Returning after a concussion

A light bike doesn't replace good fitness.

Moderator: Moderator Team

cmdr199212
Posts: 316
Joined: Tue Aug 25, 2009 4:40 pm
Location: Beer City

by cmdr199212

Hi All. Last Friday(almost a week ago), i sustained a concussion during a training ride, put a gash in my left eyebrow and got a bunch of stitches to match. I'm racing collegiality, and have spring break coming up; from your experience what is recovered look like? I've been taking impact tests with the school's Athletic Training Dept., and it seems to be more of a light concussion, but I'm trying to plan to get back on the bike.

A few more details: I didn't lose consciousness, I did/do have memory gaps immediately before and about 20/30min after. Some headaches, minimal nausea, no real vision issues, no super sensitivity to light/sound, minimal dizziness. The past few days I have felt really off, like jumps in energy levels, and pretty loopy back and forth, but I'm not taking other than ibuprofen to minimize headaches.

I'm 21, in good physical shape(I'm a Cat 3, hoping to make my 2 upgrade, racing collegiate A), first concussion, and really just hoping to get back on the bike soon.

sanrensho
Posts: 433
Joined: Tue Aug 02, 2011 5:54 pm

by sanrensho

"Loopy" does not sound good. Have you been tested and cleared to get back in the mix again? Just be aware that suffering a second concussion while still having concussion symptoms is much worse than having a second knock after healing up. You're young and have an entire life ahead of you.

Don't rush back to action until you're 100%. With more severe symptoms you might have to take extended time off (as in multiple semesters) from school. Totally not worth it.

by Weenie


Visit starbike.com Online Retailer for HighEnd cycling components
Great Prices ✓    Broad Selection ✓    Worldwide Delivery ✓

www.starbike.com



adson
Posts: 5
Joined: Wed Oct 16, 2013 10:11 am

by adson

Hi I hope that your recovery is going to be fast and easy. I am 40 and I had a concussion 5 months ago, it seems to be a similar one as you had. Deep gash in left eyebrow, memory gap same as you, stiches all over the face, one broken tooth, no nausea, no dizziness, no headaches. Fortunatelly I was wearing a helmet.
After the accident I spent two days in hospital to do CT and that doctors could keep an eye on me. Then I took one week at home mainly in bed, no direct sunlight, no loud sounds, no TV, no newspapers, just keep kalm and quiet. Then 5 more weeks avoiding any sort of stress. My doctor suggested this 6 week off period as it is usual time needed for a full recovery. After these 6 long weeks I got back on the bike again and in a few rides I get fully comfortable again.
All relevant people recommended me not to hurry up with come back. Let your body and mind get back to equilibrium and it is a slow proccess.

cmdr199212
Posts: 316
Joined: Tue Aug 25, 2009 4:40 pm
Location: Beer City

by cmdr199212

I took two tests, I'm waiting to see the results of the second, hopefully in a few days here. I'm really trying to take my time, I'm hampered by the good form I was feeling and a soon approaching season. I'll keep this updated

c50jim
Posts: 1015
Joined: Tue Feb 14, 2006 4:42 am
Location: Calgary

by c50jim

If you can find one in your area, you should try to see a doctor who's a concussion specialist rather than asking people like us on the net. There is a standard questionnaire that you can do to get some idea how severe your effects are:
http://www.cces.ca/files/pdfs/SCAT2%5B1%5D.pdf

I had a big crash in 2010 and a sports med doctor gave me the test three times, starting about a month after my concussion. I also talked with the physio who was working on my back (broke a vertebra in the crash). He works with the national team speed skaters and had lots of experience with them suffering concussions at events.

Without trying to prescribe anything, I'd say that you should be very cautious about getting back on the bike soon. My concussion was bad enough that they put me through CT scans three times (twice at the hospital in Italy, once after I came home). It appears as though concussion effects are cumulative and if you have residual problems from your first concussion, it can mean that another bump on the head can be even more severe. Yes, you want to get back on your bike but you only have one head. Read some of the reports of long term effects on football and hockey players and you might decide to stay off the bike.

