My head injury

[shootingstar]

On Jan. 1/15, New Year's Day, I suffered a head injury after my bike collided-crashed with another cyclist who clipped into my front wheel, on a Vancouver bike path. My dearie was cycling just 10 metres ahead of me. The other cyclist landed on top of me. My bike was still between my legs when I fell on my left side. Thank goodness he wasn't a really big, much heavier person.

I was admitted for hospital overnight stay and monitoring in a downtown Vancouver hospital. I was seen by emergency services doc. And neurologist also. The left side me around my lower rib cage and lower abdomen is sore and requires me to move carefully. What a way to start off 2015.

I have no memory at all of the crash, nor of emergency responders looking after me, transport in ambulance nor of the full body CAT scan I had within hrs. of accident. I lost part of memory for about 6 hrs. I also don't remember a team meeting with neurologist, neurology student intern and my partner where they tested my cognition via series of questions while I was in bed. I have no memory of what my neurologist looks like, who handled my case looks like. I have no memory of what the cyclist looked like who crashed into me. My eyes were open, according to my partner, and I was talking, responding (not always correctly), but clearly it did not register in my memory at the time.

My emergency services doctor sister (in Toronto) who does see head injured patients quite often, has urged that I must rest and do very little…for first 2 wks. Or longer. Not even much computer nor TV screen time. I will be requesting abit more accident/disability time off after next wk. Frankly I don’t feel like returning immediately to work, with a change of managers now due to restructuring. The last thing I can cope with after this accident. Or I probably have to book a meeting rm. At work and work in quiet since I currently work in an open office floor with enough ambient noise from adjacent cubicles.

It tires me do tasks that require brain decision-making and switching at this time. Certainly I can walk short distances, but tend to be slower. I have to test this when walking in ice and snow in Calgary with my partner.

I have been advised strongly not to bike for 1 month.

For certain, you will not find me supporting: ice hockey fighting (enforcer role is terrible role to have been invented in pro hockey), soccer headhitting of the ball at high velocities, boxing, MM fighting. I have heard that football is losing its cache at some the high schools due to parental concerns, etc.

[Becky]

I'm very sorry to hear of your accident! I've had my share of concussions, though none as serious as what you describe. Be kind and gentle to yourself as you heal, and best wishes for a speedy recovery!

[OakLeaf]

Wow. Glad you're getting good advice and that you'll have your partner's support as you heal. Take good care. Best wishes for a quick and full recovery!

[Crankin]

Rest up, Shooting Star. You have received very good advice and care. Don't mess around with this. I have a friend from grad school, whose daughter had a concussion from a soccer head butt. It was a long time before she could do everything the way she used to.
Yeah, and I am also against all of those things you mentioned. I am pretty sure I had a mild concussion when I slammed the point of my car door into my forehead. I rested for 1.5 days and stupidly went on a 30 mile ride the day after that. This resulted in headaches and neck pain for months. Take it easy!!!

[Helene2013]

Sorry to read you had such a "stupid" accident. Hoping for a full and speedy recovery. Just don't rush into things. I know it is hard and we think all is fine and try to go too fast too often.

[Catrin]

Oh my, SO glad that you are coming out of it - scary stuff indeed! I am so glad that you don't live alone and have your partner to help out, thank care and keep us posted as you can.

[roo4]

Speedy recovery to you, shootingstar! Take care of yourself.

[ny biker]

Yikes. I'm so glad the injury was not more serious. Rest up, stay out of work as long as you can. I hope your recovery goes well.

[lauraelmore1033]

That is terrible, Shootingstar! Having someone crash into me and make me fall is one of my biggest fears. Very serious stuff. Rest up and heal soon!

[Blueberry]

So sorry to hear this, but glad to hear that you should make a full recovery!

DH has had 2 concussions, and I have cared for him with both. With both, he blacked out for a very short time, and then "woke up" but doesn't recall much. Minimizing screen time, tv, reading - anything that taxes the brain - is huge. He couldn't do that, and it took him much longer to recover. Sitting in a quiet room really is what you sort of have to do. Be gentle with yourself - things may feel weird and frustrating for quite a while - but it will get better. The other reason for not getting back on the bike immediately is something called second impact syndrome. Listen to your doc - it's not worth the risk. And, of course, replace that helmet!

It might also be worth asking your doc whether a fish oil (DHA) supplement would be appropriate. DH was strongly advised to take it (in large doses) based upon some research here (football injuries). It helped a lot.

[thekarens]

Wow! So scary! Take care and be easy on yourself. Definitely don't push things.

[BikeDutchess]

Wishing you a full recovery! And be patient with yourself!

[smilingcat]

Hi,

don't fret too much about not remembering what happened that day. The important thing now is to take time to heal properly. Don't rush. take lot of naps. And wish you full recovery. Resting will also help with your other physical injuries.

[shootingstar]

Oh my, SO glad that you are coming out of it - scary stuff indeed! I am so glad that you don't live alone and have your partner to help out, thank care and keep us posted as you can.

Thx for the good vibes from everyone. Useful to hear other people's stories --not just for me but for others.
My partner is my witness to the accident scene and how I responded during the hospital testing (on 3 different time occasions).

I have a good friend in Calgary who is able to help me (and she knows about cycling), but I would like to reserve her help much later on when I am whole lot better.

Apparently it is not unusual for people with head injuries to never recall their accident at all. Yes, it is a kinda creepy feeling.

Blueberry, I'm the sort of person that can easily stare into space for several hrs. on airflights and not be entertained by tv/movie or music. Or sit for hrs. on a bus, train ride and stare out the window. Not read nor do any computer screen stuff. I don't own /use a cellphone so I haven't got into the habit to constantly busy myself with loose time. I entertain with my own thoughts or chill out.

