Head-clearing Post Concussion Ride
 

http://app.strava.com/rides/1718881

So psyched to get back on the road especially with how lethargic I've been feeling. As for background, I was playing with my dog on Monday night and cracked heads with her. She was fine, but it came pretty close to knocking me out.

I went to bed soon after that and the next morning had some issues waking up and had nausea and dizziness. I knew I had a real problem when I couldn't remember how to get to the dry cleaners to drop off my suit.

Saw the neurologist who said I have a concussion, but she wanted me to get back on the bike asap to help with fatigue and get some of the fogginess out of my head. I waited a day because I still felt really off, but then rode tonight. She was totally right. I feel so much better. The ride totally re-energized me and snapped me out of my fog. I love this sport.

Are you serious? You should call and make sure that was the instructions. When I had a concussion, my doc told me that I must absolutely not do anything to risk another blow to the head in the following month, as there can be a second concussion syndrome which is fatal.

Please call the doctor.

+1

+2 You should not be doing any physical activity or even much computer, tv, reading, texting etc activity until you are 100% symptom free for at least a few days.

doing MORE activity won't make fogginess go away.. it will make it WORSE and increase the time you will need to recover.

either you heard them wrong or you went to a ****ing idiot.

It's all good. Head is pretty much clear. Haven't been able to take time off of work and it is a minor concussion. Feel fine, but just fatigued. I gave it an extra day anyway. And yes, *&#$ happens, but I am abstaining from racing or anything that will risk another blow to the head. Not riding because of a chance of a fatal hit to the head is silly because isn't that pretty much always the case?

Okay, fine. Rollers for the next week it is. :(

I wouldn't rush back into anything when your brain is at risk. Pro athletes take some risks that normal people shouldn't.

Definitely trainer. If you feel dizzy or nauseous while riding then STOP immediately.

Jesus tapdancing christ. That is the worst advice I've ever heard for a concussion.

My wife went through the same thing although sans any doctor advice, she went out for long energizing walks soon after her concussion. She felt great for a little while and then crashed hard, prolonging her recovery.

What kind of dog did you bang heads with (preferably with pics)?

She's a rescue mutt, but we think a Golden Retriever/ German Shepard combo w/ the Shepard personality.

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...allieincar.jpg

Have you had the dog checked out or are you assuming she is fine. She may be experiencing the same foggy-ness, but doesn't have a voice of her own. Just sayin.....

Bad dog!!

I love the non-neurologists in this thread saying that the neurologist the OP saw is full of ****. How many of you are MDs? Neurologists?

OP - listen to your doctor.

I think the neurologist said "DON'T get back on your bike asap" but in your haze, you didn't hear the first word.

The same thought occurred to me as she doesn't look that big. But there is reason to believe she's fine as some dogs' heads are made of granite. I've been knocked silly from a head butt from a Dane, and he wasn't fazed in the least.

I am a certified Athletic Trainer. I deal with head injuries on a weekly basis. my advice was directly from the NCAA and NFL's protocol for head injuries. I've spent this whole week with an athlete that is going through the steps of neurological tests, light activity, tougher activity and next week starts full contact again. **** takes time to heal.

ANY activity that increases brain activity or heart rate after a head injury and before symptoms have resolved INCLUDING feeling fatigued is only going to prolong his recovery.


Whatatever, people think brain injuries are a joke because they don't have a cast or stitches. When you have migraines all the time and can't remember **** on a daily basis you can be glad you got back on the bike a week early.

Having amnesia last more than 24 hours puts you in the moderate to severe concussion on most scales. but keep riding and making it worse.. When you get a forget where you are, have a dizzy spell, and fall over in traffic i'm sure you will have done the right thing.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concussion#Grading_systems

Dude couldn't remember how to get to the dry cleaners. If that's the standard for amnesia, a lot of guys are effed. How many people here could find such an establishment? I know I couldn't...

I don't agree with sarcastic replies on a serious topic like this but I do agree with him that the OP's advice was either misheard, misunderstood, or frighteningly incorrect.

He mentioned it as if it was not a normal thing. Your reading comprehension should be good enough that you could figure out that I wasn't saying it was the standard for amnesia.. but for him not remembering how to get to a place he should know is. Either way, he is still having symptoms with the foggy feeling.

He's not my athlete so i could really care less if he has symptoms for the rest of his life if he chooses. I just don't like people putting out false information about how soon you should return to activity. People who do care about their own health should be given proper information.

Absolute trust in a doctor is one of the most foolhardy things a person can have.

The dog is fine. No confusion, fatigue, thirst etc or symptoms like what I had; basically no change from her status quo. I have the vet on speed dial and would have called at the first sign of anything. Secondly, it was a very mild concussion. I had no amnesia, but some confusion and fatigue. I basically just overshot the dry cleaners and parked when I realized it and walked back a couple blocks.

The doc cautioned me on the dangers of hitting my head again and told me that going on the actual road was a large risk and she'd prefer I ride indoors. But said that I was an adult and could make my own decisions. So yes, I took some liberty with her advice, but mentally I just had to get out there for a quick ride. I'll sequester myself indoors for a while now, though, as I realize that the chance of hitting my head is something to be taken very seriously and the risk isn't worth it.

No one is saying the neuro was wrong. We're saying the OP might have heard wrong.

Head injuries are very serious. A patient once came in after falling on his bike. he looked absolutely fine but we kept him in observation to make sure he didn't have subdural hemorrhage.

Google Second-Impact syndrome and you will understand why I personally am confused at what the neuro told the OP.

Well, if you ever get another concussion I would see someone else. As I said any activity increases healing time. Second impact is well.. secondary. Healing time for THIS concussion is not yet complete. In High schools when I don't have access to neurological testing (IMPact) my guideline is 1 week symptom free until any activity.

You had a head injury, you are the LAST person that should be evaluating how you feel, what you should do, how mild or unmild anything was.