Concussion's Effects May Linger for Decades

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Well; I'm now 54 and have been rendered unconscious 4 times since 1975. 3 trips in the ambulance to emergency. 2 from motorcycles and one from hang gliding. The other was whilst running I tripped and hit a garage door. I do remember utterances regarding 'long term effects' on my mental state...and only recently has this begun to bother me. I have worked with my hands all my life and retired early to a rural environment with - needless to say - lots to do. My vision is a little blurry now, but that is all really. I attribute any other inconveniences to old-er age. Antony

Ant from Australia 6:38AM October 19, 2012

Husband of 23 years...had bad bike accident when he was 13 or so. he doesn't remember much other than getting home and his parents took him to hospital. Concussion they said. He still continued sports, seemed healthy. When I met him at age 24 he was a loner, and he drank a lot. But we "got along" and married. What I noticed as a lack of enthusiasm was actually just a lack of social skills and emotional connection to anything. The drinking helped him open up. It has been very difficult to connect with him over our 23 yr marriage. I stopped taking this behavior so personally because I realize he can't connect to anything or anyone. I know there's a medical condition for this, I heard someone talking about it before. It's a form of Autism, I think. He feels nothing in any situation....until he sees a VERY sad movie then he cries. He didn't cry at his sisters funeral. He didn't cry at his dad's funeral. He goes into deep depressions and mopes around all day. He refuses to get any type of help or even discuss this with our Pastor. All this leaves me lonely, confused and pissed. I find it quite selfish. PLEASE tell me the medical term for this "Emotional and Social Disconnect" he's experiencing due to his severe concussion. He digs deep into work and has nothing left for family. Thank you.

Dana Pelletier of MO 10:41PM July 31, 2011

i had low blood presure when i got up an into a hot shower, when i blacked out and whacked my head on the counter and side on the toilet. i was passed out on the floor naked vometing in my own mouth. found out i wouldn't play hockey again and will have to take extra percausions going into the shower- of death.
hahahaha

dalton hafner of ND 10:14AM November 01, 2010

im 17 years old. ive had 13 concussions from football and wrestling. i always loved sports and always loved playing them. now the closest thing i can get to playing a sport is bowling. i visited the doctors at the UMPC clinic in pittsburgh, pa, for my concussions. they told me since i didnt let most of the concussions heal fully, im more prone to reiceve another. i can't do the things i love anymore. all i can do is watch.

Ben of PA 12:09PM October 28, 2010

I am 17 years old. I had 3 concussions last year, my junior year in highschool, 1 from a car accident 2 from football. I was starting defensive end and wide reciever but decided not to play this year. My last concussion was my worst. In practice on wednesday I hit my head and felt a little dizzy and had a headache for the next day. But I didn't think twice about playing in the game friday. I went helmet to helmet with their fullback in the 3rd quarter and was seeing stars I took myself out of the game for a few plays then went back in. Luckily I didnt get in the head the rest of the night. I knew I had a concussion but it turned out I had a prolonged concussion because of the back to back concussions in the same week. I felt the effects for almost 6 month. I've always been a math wiz but this year I just can't seem to focus and am really struggling...... couple years of football for a messed up head for the next 80 or 90 years it's just not worth it.

Kyle Smith of OH 6:05PM September 29, 2010

i am 15 and i have already had 4 concussions. i am starting LB form my team and i got my last two concussions practically in the same month. i got a concussion in 8th,9th, and 10th grade. i am still recovering from my last one while writing this. football is something that i have done and loved since i was child, but i do not want it ruining my life. i have decided to stop playing. i have read all the articles on this page and i feel for everyone that wrote their stories. i have decided to stop playing football because i still do not know what life is going to throw at me. if i get into a car crash i want it to be my 5th concussion not my 7th.

anthony of AZ 1:41PM September 28, 2010

i was in a care crash roll over X3 about 3 months ago i was knocked out for about 10 min. It has gotten better but i still and have day to day
dizziness. my dr has told me that this could never completely go away. Its not a good feeling to have i never know when its going to happen. I could be getting up from bed or just looking upward and i get dizzy, i feel like my brain an eyes are floating.

c khobani of FL 7:57PM September 23, 2010

I am 17 and it is my senior year i start at strong safty for my fotball team. In
our last game i was hit by a player i did not see. this is my 6th concussion and
am really feeling the effects now. I cant even play football any more. To other
players just know that any play could be your last.

Zac Becker of WI 1:15PM September 23, 2010

I'm 21 almost 22 and have had a history of concussions since 14 years old. The amount of knowledge available today should not be taken for granted. If you or someone you know has had a serious head injury, the facts are one you have one you are SO MUCH more likely to get another one. My last concussion was number 6 and had I known what my doctor recently told me, extra precautions would have been taken. I'm researching the effects because I've had some pretty serious head trauma and want to educate myself of what is to come, and to be honest I dont want to be a 'downer' since I try to be optimistic but again the empirical evidence is there and the long term effects are not good. Mine consisted of football through out high school, at least 2 concussions, 2 concussions wakeboarding/skimboarding, 1 playing raquetball, and major injury during a car crash. It explains a lot of my behavior, though I dont let my past dictate what I'm doing now or the future, as I'm doing my research now and writing a paper on it for college class the truth is revealing itself. If you or someone you know has had a concussion, dont take it lightly or play it off or let your athletic coach/director tell you to 'shake it off' and get back in the game... because although you may physically be able to, the ramifications are permanent. After my car crash (last concussion) the EMT people and the hospital doctor said that I should not go to sleep because there was a high probability I wouldnt wake up again. Please spread the knowledge if you read this because JUST NOW is the NFL making this news and even they are not making it a big concern like they should be.

James V of FL 2:31PM September 08, 2010

Concussions suck... I've had 3 and I'm only 14. I have a lot of mood swings and i am depressed all the time but later I become all happy. I'm always confused and cant remember things very well. Ever since
I got my first concussion my grades have been decreasing rapidly. If u get even one concussion I would recend not doing that sport or activity. It screws up ur life

Grant of WA 1:54AM April 29, 2010