Possible concussion- how long to "take it easy"

[iberianfan]

Today is Sunday. On Friday morning, I tripped over one of my dogs while walking and hit the pavement pretty hard. I hit my head (although I didn’t remember that until later in the day) and scraped up/bruised various other body parts. Once I remembered, I recalled that I saw stars at the time.

On Saturday morning, I almost lost my breakfast being nauseous. So, thinking I maybe had a concussion, I did very little yesterday and certainly didn’t ride. Was thinking about riding today, but am perhaps more sore than yesterday.

How long should one take it easy after a fall like that? Caveat: I am 72 and not as fit as I should be. I probably should have gone to the doctod, but I honestly didn’t think it was that bad. On line resources seem to vary widely in their recommendations.

Now I feel stupid writing this.

[Maythehorsebewithme]

Go to a doctor ASAP. You may need a CAT scan, MRI, X-ray.

Follow doctor’s instructions. This is not something to self-diagnose or treat.

As for how long, it varies. DH has a student who got a concussion playing football. He seemed OK (football was, of course, out) but he could not do math. And he was an A student in high school pre-calculus. DH had to fight with him to take it easy. It took weeks.

[cayuse]

Go get checked out now. Head trauma is nothing to ignore. Jingles for your noggin.

[NaturallyHappy]

Yep… go see someone. Hopefully, someone can drive you.

[poltroon]

Very specifically: you should not drive yourself.

When I was concussed, I thought I was okay but I had weird judgement issues, like I remember trying to use the washing machine and getting the sequence of what to do and set wrong. The cognitive load of a complex task like making a left hand turn with a yield is enormous. You do need to go to be seen, but you need someone to take you.

That you were nauseated 24 hours out and had that memory loss is not the best sign, so please take this seriously, and especially if you are home alone.

As your non expert friend, I would not want you on a horse for a couple of weeks at least. And I would suggest you not drive for at least a week, probably longer. Definitely not until you’ve seen a medical professional.

[trakehners]

I took four months to be cleared to ride again by our local sports medicine concussion clinic after a “mild” concussion as a 13yo. Definitely go see a doctor and don’t just assume that you’re okay because a certain amount of time has passed.

[iberianfan]

Well I drove myself to urgent care before I read these responses. I do live by myself. Thanks, guys. I should have gone on Friday, but we all think we are super tough…

Thank you all.

[RMJacobs]

What did they recommend?

Jingling for healing. This stuff is hard. I’ve had multiple concussions, two of which were pretty severe, and they’ve left me with a lifetime of issues. I had no medical treatment or even evaluation with any of them. Please take care of yourself and follow recommendations.

[risuenaVT]

Go to a doctor. Do not mess around with potential brain injuries. Go to the doctor. Especially if you are questioning whether you have an actual brain injury or not. Better safe than sorry.

[iberianfan]

Sorry it’s taken me a bit to get back. It turns out, if you’re over 65, and you hit your head, a scan , CT or MRI , is protocol.

Urgent care called me back immediately and said go to ER. I did. They, too, saw me very quickly. I had a CT scan and a brief exam. No bleeding. " Just" a concussion. Said to get " cognitive rest" (have you heard the state of the world today, doc?), no riding for at least a week, etc. while they no longer recommend a week in bed, still need to heal.

So, again, thank you guys for poking me enough to make me go. I’m less sore this morning. And I will take a hit to the head more seriously. Apparently, our veins are more prone to damage when we’re old ( I know that, we all know that, but it just didn’t occur to me) and a hit on the head is more serious.

Y’all take care. Ride your ponies for me!

[beau159]

@iberianfan

Sorry it’s taken me a bit to get back. It turns out, if you’re over 65, and you hit your head, a scan , CT or MRI , is protocol.

Urgent care called me back immediately and said go to ER. I did. They, too, saw me very quickly. I had a CT scan and a brief exam. No bleeding. " Just" a concussion. Said to get " cognitive rest" (have you heard the state of the world today, doc?), no riding for at least a week, etc. while they no longer recommend a week in bed, still need to heal.

So, again, thank you guys for poking me enough to make me go. I’m less sore this morning. And I will take a hit to the head more seriously. Apparently, our veins are more prone to damage when we’re old ( I know that, we all know that, but it just didn’t occur to me) and a hit on the head is more serious.

Y’all take care. Ride your ponies for me!

Concussions are serious at ANY age.

Get yourself on some cartenoids! Another study here.

I was just listening to a lecture a few weeks back on this - fascinating.

[CHT]

Useful Concussion management skills for adults:
VCH Concussion

[Willesdon]

It takes far longer than you think or wish! Two long lasting effects of concussion are poor judgement and poor decision making. Because decision making is screwed up it is possible to get your recovery period badly messed up too. Follow doctors’ orders.

These days, I immediately go to see the Mctimomny chiropractor after any fall. Even the most minor, slow-mo tumble can put ones body out of whack.

[iberianfan]

This is some good information. I will get some antioxidants today. I will have to drive, as I have a rental atm. Because a month ago, I literally got run over by a dump truck while sitting at a red light. Anyway, I have to return the rental and get my car, which is fixed. Yay. I can’t seem to catch a break lately!

It did feel like a slo-mo fall. I recall thinking about things as I fell. I did take the dogs
for a short walk yesterday, being very careful not to let miss underfoot get in front of me.

I’ve learned a lot. One of the things that gives me comfort is that some of my symptoms are normal for a concussion. I thought I was going crazy.

[cayuse]

So glad you went and got checked!

[RAyers]

Recent work on TBI’s at our institution have actually found that pushing patients cognitively after concussion results in better long term recovery than “cognitive rest” or physical rest. That is not to say a return to play should be immediate. It says that as we develop better understanding of head injuries we are seeing the same responses as we do with things such as spine surgery or total joints. Get the patient up and functioning to their best level as quickly as possible (with support).

Thank you NIH funded research.

[iberianfan]

Yes. The ER doc did talk about resuming some activity after 48 hours. And I haven’t stopped reading or playing stupid games. Because what the heck would I do? Stare at the walls? So I walked the dogs yesterday, and a little longer walk today. Riding, though, he felt like would be too bouncy.

I appreciate the NIH, too.

[endlessclimb]

What sort of activities did they use to push the patients? Just curious!

[RAyers]

Exactly what @iberianfan alludes to. The key is to pay attention to how you respond. Things that engage your brain and simple exercise to start.

[poltroon]

@RAyers

Recent work on TBI’s at our institution have actually found that pushing patients cognitively after concussion results in better long term recovery than “cognitive rest” or physical rest. That is not to say a return to play should be immediate. It says that as we develop better understanding of head injuries we are seeing the same responses as we do with things such as spine surgery or total joints. Get the patient up and functioning to their best level as quickly as possible (with support).

Thank you NIH funded research.

That’s great information.

I remember too that during my recovery, that cognitive tasks just took more energy. Which reminds me of one of my favorite studies and blog posts about that study, showing that cognitive tasks made people crave sugary foods: https://businessofsoftware.org/2023/09/kathy-sierra-your-app-makes-me-fat/

Just adding though that pushing cognitively in non-risky tasks is what I assume is in order, rather than operating heavy machinery.