contact sports like badminton or tennis. But they don't have that speed & excitement of hockey....lol

I guess I'll just stay out of playing with beginners because some of them can't really stop. And I'll be less reckless driving to the net or fighting for a loose puck.

[Chadd 916]

Yea I agree. Or just do non-contact sports like badminton or tennis. But they don't have that speed & excitement of hockey....lol

I guess I'll just stay out of playing with beginners because some of them can't really stop. And I'll be less reckless driving to the net or fighting for a loose puck.

If you have problems with cheap shots from morons, make sure they know you have trained as a boxer. That should cut down on any any stupidity.