Need to get off computer now. :rolleyes:

[zoom-zoom]

EVERY person I know who has had a concussion has no memory of the moments before, during, or shortly after their accidents. For the first day or two after my MIL's concussion this Summer she would tell us the same story over and over. It was hard to impress upon her that she needed to not be up and around and trying to run errands or get right back on her bike. This seems pretty common with all of the cyclists I know who have had similar incidents.

Thankful you're OK and on the mend. I shudder to think what would happen to most of us if we didn't wear helmets!!

[lph]

Oh my ShootingStar! Best of wishes for a gentle healing. I can only second all the reminders to be careful.

I came off my bike just before Christmas, and sprained my wrist and got a couple of feisty bruises, and didn't realize until much later that I had hit the ground hard enough to put cracks in my helmet. And even that quite mild bump was enough that a week later, I tired easily and was happy to spend hours just staring into space. Heads are precious things. Good luck!

[emily_in_nc]

So sorry this happened to you! It's weird...I can remember every detail of my crash where I fractured my pelvis...kind of wish I couldn't! BUT, I didn't hit my head, or if I did, it was so light that it did no damage. My pelvis broke my fall (pardon the pun).

You've received some excellent advice here, and I have nothing to add except that it sucks that this happened to you, and I hope you'll heal up well. DO take time to recover and don't rush it.

[AppleTree]

Oh my gosh, so sorry to hear this happened to you shootingstar. What a scary accident! 2015 is not off to a good start. My husband also had a bike accident a few days ago. Will post about that later.

Heal well, sending good thoughts your way!

[Bones8]

How scary! Wishing you the best...

[rocknrollgirl]

I crashed my mt bike in August and my face and shoulder took the hit. Luckily it was on packed dirt and not rocks. I whacked my head pretty good. Had a minor, very minor concussion and was wonky with headaches for a few weeks. Just really take it easy. And if you are reading these responses you are not taking it easy!!!!! It is a tough "take it easy" because most of us read or watch a movie when we are sidelined, but you need to let your brain rest.

I hope you feel better soon.

[PamNY]

Shootingstar, I'm so sorry this happened. Heal up fast!

[AppleTree]

How are you doing shootingstar? Hope your recovery is progressing well and you are feeling back to your normal self soon. Just wondering how it was going along for you... :)

[shootingstar]

I am better apple each day. Today went for a short 15 min. walk in abit of snow with dearie for lst time since accident on New Year's Day. Had a coffee and then walked home. Went to bed.

I am fed information so far from sister who is an emergency medicine doctor past decade and she deals with head injuries quite often. Her warning: if you've had multiple concussions over the years, be warned it is cumulative damage to the brain.

This is why football player may ie. suddenly die because the person may have already sustained several head injuries recently over different times in past few years.

I feel incredibly lucky..that my vision, speech, etc. was not affected.

[BlessedB]

Oh, Shooting Star, I'm so sorry this happened to you! Wishing you full and complete healing.
Hugs,
B

[Pax]

Wow, what a way to start the new year! Glad you're on the mend.

[azfiddle]

Shooting Star,

So sorry to hear about your accident. No words of wisdom or experience but I'm happy to hear you're getting good support, advice etc. Just let you body tell you when you are ready to move back into your routines, as they unfold. Hugs- Sharon

[Serendipity]

Wishing you the very best, shootingstar! Take care of yourself - give lots of time for recovery!

[ny biker]

Shootingstar, I thought you might find this interesting.

https://formerf1doc.wordpress.com/2015/03/03/a-win-for-formula-1/

The background is that Formula 1 driver Fernando Alonso had a high-speed crash during a recent test session and spent several days in the hospital due to a concussion. He is now recovering at home. Today his team announced that he will not drive in the first race of the season on March 14, due to the risk of serious injury if he were to crash again so soon after this incident. http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/formula1/31713292

Some people are speculating that he must have been more seriously injured than official reports have let on, as if a concussion were something that people always recover from quickly. After reading about your experience, the decision for him to miss the race made total sense to me. And I think it was a good decision -- in many sports, people downplay head injuries (and other injuries in general) so they can keep playing regardless of possible long-term consequences.

The writer of the blog post above is a physician who used to be the medical rescue coordinator for F1 racing. Prior to that he was the assistant to the medical rescue coordinator Sid Watkins, who is credited with making huge strides in improving driver safety.

[shootingstar]

I don't follow sports car racing, so was unaware of head injuries, ny biker. So good that he is withdrawing from racing.

May I suggest to anyone who hears the term concussion if they are affected: use the term head injuries. That's what it is. That's how doctors who I've dealt with term it. The term "concussion" obscures the reality of what it is.

The more I stumble across head injuries stories and its downplaying for so long in various sports, because people don't want to let down rest of the team /don't want their individual performance to be viewed as weak if they withdraw for recovery / driven by money purse.....it's shocking.

My sister-emergency medicine doctor emphasized that multiple head injuries for 1 person in their lifetime, is cumulative damage to the brain.

A Canadian hockey player Steve Matador surprised the NHL fan world when he died @ 35 yrs. just a few wks. ago this yr. http://www.thehockeynews.com/blog/steve-montador-knew-he-was-going-to-pass-away-early/ It's very sad, because his father sits on the board of directors on hockey safety with a well-known Toronto doctor in spinal cord and head injury trauma who has been tireless advocate in Canada nationally for ie. seat belt safety (for preventing spinal cord injury) in cars, bike helmet .....

It actually is now disturbing to me, that head injuries would be even downplayed in the cycling world ....

Here is an readable medical article: http://www.cmaj.ca/content/185/11/975