LS2379

While mountain biking 2 weeks ago, I found myself lying in a heap in the middle of the woods, my glasses had been knocked off and all I could see was stars and my head hurt like he**. I know I had a concussion (I rode rodeo for 4 years and know concussions). I am still having headaches some days on rough roads or riding my cross bike, not all days but some. Anyone have experience with how long it might take to fully recover? I have heard of some having still had headaches up to 4 weeks after the accident.

matroskin

WTF? I thought you "rode rodeo for 4 years and know concussions"

tagaproject6

You need to go to your nearest MTF and confer with your PCM Gunny. This is not the place for medical advice. Hooah!

bobdell

My headache lasted 90 days

johntrev

I was on a remote road on Maui 3 years ago, riding along one minute, being helped into the back seat of a stranger's car the next. It was the next minute to me, anyway...I'd somehow crashed my bike, and still don't know what happened or how long I was out. My bike was dinged up but not seriously damaged, but I hit my head hard enough to crack the helmet, and the road rash still scars my shoulder. I didn't have bad headaches, but it was a month before it felt like the fog lifted.

LS2379

But I wasn't riding bikes at the time. Rodeo hurt and I figured that was just part of the ride. Now it is the little vibrations on the bike that are bringing on the headaches. Kinda sucks, Rodeo you toughed out for 8 seconds, it's hard to tough out 2 hours on a bike.

nhluhr

My wife had a concussion over a month ago and still deals with some of the symptoms. The best thing you can do (doctor's advice) is physical AND cognitive rest. Limit reading, math, or critical thinking and definitely limit physical stress as much as possible. Good luck.

LS2379

The lack of physical activity is driving me nuts (and making me fat). Math is critical to my job so, as much as I would like to quit it, I need to keep doing it. I was going to do the Devils backbone mountain cross ride this up coming weekend, but have canceled. Just hoping it goes away soon.

gregf83 

Did you get a CT scan or see a doc? Recovery varies with individuals. Sidney Crosby (Hockey) was hit in Jan and it's still not confirmed if he'll start the season in Sept.

vespoli

Go to the doctor.

LS2379

Doctor? I'm a Marine, we don't need no stinkin Doctors (Something that will probably be the end of me some day). My wife keeps telling me to take it easy and see the doctor, I guess I'm just to stupid to see it her way. I just told her to get another couple hundred thousand in insurance and enjoy the party. At 55 I just don't bounce back like I did at 22.

datlas 

For most folks I say estimate 2-4 weeks before you feel back to 'normal.'

If you are not seeing gradual improvement you should see a physician.

PS why is this posted in road ? It happened during mountain biking.

nhluhr

Have your wife check behind your ears for bruising. This is called "battle signs" and is typical of moderate to severe concussions. If you have that, it's not a matter of "bouncing back". Your brain actually needs to heal.

Aussie_Al

<<< This!

I have only had concussion once (was wearing a helmet too) god knows what shape my head would have been in if I wasn't - YIKES!

LS2379

It happen mountain biking, but I'm a Roadie at heart (I also live next to a state park with many miles of mountain bike trails. I still suck at it though). God knows what would have happen if I had not been wearing a helmet, second helmet I've trashed this year, first concussion in a long time. If I knew how to relax, it might not be so bad, but I'm just to high strung to chill out.

smd3

It's worth seeing the doc, if only to get it in your medical records. Worst case scenario you could have a brain bleed, or some sort of borderline issue. When I had a concussion after a bike accident they sent me for a CT just to make sure.

I'm in the Air Force, so toughing it out isn't our way.

Werkin

Physical activity must be avoided, that's especially critical in the few days following the injury. Getting back on the bike is probably why you continue to have post-concussive symptoms. Research concussive injury syndrome to see if you are experiencing other symptoms you may not think are related. Because you mentioned having concussive experiences before, you have increased risk of permanent damage.

JohnDThompson 

Marine or not, head injuries are nothing to mess with. You may wake up dead tomorrow -- it happens.

Just sayin'

pdedes

i was stupid and rode my bike a week after sustaining a concussion due to an interaction with a pick-up truck. i did go against my doctor's recommendations. should have taken the 4 weeks to recover and perhaps then some.

LS2379

Yea, I beginning to figure that out. Lots of head injuries through the years. Could just wake up dead tomorrow. Biggest thing I guess, is admitting I'm getting old, which is something I'm having trouble doing.

GBIAction

I am familiar with this problem. I was hit by a car last spring, unconscious for 2 days and my head hurt for a very long time. I was seriously hurt and it took me 5 months to get back to work.

With that experience let me say that this is nothng to fool with. If you are still having headaches you owe it to yourself to consult a doctor.

doctor j

Getting old is no easy job, but you are discovering that for yourself.

Go see the doc.

My doc is a cyclist. That helps.

Semper Fi!

tortugaflats

https://www.menshealth.com/fitness/yo...ussions/page/3

this article covers a lot of the long term effects of having a concussion. with your background of having numerous concussions it would be a good idea to see a doctor.

vmcrcr

Recovery from concussions depends on so many different factors: age, prior history of concussions, where on your head you hit (direction of impact), height of fall, etc etc etc. Last year I was getting down off something at work, woke up 20 minutes later sitting on the floor (cell phone calls to the boss determined how long I was out for). Didn't feel right for about a week. But I have no history of concussions either. Hockey players with more than 1 concussion take a very long time to get back to normal, and longer to return to playing. Go to your PCP and get checked.

pbd

My concussion took about 2 weeks to feel no symptoms at all. Headaches were constant for 3 days, intermittent for another week. The final symptom to leave was that I'd have double vision in the morning when I woke up for just a few minutes before it would go away.

I got mine road biking, still don't know what happened. Based on my last memory pre-crash, the location where I was found, and my cycling computer (all in agreement), I don't have any recollection of the last ~2 miles I rode. I was apparently found unconscious by a passerby who called 911. By the time the paramedic was there, I was up and walking around and responding to questions accurately, but kept asking them the same questions over and over. I don't remember any of that, the next thing I remember is being in the ambulance strapped to a backboard. I then don't remember arriving at the hospital, but I remember when my wife arrived. All told, I'm missing 2 miles of riding and about 3 other hours. I just wish I had some clue what happened.

The bike was fine, a scratched shifter and that's it. My helmet had a dent about the size of a baseball and a 2"-long crack all the way through it, in front of and above my left temple. After testing the damaged helmet with a hammer, it's amazing how hard I had to have hit my head to do that kind of damage.

But yeah, concussions are no joke. Research now seems to be showing that concussions are often much more serious than they have been taken in the past, don't mess around with it being tough.