Experience with Multiple Concussions?

Not From Around Here

Not From Around Here

BRONZE
Does anyone have a daughter that had multiple concussions in 1 season/year. My U14 daughter sustained her first in October and her second in April. Recovery in October was 3-4 weeks. Recovery in spring is closer to 2 months. At this point, her mother and I are just hoping for a healthy 2017-18 season.

Would love to here the experiences of others whether it is "Yeah, we had the same experience, but have now gone 3 years without a concussion and we don't really worry about it much any more," or "Yeah, we had the same experience and our daughter had a third concussion the next season and had to quit soccer."

Thanks in advance.
 
I'm curious how each one happened.

I played soccer from age ~8 until my mid-30s regularly-- we're talking hundreds of pick-up and organized games. The only time I ever got a concussion in my life was a freak accident as a 6 year old *not* playing soccer.

I guess I'd wonder-- were these concussions a result of impacts expected to cause a concussion? Was the 2nd one a more severe impact that would explain the longer period of symptoms? Or, was the second one a concussion following a somewhat insignificant collision/impact? If the latter, then I get worried and consider taking a longer period of time off.

I'd consider a longer time off anyway given the history. I guess that's why you're here asking the question.

Have you consulted with a pediatric neurologist?

This is what keeps me up at night having a kid who plays soccer.
 
Both were the result of the soccer ball hitting her in the face/side of the face/side of the head at a speed where she could not get her head out of the way. She is a defender and the impacts all happened in the defensive third - crosses that hit her/shots towards the goal.

Both were the results of multiple impacts over the course of a long weekend, or two week period. No one instance knocked her out, or made her dizzy. The symptoms presented themselves 1 to 3 days later when she played in another game. In other words, we made sure she was OK (at least we thought we did), she said she was fine, and then symptoms began when she played afterwards.

We have not seen a neurologist. The sports medicine doctor that specializes in concussions that we are seeing says that she is healing within the acceptable amount of time.
 
Did you ask these questions to the sports medicine person?

Seems like they would have a much better idea how things will turn out in your child's situation given their clinical practice and expertise.

I'm no expert, but 2 months seems like a long time for recovery from a concussion. One thing I do know is that prior concussion and playing in competitive games (vs practices) are both risk factors for additional concussions.

Personally, I despise the over-emphasis on the tournament in youth soccer. I don't think it allows proper mental/physical recovery. It goes against what I've heard coming out of US Soccer and other places (eg see http://www.usyouthsoccer.org/periodization_science_or_just_plain_common_sense/)

I know this isn't your question, but have you thought about trying to see if your coach would allow a more limited involvement due to the injury history? Say, only play 1 game/week max for some period of time (eg next 6 months). I imagine you're sitting there thinking, do we quit or keep going? Probably I would be doing same. Beyond this, there is probably no evidence-based way for your specialist to give you any long-term prognostic information, either. So, any decision is kind of being made blindly about long-term consequences.
 
Yes, we asked many questions of the doctor. She was great and took her time with us. She is confident that as long as all symptoms are gone before resuming activity that our daughter should not be scared to continue with soccer.

Her coaches have also been great. They believe in periodization, stress recovery, and the league she was in didn't allow more than 1 game a day. I believe the league she is in next year goes even further and requires 4 days for 3 games.

I was just hoping there might be some parents out there that have gone through something similar and could share first-hand experiences.
 
The headgear would not have prevented my daughter's concussions as the impacts were more to the face (lower than the headgear protects). I have been told the headgear is most effective at preventing injury from the head hitting other heads or the ground. US Soccer says that studies on the effectiveness of headgear are inconclusive, but I am willing to have my daughter try it out.
 
Not From Around Here said:
The headgear would not have prevented my daughter's concussions as the impacts were more to the face (lower than the headgear protects). I have been told the headgear is most effective at preventing injury from the head hitting other heads or the ground. US Soccer says that studies on the effectiveness of headgear are inconclusive, but I am willing to have my daughter try it out.
Click to expand...

It provides obvious, but skimpy, protection against bruises, cuts, perhaps a skull fracture. A concussion can result from a fall where the head strikes nothing, but just whips around suddenly.
 
espola said:
That provides protection for the outside of the skull. Concussion injuries are on the inside.
Click to expand...
Yes but if you look at the G-force rating the Halo it reduces the force, thus reducing brain trama which causes concussions.

You like to think you know what you are talking about here but I've done the research and spoken to the doctors! Stick to Poway politics!!!
 
Kicker4Life said:
Yes but if you look at the G-force rating the Halo it reduces the force, thus reducing brain trama which causes concussions.

You like to think you know what you are talking about here but I've done the research and spoken to the doctors! Stick to Poway politics!!!
Click to expand...

Advertising crap.
 
Take your agreement where it has relevance. In the meanwhile, i will share my experiences and research. Your DD plays at what age group???
 
My 03 dd sustained two concussion this past season. The first one was at last year's Man City tournament. She was blind sided with an elbow to the back of her head. She blamed out & didn't pass the concussion protocol. We immediately took her to ER. We kept her home for almost the first week. Mom is a RN (thank goodness). Our club also has a sports trainer who monitored her. She returned after 4 weeks.

The 2nd one was during Thanksgiving weekend. She cleared a corner kick but an opponent inadvertently had a head to head contact. She went down. She past the considering protocol but didn't play the rest of the weekend. She experienced the headaches about 2 days later so our doc and team trainer monitored her.

BTW, she's a keeper and has been wearing a headgear for a few seasons. First she wore the full 90 them changed to Storelli.
 
Kicker4Life said:
Take your agreement where it has relevance. In the meanwhile, i will share my experiences and research. Your DD plays at what age group???
Click to expand...

Your research should have shown you how concussions occur. With that knowledge, you could see for yourself how little these padded caps will help, especially for someone with an existing injury.
 
Keeper pops said:
My 03 dd sustained two concussion this past season. The first one was at last year's Man City tournament. She was blind sided with an elbow to the back of her head. She blamed out & didn't pass the concussion protocol. We immediately took her to ER. We kept her home for almost the first week. Mom is a RN (thank goodness). Our club also has a sports trainer who monitored her. She returned after 4 weeks.

The 2nd one was during Thanksgiving weekend. She cleared a corner kick but an opponent inadvertently had a head to head contact. She went down. She past the considering protocol but didn't play the rest of the weekend. She experienced the headaches about 2 days later so our doc and team trainer monitored her.

BTW, she's a keeper and has been wearing a headgear for a few seasons. First she wore the full 90 them changed to Storelli.
Click to expand...
Thank you for sharing.
 
My kid was kicked in the head during a game this past weekend while playing keeper. She seems fine. What symptoms to keep an eye out for? Did make me think about head gear for the first time.
 
socalkdg said:
My kid was kicked in the head during a game this past weekend while playing keeper. She seems fine. What symptoms to keep an eye out for? Did make me think about head gear for the first time.
Click to expand...
Glad to hear she seems fine.

My daughter displayed all of the typical symptoms - headaches, sensitivity to light and noise, feeling in a fog, trouble focusing, etc. It was obvious that she was not feeling right (once the symptoms presented themselves 24-48 hours after the injury).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top