Multiple concussions

Mite-dad · Post by **Mite-dad** » Wed Dec 07, 2011 3:12 pm

My son sustained potentially his third concussion recently and we are very concerned about continuing in hockey. Any experiences out there with a child receiving multiple concussions and how did you decide to continue or pull him out of the game.

We are seeking advice from medical folks but would love to hear how others have dealt with this.

Thanks in advance.

puckulence · Post by **puckulence** » Wed Dec 07, 2011 3:50 pm

First I guess you need to answer some questions. Is your child getting concussions from hockey or other activities? What level of play is your child going to be in? Is he wearing a helmet when he should be...for example if he is snowboarding, riding a bike, roller blading, etc. does he wear a helmet?

My next opinion I will offer you is if you decide to let your child keep playing hockey spend the extra money and get him a top of the line helmet. So many parents will get their child the best stick but then get them the worst helmet. Protect your childs future and get him a top of the line helmet. Your local sporting goods store will fit him properly in the helmet that works the best. (Don't go to a Dick's for this actually go to a store that knows hockey.)

Sorry got to add one more thing. Make sure he actually has his mouth gaurd in his mouth and is not just chewing on one side of it. If he claims his mouth gaurd is not comfortable go to your dentist and get a custom fit mouth gaurd for him.

ThePuckStopsHere · Post by **ThePuckStopsHere** » Wed Dec 07, 2011 3:54 pm

Mite-dad wrote:My son sustained potentially his third concussion recently and we are very concerned about continuing in hockey. Any experiences out there with a child receiving multiple concussions and how did you decide to continue or pull him out of the game.

We are seeking advice from medical folks but would love to hear how others have dealt with this.

Thanks in advance.

Unless you are a complete idiot, after a 3rd concussion it's time to hang up the game. No youth sport is worth the risk period!!!

Mite-dad · Post by **Mite-dad** » Wed Dec 07, 2011 5:58 pm

puckulence wrote:First I guess you need to answer some questions. Is your child getting concussions from hockey or other activities? What level of play is your child going to be in? Is he wearing a helmet when he should be...for example if he is snowboarding, riding a bike, roller blading, etc. does he wear a helmet?

My next opinion I will offer you is if you decide to let your child keep playing hockey spend the extra money and get him a top of the line helmet. So many parents will get their child the best stick but then get them the worst helmet. Protect your childs future and get him a top of the line helmet. Your local sporting goods store will fit him properly in the helmet that works the best. (Don't go to a Dick's for this actually go to a store that knows hockey.)

Sorry got to add one more thing. Make sure he actually has his mouth gaurd in his mouth and is not just chewing on one side of it. If he claims his mouth gaurd is not comfortable go to your dentist and get a custom fit mouth gaurd for him.

Thanks for the comments. We got him an M11 after his second concussion. He also has a very good mouth guard and he is one of the few that actually wears it. In other words, it doesn't look like a puppy chew toy.

I've read a lot about concussions. Some say three strikes your out. But does it matter how severe they are? None of his knocked him cold or caused him to be disoriented. His symptoms were typically prolonged headache (the last one lasted about 10 days, the previous ones which were a couple years ago, were short 2-5 days) and some dizzyness. I know that no concussion is trivial, but it seems that 3 serious concussions vs. 3 mild concussions would be two different things to consider. It would be great to hear from parents who have experienced this.

Mite-dad · Post by **Mite-dad** » Wed Dec 07, 2011 6:07 pm

ThePuckStopsHere wrote:
Mite-dad wrote:My son sustained potentially his third concussion recently and we are very concerned about continuing in hockey. Any experiences out there with a child receiving multiple concussions and how did you decide to continue or pull him out of the game.

We are seeking advice from medical folks but would love to hear how others have dealt with this.

Thanks in advance.
Unless you are a complete idiot, after a 3rd concussion it's time to hang up the game. No youth sport is worth the risk period!!!

Well, no, I'm not a complete idiot. But your comment highlights another issue that a parent in my shoes will have to face. There will be many people around you judging you on your decision. It makes the situation even more difficult. My kid loves the game and it would rip his heart out if he couldn't play anymore. I don't want to take it away from him, but we will be prepared to do so if medical professionals tell us it is the best thing.

puckulence · Post by **puckulence** » Wed Dec 07, 2011 6:31 pm

Well it sounds like you are taking all the proper steps to make sure your child's future is safe. I would just listen to what the medical professionals say. If they say he can play and not worry about it then let him for for it, but if they shut him down then sounds like he has to listen.

It is always sad to hear of young people getting hurt and having to give up the game they love, but he can always volunteer with the younger kids and teach them how to play. Some people will find they love teaching the game as much and they did playing it.

Wish you and your child the best.

Cdale · Post by **Cdale** » Wed Dec 07, 2011 8:57 pm

You'll have to rely on your doc, but read/watch the Boogey story: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/04/sport ... .html?_r=1

The Insider · Post by **The Insider** » Wed Dec 07, 2011 9:19 pm

Life before sports. But you should be asking your doctor.

C-dad · Post by **C-dad** » Thu Dec 08, 2011 7:49 am

I recommend you take him to see a pediatric neuorlogist rahter than a GP or family practice doc. If you can find one with a specialization in sports, all the better. Not all MDs are good at detecting and assessing concussions in kids.

We took our son to Dr. Chadwick at Minneapolis Clinic of Neurology and he was great, but I'm sure there are lots of others.

BadgerBob82 · Post by **BadgerBob82** » Thu Dec 08, 2011 9:05 am

I am hearing cases of the M-11 cutting foreheads? I just read the other day the M-11 is no better for concussion protection and possibly worse. The Bauer helmets rate the best.

