Concussions. Where do you draw the line?

35smom
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35smom 1/7/2013 1:31pm
1/7/2013 1:31pm
What doctor did you see? A general or neurologist? Ive had 2 concusions and broken noses to match from softball. My son has had 3 MX related ones. It scares me. Luckily we have the base-line concussion testing in the pros that will make the decision for the riders. In your case I would go have some testing done. It will give you peace of mind.
I'm good friends with a older well known pro and when we first met I thought he had a cute slow southern voice....that wasn't it (as he informed me), it was the result of 9 concussions.
Good Luck
CrazyTed
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CrazyTed 1/7/2013 1:48pm
1/7/2013 1:48pm
The doctors can't tell you what the next concussion will be like. There is no way to tell how many is too many. Just look up some of the testing that the NFL and college has done on it especially one study where the tested high school and college age kids before the season started. They implanted sensors in their helmets and kept track of the severity and number of hits they took during practice and games. Then they tested them along the way. There were able to chart changes from the number and severity of the hits. Their testing also showed that full contact practices cause most of the problems but college and high school coaches refuse to dial down the full speed impacts.

As for doctors, good luck. I've had neurologists, neuro-psychologists, opthamologist, neuro-opthamologists, optometrist, psychiatrists,etc. all from these injuries. None could really do anything other than testing your "new" baseline and then future tests to track the changes.

Still trying to get into some of the newer studies using the hyperbaric chambers to relieve some of the symptoms that the military is testing.

Whatever happens, you have to decide what level of risk you are willing to take. We will end up like many of the boxers and retired NFL players in our older years.
Spartacus
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Spartacus 1/7/2013 1:55pm
1/7/2013 1:55pm
CrazyTed wrote:
The doctors can't tell you what the next concussion will be like. There is no way to tell how many is too many. Just look up...
The doctors can't tell you what the next concussion will be like. There is no way to tell how many is too many. Just look up some of the testing that the NFL and college has done on it especially one study where the tested high school and college age kids before the season started. They implanted sensors in their helmets and kept track of the severity and number of hits they took during practice and games. Then they tested them along the way. There were able to chart changes from the number and severity of the hits. Their testing also showed that full contact practices cause most of the problems but college and high school coaches refuse to dial down the full speed impacts.

As for doctors, good luck. I've had neurologists, neuro-psychologists, opthamologist, neuro-opthamologists, optometrist, psychiatrists,etc. all from these injuries. None could really do anything other than testing your "new" baseline and then future tests to track the changes.

Still trying to get into some of the newer studies using the hyperbaric chambers to relieve some of the symptoms that the military is testing.

Whatever happens, you have to decide what level of risk you are willing to take. We will end up like many of the boxers and retired NFL players in our older years.
The 'docs can't tell you' was my point.
goinrcn44h
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goinrcn44h 1/7/2013 1:59pm
1/7/2013 1:59pm
With age comes a roll cage....
I turn 43 in Feb. and gave up racing moto years ago, which only forced me to feed the monkey on your back for speed and horsepower and adrenaline with bigger better tricker and faster shit... Now... I spend 20 times the money I did when I raced moto, but you do get hurt less. But when you do get hurt it can be super sized type pain. Flip a dirt sprint car at 120 MPH and your worst nightmare comes true in a hurry..lol
Adrenaline is a bitch.. far and away the worst drug out there..
Get good advice from professionals and make well thought out decisions after time to sort out what is best for you...
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rjklein4470
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rjklein4470 1/7/2013 2:13pm
1/7/2013 2:13pm
I would make sure you have the best equipment you can buy.
lrantan
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lrantan 1/7/2013 2:15pm
1/7/2013 2:15pm
Sounds like you trying to do all the action sports a few levels above your actual abilities and you have not realized it yet.
You're going to screw up a great career, slow down and get better protective gear.
Firefit_112 1/9/2014 7:08am
1/9/2014 7:08am Edited Date/Time 1/9/2014 7:13am
Just an update:

Stepped away from racing MX last summer and decided to race Mountain bikes instead. Ended up winning a bunch of provincial level races, a national championship and managed to get upgraded to Master Expert next year. Still rode Moto for fun with my friends once or twice a week, but at a much lower intensity level.

