concussion ... how long will i be out?

[ennairb]

I split my chin open like 2 weeks ago and I got a concussion. My doctor and the school nurse say that I am experiencing post concussion syndrome right now because I have like a constant head ache and when I read I get really dizzy and blurred vision and stuff. I'm supposed to be taking it easy right now ... easy meaning NO PHYSICAL ACTIVITY!! It's killing me! I mean I know there's nothing that I can do and that I have to rest, but am I going to like lose my muscles or anything? Also, how long do you think until I should start to pole vault again? I'm thinking at least a month by the way I'm feeling now, but I'm not really sure. So any help would be great Thanks!

[Barto]

Don't worry. It takes about 6 weeks before any serious muscular atrophy starts taking place. You will be back way before that. Take it easy and don't rush. Four weeks is not that long a time.

Barto

[jmayesvaultmom]

As one of Jodie's gymnastics coaches said, doctors don't understand real athletes. They are in the top 1% of people they see. Almost every athlete recuperates much faster than doctors think. I've seen it time after time with gymnasts and vaulters shouldn't be much different. How many times have you heard about someone having scope surgery done on their knee and participating in a game, meet, etc. 2 weeks later? Not that you shouldn't do what the doctors think, but they don't understand athletes many times. You should be able to do things like weights. You have muscle memory for vaulting and should be just fine. You should be the main judge...you KNOW how you feel, and should know when to stop.

[ennairb]

Almost every athlete recuperates much faster than doctors think

Yea, I think you're right about that I do feel well enough to lift weights. I don't think mixing vaulting with this dizziness thing is a good idea though lol. So hopefully that'll pass pretty soon! Thanks for your support though! It made me feel a lot better!

[batvaulter]

when i first started to vault i jumped over the standerds and went head first over it and did a nasty face plant and handed the crossbar to the offical and told him that i was ready to go to sleep. it was really bad cause i dont remmber hitting the ground i just remmber not seeing any thing out of my left eye.but the next day i was jumping

[Skyin' Brian]

ummm, yeah, it is the fall, so doing something dumb like not letting your body fully recover can make problems more nagging for the entire season or even longer. listen to your doctor, if you think he doesnt understand athletes go to a doctor that specializes in sports medicine. consult your athletic trainer, but dont rush things when it comes to your health. let your body heal

[Lord of the Poles]

yea...we athletes do indeed recuperate a lot faster than doctors expect. one kid on my HS outdoor team last year killed his knee during the winter, and we weren't expecting (according to the doctor's) him to compete until like Districts and States, but he was back in like a month ahead of what the Doctor said.

[ennairb]

yea, so since i first made this post, i've managed to get 2 more concussions ... so it's been a little rough ... apparently 3 concussions within a 2 month period of time is pretty bad - the doctors are really worried about a 4th concussion because apparently there's like this theory or something that with each concussion you become more likely to get another one - the doctors said that what they mean by that is like if i fell and hit my head and someone else who had never had a concussion fell and hit their head in the exact same place, i would probably end up with a concussion because of the history while the other person may not or if the other person did end up with a concussion, mine would definitely be worse because of my history. That was the bad ... here's the worse ... they're afraid that even though i'm landing on a soft mat and everything, that the cumulative effect of constantly coming down from 11 (and hopefully 12 ft by the end of the season) could be really bad if all 3 concussions are not completely healed ... so they don't want me pole vaulting for A YEAR!! Now I'll admit that I still don't feel myself and I am still having problems when I have to concentrate on something for long periods of time, but a whole season?!? This is my junior year - so it's important - do you think that the doctors are just saying a whole year to cover their butts - because they're head injuries and because as soon as they hear pole vault they associate it with danger??

[RoySloppy]

how did you get all these concussions?

[rainbowgirl28]

I dunno... I hit my head pretty hard everytime I can land... I can see how if you were having a problem with concussions that it might not be a good idea

[ashcraftpv]

you might ask if wearing a brain bucket while vaulting will decrease your chances of getting a concussion

[ennairb]

how did you get all these concussions?

The first one i split my chin open and the other 2 happened in a basketball game within seconds of each other ... and it's not good to get 2 concussions back to back like that they said ... especially if the 1st one isn't completely healed

I dunno... I hit my head pretty hard everytime I can land... I can see how if you were having a problem with concussions that it might not be a good idea

Yea ... I definitely see where you're coming from ... a year just seems like such a long time ... but i guess you can't be too careful?

and I am definitely going to ask if this recovery period of time can be shortened if I wear a helmet