hit counter

Long Term Effects of Concussions on the Brain

Many people have been in accidents or played sports in which they’ve gotten a concussion. A concussion is considered the most common type of traumatic brain injury, and is caused by a blow (hit) to the head and/or a violent shaking of the head. Those that experience a concussion may experience an array of symptoms including impaired cognition, a decline in fine motor skills, and in some cases neurodegeneration.

Fortunately most people with concussions seek out proper medical help and are able to make a full recovery. To determine if the person’s brain has healed after being concussed, a panel of tests can be administered including: brain scans, neurological evaluations, and cognitive evaluations. Although recovery is possible after a minor concussion, there are some individuals (e.g. NFL athletes) that experience many concussions, leading to detrimental long-term effects.

Factors that influence the long-term effects of concussions

There are several factors that are likely to dictate the degree and severity to which you experience long-term effects from one or multiple concussions. These include: the severity of the concussion(s) endured, number of total concussions, frequency by which the concussions occurred, as well as individual factors such as your particular anatomical structure and genetics.

1. Severity of concussion

According to the Colorado Medical Society, there are different severities of concussions. Lower grades of concussions are associated with less detrimental long-term effects as well as lessened severity should any long-term effects occur. While it is certainly possible for even a Grade 1 concussion to result in some sort of long-term impairment, the impairment is much less likely than those enduring Grade 2 or Grade 3 concussions. If you experience a Grade 3A or 3B concussion, you will have likely end up with some long-term damage.

  • Grade 1: This concussion is mostly characterized by confusion and is thought of as being the least severe. If it occurs just once, the person is thought to recover within 15 minutes. However, for each successive concussion of this grade, it can take up to a full week to recover.
  • Grade 2: This concussion is more severe and a person will generally need at least a week to recover. If multiple “grade 2” concussions occur, a person will likely need at least 2 weeks and physician approval before returning to any type of sports.
  • Grade 3A: If you endure a Grade 3A concussion, you’d be knocked out for a few seconds. The damage occurring in this type of concussion is more extreme, and will generally keep you from playing sports for up to a full 30 days (month). Should you experience multiple concussions of this severity, any secondary concussions will take at least 6 months to heal.
  • Grade 3B: This is the most severe type of concussion in which you’d be unconscious for minutes. Just one of these can keep you from playing sports for 6 months and if you experience a subsequent concussion of this magnitude, you’d be out for a minimum of 12 months from sports.

2. Location of the concussion

Another factor that will play a role in determining the long-term effects that you experience is the location in which you were hit. Each brain region tends to correspond with a different aspect of functioning. If you get hit on the right side of your head, you’ll likely experience different effects than you would if you got hit in the back of your head or the front or your head.

If you understand the way the brain works in relation to where you were concussed, you may be able to come up with some reasons as to why you’re experiencing particular long-term effects. It should also be known that if you experience multiple concussions to the same area of the brain, it may amplify any existing impairments and effects. When multiple concussions ensue, different effects occur due to the different regions they impact.

3. Number of total concussions

The number of concussions that you endure is often an important factor of influence in predicting long-term outcomes. Even if you endure just one minor Grade 1 concussion, any subsequent concussion can do serious damage. If you end up with several Grade 1 concussions, the cumulative effect and toll on the brain is very significant. The more concussions you have, the more likely you will be to endure unwanted, and potentially irreversible long-term effects. This is why it is important to make a conscious effort to minimize concussion risk in all circumstances.

4. Frequency of concussions

The frequency or rate at which you experience concussions is also an influential factor. If you endure multiple concussions within 1 week, the effects are going to be more extreme than if you were to endure multiple concussions within a longer-term such as 6 months. The time span between your first and secondary concussion is likely to play a role in determining the long-term effects that you experience. Those with longer gaps (of time) between their concussions are thought to have better prognoses than those with shorter gaps.

5. Individual factors

It is also important to realize that the long-term effects of concussions are subject to individual variation based on numerous personal factors. These include things like: age at which the concussion was endured, cognitive reserve, recovery efforts, genetics, anatomy, whether the person is taking medications, etc. Someone may experience less long-term impairment simply based on their particular anatomy or genetics. Those that experience concussions at a younger age may experience developmental problems as a result.

Long Term Effects of Concussions on the Brain

As was mentioned, the specific type of long-term effects you end up with as a result of a concussion are highly individualized. One person may end up with more cognitive impairment such as memory and attentional deficiets, while another may struggle more with visual processing. Below is a list of some possible long-term effects that you may endure as a result of a concussion.

