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What's the score here? Knocked unconscious on Friday, still have a concussion headache now feel generally shit.
How long before riding? When did the feeling fade for you?
The problem isn’t “the feeling” it’s that you might think you’re absolutely fine but you’re actually still healing.
I’ve got a general timescale in mind, but as I can’t remember where I got it from (too many head knocks) I’m going to sit on it and let someone more learned answer that part
Very topical, my wife fainted at hospital today (as an outpatient) and hit the tiled floor with her head from standing and now has concussion!
You need a high level cognitive task to compare yourself with- something you were doing before the accident, like a crossword or your job, do it again now, if you are finding it as easy as before then you're all good. If you find it really hard, then probably not
Me, usually 2-4weeks. Anything in that time, eg trying to work or a sudden exertion like lifting something can bring all my symptoms back.
Don't want to give any advice on riding, but after being knocked out and having a bad concussion a few years ago I think it was a couple of weeks before I felt 'normal'. Felt very spacey with bad short term memory, headaches and sensitive to bright light. Having said that I think I had my first gentle pootle after about 3 weeks.
I got really shouted at by the consultant a few years ago, as about a week after concussion I ended up in hospital feeling really quite unwell. 7 days after the main event, I'd had a big boozy night out on Friday, went mountain biking on Saturday, then it was on the Sunday that I passed out on a roller coaster.
The consultant said: "If you had just badly sprained your ankle, would you go running on it? NO! Just because you can't see it, doesn't mean it isn't serious! LIVE A QUIET LIFE AND LET IT RECOVER!"
Took about 4 weeks for the fog to lift, then I felt OK again. Wife took 6 weeks after a bad KO climbing.
As above: take it easy, take your time, IANAD but give it at least 4 weeks.
If you’re not feeling 100% then I’d rest up. I’ve ridden through and too soon after KO’s too many times in my youth and I think I’m starting to suffer from it now I’m into my 40s, Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE or what Dave Mirra had) is something I really worry about nowadays.
On one I went blind for 10 minutes, but then went back on to finish the Rugby match, and after a really big high speed hit on my road bike I was nauseous for about 6 months (yet didn’t stop sport, drinking and crashing because -
youth and Peer pressure)
Rest up and play it safe.
I think they recommend 3 weeks of no sport after a head injury...as much as that is ages to wait, I'd be careful and play it safe...3 weeks as a minimum.
Plenty head injury stuff now being found in football and rugby players from previous decades who didn't take time to recover (as it wasn't the done thing). Rest up and recover well.
Having been off for 5.5 months with a broken ankle, i can confirm that 3-4 weeks is heehaw in the grand scheme of things.
It’s not ‘just a concussion’
Having had a few concussions over the years I can safely say you really need to to take it easy for a few weeks minimum. The last thing you want to do is have another accident shortly afterwards as that will do a lot more damage*. Mine have cleared in 6 weeks to 6 months depending on the situation. My best advice though is don't rely on your perception of whether you've healed, ask friends, family and your GP before restarting risky activities as they will see the changes that you will be oblivious to.
* I have damage from two large brain traumas in quick succession. One was a big OTB that knocked me out for 40 minutes in February 2010 and in the September I blacked out after choking on some chicken breast I was eating. I have gaps in my long term memory from 5-10 years before the accidents and cannot drink any alcohol any more. The specialist I know says it's highly likely I've got chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) due to a few symptoms I have and the number of concussions I've had (7) but there's no test for it, they can only find it via a brain autopsy. It does leave me at a very high risk of developing Alzheimer's though.
It differs for everyone, but the more you rest now the less chance you'll have post-concussion complications later on. I'm 4 years on from a crash and really wish I'd taken this advice more.
Also worth limiting the stress on your brain for a while. Go easy on the screens and avoid any hard thinking.
I think the rugby return to play protocols are publicly available which shoukd give you some guidence.
As TJ says, Google RFU/headway concussion advice and follow their ‘return to play’ guidelines. I work in ED and the routine advice is that 1/3 of folks will ne symptom free in 3 days, 1/3 in 3 weeks but 1/3 may still be symptomatic at 3 months post injury.
Sorry, head case not headway, here’s a link:
I've had concussion a few times, it really is a case by case basis, some are worse than others and you can't really tell which is which just from being KO'd or how you fell, the good news is that your body and brain tends to be the best indicators, if you feel lethargic, tired, not focused, or other signs of not being 100%, then it's best just to relax and go easy, most professional sports tend to have a 7-10 day concussion ban in place, so give it at least a week.
Best bet for now is just to rest and relax, take some paracetamol, and if symptoms persist, speak to the doctor, or visit minor injuries if they get worse, i take it you've not got any swelling or the likes to monitor as well?
Hold off the booze too. Mrs took a bump to the head along with separating her shoulder from an otb. Hospital didn't think there was concussion didn't seem concerned about the head. About a month later as the shoulder was feeling better we were out for a friends birthday, Mrs drank a bottle of prosecco that day. Next day hang over... only a week later still had the bad head, and other brain fuzziness. Took months for her to be back to feeling herself.
You've suffered a brain injury, you need to let it recover properly.
Sorry, head case not headway, here’s a link:
Although Headway are the brain injury charity, and have some good info on concussion here:
EWS also has a concussion protocol. Main thing is to not get a further knock in the short term. You may be more likely to if your brain and balance is still fuzzy. You can do some simple tests to reassure yourself eg stand on one leg on a soft Matt and close your eyes. You should be able to stay upright. Whatever you do start with some easy stuff and if you don’t feel right give it another 2 weeks.
Lizzy Banks, pro road rider, has spoken about her experience of concussion on the Cycling Podcast, following an accident early last season (possibly at Strade Bianche). It's certainly worth listening to this. I learnt a lot from it, and it helped me understand what I was experiencing following an accident late last year.
@MikeyP - Good to know that the EWS has a concussion protocol as there doesn’t seem to be one in DH, teams just seem to leave it up to the rider to decide (see Myriam Nicole and a few others) whereas most sports now (Rugby being the prime example) completely take it out of the player’s hands.
whereas most sports now (Rugby being the prime example) completely take it out of the player’s hands.
As it should be, expecting someone with concussion to be able to make rational decisions is just daft.
You can do some simple tests to reassure yourself eg stand on one leg on a soft Matt and close your eyes. You should be able to stay upright.
i still can’t do that 25yrs after a massive skateboarding off.
After suffering a traumatic brain injury (intraventricular hemorrhage) after a heavy mtb crash, my consultant said no drinking or riding for at least 6 weeks, even if you feel fine.
The risk is more down to a further repeated hit to the head, its just not worth the risk as more evidence is slowly emerging on the results of head injuries.
I've definitely noticed my short term memory isn't what it once was, whether that's getting older (mid thirties) or is a result of hitting my swede, places that I can visualise but not remember the name of, where as before I would be able to reel it off instantly.
Also can't really tolerate alcohol in large quantities, end up with a splitting headache after just a few, so I don't tend to drink any more, although I was more of a an occasional binge drinker so doesn't really bother me.