For Mite-Dad. At what age/level did these concussions happen? Mites? or Bantam? I am seeing more "self diagnosed" concussions this year at the Squirt level. I wonder if concussions are kind of in the news these days, so any bump on the head is termed a concussion, rather than a medically determined level of injury?

Lastly, some players skate in a head down or at least head forward crouched over stance. Leading with the head is wrong and might be a cause?

From my own experience, with confirmation from a Dr. friend of mine, the "bump on the head", self diagnosed concussion that can result in a mild head ache is probably not a true "concussion". The kid with his "bell rung", dizzy, confused, glazed eyes, that would most likely be a concussion. If the kid is nauseated, bright light hurts head, can't watch TV without getting dizzy, blurred vision, pounding headache, etc... That is a concussion.

Mite-dad · Post by **Mite-dad** » Thu Dec 08, 2011 9:26 am

His first was in Dec. 09 as a PW B. He was checked from behind. He had a headache for a day or two and was back playing the next weekend. He doesn't think it was a concussion, but it could have been. His second was during the district playoffs in late Feb/early March of 2010. He was hit into the crossbar as he was driving the net. His head hit the crossbar. He had a headache for 4-5 days if my memory serves me right. He was symptom free in a week and played in regionals two weeks after the injury.

The last one was as a Bantam A and was self-inflicted and occurred on 11/19/11. The opposing team was changing lines, (he plays D) and the puck was in our zone along the boards but inside the blue line. He skated up toward the puck, caught an edge or something and went head first into the boards at a fairly high rate of speed. This was his worst one. He had a headache for 9-10 days and had difficulty concentrating for a couple weeks in school. He was limited by his dr. to reading only 10 mins an hr. and of course no physical activity. I don't think he actually had difficulty reading but struggled to concentrate in math somewhat. He has actually skated a couple times in the last few days w/o gear (with helmet). He skated one drill each practice and didn't "feel right" after each drill. So his progress is slow at this time but he is improving.

I don't think any helmet is good at preventing concussions to be honest. Some maybe slightly better than others. He hit the right side of his forehead hard and his M11 did not cut him. The HS team also uses M11s exclusively and they have not experienced a cutting problem.

BadgerBob82 · Post by **BadgerBob82** » Thu Dec 08, 2011 9:38 am

Mite-Dad: Thanks for the details! Sounds like this last one is the scary one. 1st one sounded self diagnosed? Maybe the 2nd too?

He's the only one that can tell when he "feels right". And when he does, I assume he will get back to playing.

Wishing the best for his recovering and return to the game!

observer · Post by **observer** » Thu Dec 08, 2011 10:06 am

One of the metro leaders in concussion diagnosis and recovery is Gillette Children's Hospital. They, along with others, offer a test that is given to measure the symptoms against previous test results. A pediatrician might say 7 days without a headache and you're good to go. A specialist at Gillette is going to rely on test scores before allowing players to return.

http://www.gillettechildrens.org/defaul ... D=1.17.4.2

Several teams and associations are using Gillette to diagnose and treat concussions.

old goalie85 · Post by **old goalie85** » Thu Dec 08, 2011 10:24 am

It is time to find something else to do w/your boy!!!! It hurts me to say that because I love football and hockey. Fishing, hunting, golf???????????

Mite-dad · Post by **Mite-dad** » Thu Dec 08, 2011 10:43 am

observer wrote:One of the metro leaders in concussion diagnosis and recovery is Gillette Children's Hospital. They, along with others, offer a test that is given to measure the symptoms against previous test results. A pediatrician might say 7 days without a headache and you're good to go. A specialist at Gillette is going to rely on test scores before allowing players to return.

http://www.gillettechildrens.org/defaul ... D=1.17.4.2

Several teams and associations are using Gillette to diagnose and treat concussions.

Thank you so much for this link! I will try to get him evaluated there. We had tried to get referred to Mayo, but it is taking forever.

hawkhockey · Post by **hawkhockey** » Mon Dec 12, 2011 5:53 am

I had two in a little over a year. first one was real rough. missed about a month. i saw a neurologist from gunderson lutheran that did a great job. recovery was tough but was kept from school and driving for about a week. wasnt aloud to watch tv, use a computer, or read. i was basically aloud to sit there and do nothing for about a week or two. after that it was a slow process back clearing all the tests and passing the physical workouts. i believe it really depends on how the player recovers from the previous concussions. took the first one slow and really didnt see any lingering effects, but the second one i tried to rush back before i was ready and still feel some of those effects today. get to a place that cares about and knows what theyre doing. that was really the difference for me between the two. good luck

The Next One · Post by **The Next One** » Mon Dec 12, 2011 10:10 am

Unless a doctor tells you otherwise I would think about keeping him off the ice until at least the new yr if not longer.....had a kid in our association with concussion problems last yr....sat out the whole yr as 2nd yr bantam...he is now playing varsity and seems to be doing fine.

Mite-dad · Post by **Mite-dad** » Mon Dec 12, 2011 10:21 am

Thanks for all your responses. I appreciate it very much.

Defensive Zone · Post by **Defensive Zone** » Mon Dec 12, 2011 12:45 pm

This last fall, I was re-certifying my coaching licenser for USA Hockey. Part of the re-certification was to watch a module on concussions. A neurologist from the Mayo Clinic was the presenter. He talked about the different types of concussions like brain and spinal. Ways a player can receive a concussion ex; head hits, body checks, collisions, etc., equipment (myths about helmets and mouth guards), prevention, and treatment. If anyone (players, parents, coaches, and ref's.) have a chance to see this...it is worth it.

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Multiple concussions

Multiple concussions

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