My doctor allowed me to go back to moderate exercise where I had no risk of falling (i.e. trainer) after about six months. A while later, he said I could ski as long as I didn't hit my head. Of course, on the second run on the second ski day, I was going down and made sure I didn't hit my head. However, I did manage to dislocate my shoulder. It was exactly ten months before I was back on the bike. I went back to work after about a month (part time since I'm semi-retired). If I could go back I would have avoided work and moving pictures (TV, movies, etc.) for at least another month since I had moderate symptoms for two full years and wonder if I'd have been better if I'd taken more time off.

sanrensho
Posts: 433
Joined: Tue Aug 02, 2011 5:54 pm

by sanrensho

cmdr199212 wrote: I'm hampered by the good form I was feeling and a soon approaching season.


Rest of your life>Good form

afalts
Posts: 157
Joined: Thu Mar 08, 2012 3:20 pm

by afalts

You need to find a Dr that has a lot of experience with both concussions and high exercise levels.

I have had patients with similar diagnosis that were symptom free in 2 weeks, up to one that is now over 5 yrs of no exercise over 30 mins.

DanW
Posts: 1243
Joined: Fri May 02, 2008 5:39 pm
Location: Here, there and everywhere

by DanW

As others have said it is too open ended a problem/ question to possibly get any useful answers on the internet. The only thing you can do is see a specialist and really take your time. Even a few months or whatever off the bike is little in the grand scheme of things. After an experience where I'd wake up regularly in the middle of the night and be absolutely terrified to not know where I was or what was going on, I can say concussions are potentially very scary things. Also, a local rugby club lost a player taking a second knock in a few weeks. There are dozens of similar stories I'm sure. Even after the tests if you don't quite feel right keep the doc informed.

kulivontot
Posts: 1163
Joined: Sun May 16, 2010 7:28 pm

by kulivontot

Talk to your doctor?

dvincere
Posts: 198
Joined: Fri Jun 01, 2012 6:40 pm

by dvincere

I had a concussion a couple years ago. I thought I had healed up and hoped on the bike. Ended up dizzy and vomiting 40 miles into the ride and couldn't ride safely anymore. Take recovery slow, even if you feel fine, test the waters.

eric
Posts: 2196
Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 9:47 pm
Location: Santa Cruz, California, USA
Contact:

by eric

I've also had a concussion from a bike crash.

Besides the good advice you got above, get a lot of sleep. It helps.
If you feel off you need more recovery.

drchull
Posts: 376
Joined: Sat Jul 30, 2011 6:38 pm

by drchull

Excellent advice here all around. I like the person who mentioned not only rest of the body but rest for the brain. Reading, TV, computers almost anything that stimulates the brain is not a great idea in the acute phase. Boring but helpful.
There are a number of scoring tools used for concussions that SCAT3 tool currently likely the most used in sports med. Is available online (get off your computer) and there is an app for the previous SCAT2 scoring tool.
It is hard to often say how serious a concussion is, we often like to categorize here so we can feel better about rushing back-Take them all as serious!
General rules though: symptom free before resuming activity after a period of time symptom free (this period of time is debatable).
Non strenuous activity before strenuous activity.
Step it up slowly and any return of symptoms shut it down till symptom free for a lot longer than you waited last time.

Shameless plug here (which I in no way profit from): The only current helmets on the market that have any evidence to reduce concussion are MIPS helmets. Scott has released one now that is good for road and mountain and is actually relatively inexpensive. I make my living with my brain and so bought one. You and anyone else who has posted on this page about their concussions should get one too.

Now get off the computer and rest that brain.

DanW
Posts: 1243
Joined: Fri May 02, 2008 5:39 pm
Location: Here, there and everywhere

by DanW

Excellent advice here all around. I like the person who mentioned not only rest of the body but rest for the brain. Reading, TV, computers almost anything that stimulates the brain is not a great idea in the acute phase. Boring but helpful.


Really great additional advice. It was scary as hell trying to check my email a while after my little bump and realising I couldn't make out a single word on the screen despite feeling pretty fine!

The advice about not messing with any possible concussion is probably the best overall thing to keep reiterating. Damn scary things!

cmdr199212
Posts: 316
Joined: Tue Aug 25, 2009 4:40 pm
Location: Beer City

by cmdr199212

Hey all, update. I was cleared by my AT to return to activity, and have now been riding for almost a week, and haven't felt better. I haven't been pushing it too hard, but no symptoms returned as of yet

by Weenie


Visit starbike.com Online Retailer for HighEnd cycling components
Great Prices ✓    Broad Selection ✓    Worldwide Delivery ✓

www.starbike.com



sanrensho
Posts: 433
Joined: Tue Aug 02, 2011 5:54 pm

by sanrensho

Good to hear you're doing OK.

Post Reply