Thanks for all of the advice and comments. Helped me make a great decision thats made the transition to backing it down much easier.
gt80rider
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gt80rider 1/9/2014 9:03am
1/9/2014 9:03am
remember the girl you went to Sr prom with? well I remember a girl too, unfortunately it wasn't the one I actually took... I became prone to concussions after years of football and a couple of bad get-offs on the bike... now pretty much everything from my past is fuzzy, or simply not correct.... I think I probably kept on riding/racing hard because I was in some sort of dull haze that prevented me from thinking more clearly and taking more time off the bike...

anywhos... if you want to clearly remember your prom date, the day your first child was born, how to drive home from work, etc, you might want to consider some changes to your lifestyle.... I still ride, actually quite a bit, but now days its at a leisurely pace, veryyyyy leisurely... a pace that I am 100% confident I will never crash at..... to me hitting the track is way more about hang'n with my friends, getting some seat time, and doing some wrenching than putting in the best lap time i can... my drive to be "the best that i can be" has been changed over to racing rc cars and photography, two activities with nearly zero chance of getting a concussion....
Missing_Muffs 1/9/2014 12:32pm
1/9/2014 12:32pm
Firefit_112 wrote:
Just to clarify: I hit the lady, who made an illegal left hand turn, on my road bike. I wasn't jumping it at the bike park...
Just to clarify: I hit the lady, who made an illegal left hand turn, on my road bike. I wasn't jumping it at the bike park on Saturday. And yes, hitting her car at that speed hurt. A lot. haha

All of the responses so far are very valid. I realize that the decision is ultimately going to be my own, I just like to consider what other people may have done in the same situation. Ive had both knees scoped, ankle surgery, and cracked ribs both side of my chest, yet none of them seem to bother me as much as a head injury dose. The long term effects are pretty severe and serious.

I went and saw my doctor this afternoon and he was reasonable. No sports/work or anything for the rest of the week and Ive got to avoid being the computer for extended periods of time. We talked about riding, and some of my other sports (DH MTB racing), and he pretty much said that I don't have to quit if I could manage to town it down and achieve a little more balance in my riding. Aka not riding at 110%. He's the Leafs chief medical director, so his opinion is pretty valuable. Im leaning towards just play riding this summer, but even then, I don't know if I can really back it down. Im going to have to take the next few weeks to really think this out.

Thanks again for all the opinions/comment. Appreciate it!
sometimes our own pride gets the best of us.
i am my own worst enemy lol
BW84
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BW84 1/9/2014 2:12pm
1/9/2014 2:12pm
For anyone interested in brain injuries that has not watched "The Crash Reel" I would highly recommend it. It was recommended to me by my brother who is a neuroradiologist when discussing the frustrations of a an acquaintance that had suffered a TBI in the past. It's hard to explain the type of perspective it provides but it is extremely powerful, especially for those of us Vitards that have families at home that depend on our brains as a primary income source.
Sloaner104 1/9/2014 3:38pm
1/9/2014 3:38pm
I like gt80's advice . Hangin at the track with pals and riding at a pace that ensures ya won't be smacking your bean . If you have a 125 sell it they are impossible to not ring on .
yzjs7
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yzjs7 1/9/2014 4:59pm
1/9/2014 4:59pm
Live life the way you want to because you only live once. Is what you do not a big part of your life? Does it not make you feel alive? After answering yes.....buy a 6d helmet.
Hank_Thrill
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Hank_Thrill 1/9/2014 8:17pm
1/9/2014 8:17pm Edited Date/Time 1/9/2014 8:18pm
Firefit_112 wrote:
[img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2014/01/09/41452/s1200_IMG_8646.jpg[/img]
I'm pretty stinking stoked to read about your update and see this photo. When I clicked the thread I had forgotten it was over a year old until I saw my reply. I'm glad to read about your fun experiences and success with mountain bike racing. It's a fun activity riding with friends and a fun sport competing. I grew up riding motocross and bmx. Like yourself, I never thought I would have as much fun mountain biking as I am now. Keep on shredding, and stay safe!

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