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Too many concussions

I ended up with a J3 surprisingly because their long version had a cut out in the front and it fit!

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I am in Canada- shipping and returns to the US get complicated, but will keep an eye out for the OneK. I think they might be available locally, but I am not super OK to drive yet.

@MDMom it is possible the bucking caused the issues vs the fall. I am still surprised my neck wasn’t sore, but is making crackling sounds that I don’t love.

Please be careful.

If a student asked you if you could pick her up for a lesson, as she could not drive, because of her head hurting and her neck is making crackling sounds after a fall, would you let her ride?

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That is fair, but the difference is that this is my business vs their hobby. I am mostly sticking to ground work and lunging for now. Took the green mares for individual walks out back - both are doing well apart. Working my yellow horse enough that my student can ride him, otherwise I will have to cancel her lessons. I really need a rider to take over some of my riding obligations.

Having troubles with my emotions now. Feeling a sense of loss - so many gains lost, and not sure what my plan for the future (riding wise) should be.

Headaches are getting better. Just a bit out of it still though. Not thinking straight.

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I understand it is your profession, but you might want to schedule an appointment with a neurologist (I know you’re in Canada, and am not sure what the referral process is like) to get a full evaluation. The wait time for an appointment (at least in the U.S.) for a specialist is always insane, but getting a full work-over to determine what you’re really dealing with would be helpful. You’ll be somewhat better by then, I am sure, but it will give you an idea of your baseline. It doesn’t mean you have to take all of the activity recommendations, but at least then you will know.

I understand how often we prefer “not knowing” the full extent of our injuries, and sometimes with a bruised butt, that’s true, but not with your brain.

In one of my jobs, I work with students, and there was a cross-country runner who ran into a tree when he wasn’t looking where he was going during a race (yes, how’s that for a not-cool injury) who got a concussion. He was placed on activity restriction for quite some time, even though there was a very low likelihood of such a freak thing happening again. Even just joggling the noggin, no falls, during intense activity, poses a risk, from what I understand.

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Your body, including your brain, doesn’t knw the difference. If it gets worse, you won’t have a business at all.

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@CHT were you seen by a doctor after the accident? The continued neuro problems and the “cracking” in your neck are highly concerning. You should at least make a trip to the ER for X-rays/CT to make sure you don’t an injury to your neck that could be made worse with activity. They’ll likely refer you to a neurologist who can see you immediately as well.

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@MDMom it’s not cracking, it’s crackLing. Like rice crispies. Kind of like when you yawn and your ears pop?

@Impractical_Horsewoman I am fortunate in that I live in an area with some excellent concussion treatment centers, and my Doctor has put in a referral to be seen…but who knows how long that will take .His understanding is that they want to wait until at least a month after the concussion to see what resolves on its own - but he had no idea what the wait time will be.

still taking it easier than usual. Didn’t ride Friday - Sunday. Light ride today and took my horses for walks on the new grass instead. Headaches are getting fewer and far between. Emotions are wacky though - went to see a horse with a client (horse was doing a drill team show case nearby), and seemed like a good way to see horse’s “sane-ness”, and seriously got teary. It was VERY strange.

DH out of town for the week. Short term I feel ok with my current activity levels/responsibilities. Trying to not overly worry about long term until I see the specialist, but struggling with the idea that if I shouldn’t ride/risk another concussion…will I still want to coach? Will I still want to board? I honestly don’t know if I have the brain/energy for a new job (I work part time three hours a week…and even before the most recent concussion, that was a lot sometimes).

When I look back at all my head injuries, particularly as a child…I kind of get mad that nobody was looking out for me. I get we didn’t know as much about concussion back in the 80’s, but poor kids shouldn’t be crash test dummies just to “earn” riding privileges and my parents shouldn’t have just not watched me ride to avoid seeing me get bucked off…maybe they should have questioned why I was getting bucked off? Side rant over. Thanks for listening.

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That’s what I meant to say. That’s a worrisome symptom. You really should get your neck checked out ASAP.

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Me too! Tipperary Windsor w/ MIPS works for me.

This happened to me after a fall last year, which sounds like it involved MUCH less head trauma than yours. No documented concussion but video shows my (MIPS-encased) head did bounce off the arena footing and it was hard enough to give me mild whiplash for a couple days. (BTW, I sent that helmet back to OneK even though it had no visible damage and they sent me a replacement for about half of market price.)

The fall happened on a Tuesday afternoon and other than the musculoskeletal stuff I felt fine until Friday night. I was working my side job and started having scalp pain and feeling NQR mentally. I can’t remember the timing of the teariness but I got that as well. It was like emotional whiplash. I also had some intermittent sensitivity to sound. Thankfully I haven’t had any long-term effects that I know of.

I saw quite a few doctors for the musculoskeletal stuff and was unimpressed that literally none inquired about possible head injury. You’d think in this day and age that would be a top priority but I guess they figured since I was walking and talking and had driven myself there, I was okay?

Anyway, brains are weird/complicated and yours has suffered a lot of trauma. I think it’s safe to say that everyone on here is worried about you and hoping you will take your time and get the help you need to feel better.

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I hope you are feeling a little better today, CHT. Don’t make any decisions about anything important while you are still not feeling right.

I guess because we are a sporty town and there have been some high-profile brain bleed cases here, when I slipped over on the ice last year and whacked my head on the concrete, the ER was all over me about it, even though it wasn’t at the top of my mind as I had a finger sticking out sideways with an apparently open fracture, and I had driven myself to the hospital. (Shock is a weird and wonderful thing.)

I think it’s time the word “concussion” disappeared from the medical vocabulary, and we started routinely calling them what they are, Traumatic Brain Injuries.

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I’ve jumped for years, and never really hurt myself over an obstacle. The falls have always been elsewhere. Not that one random snapshot from one person’s experience means anything! Just saying.

I’m in my 60s now, and as I watch other folks (in their 70s!) still jumping, I’m wildly jealous because I haven’t found anywhere to jump in my new neighborhood, but I do have a trail horse in the mean time.

I have made the deal with myself that my next fall will be my last fall. At some point, you just have to recognize creeping limitations.

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I’m not entirely sure that you are looking out for you now. Think about that.

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I have physio booked for Monday for my neck and concussion assessment, and a hearing test booked for the end of month so we can start dealing with the ringing in my ears. Still waiting for the neurologist appointment. I have good and less good days. Unsettled and headache today, but better brain clarity. Brain issues are weird. Having a good time just taking my horses for walks now the weather is decent.

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Hearing sounds in the ears is a major cause of suicide. Don’t think of it as less of a symptom.

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Fortunately I can drown the ringing out with a white sound machine, and the crackling/clicking is only when I am walking. I am hoping to resolve though- apparently there are hearing aids that can counter the noise? I don’t understand why different noise is better than the ringing, but it is.

I appreciate your concern.

I am still not well.

And I recognize my judgement is not good. Which I think is important for people who haven’t experienced concussions to understand. I am largely incapable of recognizing my risk/issues right now.

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Keep talking to us. We care about your outcomes, and most of us here understand what you’re dealing with.

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Thank you. I appreciate it. DH doesn’t seem to want to talk about it, because I don’t think he knows what to say or how to deal with it himself.

I am trying very hard to not make any drastic decisions right now (selling horses or other changes). It’s hard to argue with one’s own brain. The horses are liking the walks for grass and exploring. They don’t care that their training is stalled.

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Jingles for you. This has to be incredibly difficult. Hoping for the best for you.

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