1. Cognitive impairment

Concussions often disrupt various elements of higher-order neurocognition. Among the most common long-term effects from a concussion is cognitive impairment. Cognitive function refers to your ability to acquire, retain, and synthesize information. When your cognitive function becomes impaired, you may struggle with attention, memorization, learning, critical thinking, and reasoning skills.

  • Attention: Your attention may be impaired to the point that you’d fit the diagnostic criteria for ADHD (attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder). It may be difficult to stay focused in school or at work, and you may experience a significant degree of “brain fog.” If you aren’t able to stay focused while reading or attempting to study new material, it could be from your concussion.
  • Learning: It may become difficult to learn new information and skills after a concussion. The learning impairment may be relatively long-lasting, spanning over a period of years. Some people may have learning difficulties for the rest of their lives as a result of the damage endured from getting concussed.
  • Memory: All types of memory including: working, short-term, and long-term memory can become disrupted. This can take a toll on your IQ score and ability to hold a conversation with others. Some people feel as if their memory is scrambled and they experience a significant degree of amnesia – even surrounding the event during which they got the concussion.
  • Reasoning: Another aspect of cognition that may drop is that of reasoning. This ties in with memory and logic, and is the ability to think critically about a situation and make a sound decision. If you find yourself unable to justify behaviors with logic, it could be that your reasoning centers experienced damage.
  • Self-Control: In some cases, a person may become significantly more impulsive after experiencing a concussion. This is a result of damage to higher-order functions of the brain (e.g. prefrontal cortex) that are responsible for self-control. Even subtle differences in impulse-control may occur over the long-term following concussions.

2. Sensory processing impairment

Many people experience sensory impairment following a concussion. Perhaps the most common sense that is affected is that of vision. Some people experience “blurry vision” as a result of damage to the occipital lobe – an area of the brain responsible for processing visual inputs. Others may experience damage to the auditory cortex, which impairs their ability to process sound. Rarely would a person experience changes in tactile, olfactory, and taste inputs.

  • Visual: One of the more common long-term effects of concussions is that of distorted visual processing. If you were hit on the back of your head (occipital region), this can cause damage to the occipital lobe. This can impede spatial awareness and your ability to successfully navigate within your environment.
  • Auditory: Within the temporal lobe on the side of your brain lies the auditory cortex. This area is responsible for the processing of sound. If this area becomes damaged as a result of a concussion, you can lose your awareness of certain sounds that you know. It’s not that your hearing becomes damaged, it’s that the area of your brain responsible for making sense of what you hear isn’t correctly functioning. This is sometimes a long-term problem for those with severe concussions.

3. Abnormal Brain Waves

Brain waves refer to electrical impulses traveling through the brain. For the brain to perform optimally, a healthy balance of brain waves should show up on an EEG. Individuals that are concussed may display excessive “slow wave” activity, leading them to have difficulties with concentration and dysphoric moods.

As an example, let’s say that the prefrontal cortex suddenly began showing strong theta wave activity following a concussion. This may make a person feel fatigued, spacey, and prone to ADHD-like behavior. Normally, a person’s brain would produce beta waves in the prefrontal region to help them stay alert, focused, and productive at work.

Although neurofeedback may help correct certain brain waves following a concussion, it is certainly not a panacea treatment. Some find that it never is able to correctly adjust the electrical activity in their brain, leading to (potentially permanent) impairment. Abnormal brain waves can contribute to: mood swings, concentration problems, sleep disorders, etc.

4. Motor Skills Decline

Those who endure concussions may also experience deficits in their motor skills. Most often a person will notice that their “fine motor skills” become impaired and just aren’t what they used to be (prior to the concussion). If you experience difficulties with balance, coordination, and your ability to perform technical movements after your concussion, your motor skills may have become compromised.

  • Fine motor skills: If your fine motor skills become impaired, you may lose your ability to perform a highly technical movement such as: knitting, juggling, playing the piano, or playing a video game. You may also find that your hand-eye coordination suffers and you can’t seem to figure out why.
  • Gross motor skills: Although impairment in gross motor skills such as the ability to walk or balance aren’t typically problematic, they still can be affected to an extent. For most people these tend to improve over the long-term unless the brain was severely impacted after the concussion.

5. Communication Problems

A person may experience difficulties with communication and/or speech processing over the long-term. They may have difficulty talking as well as making sense of what they’re told. Some individuals may experience “aphasia,” a condition characterized by an impairment in the understanding of language as well as difficulties with reading and writing. An individual with aphasia may also display inappropriate facial expressions during a conversation.

Generally only very severe concussions with impact to the frontal cortex are thought to cause aphasia. If someone has significant difficulties with communication, it could be that their frontal cortex absorbed a majority of the concussive impact. The greater the severity of damage, the more likely that a person’s ability to effectively communicate and/or write becomes impaired. Fortunately, most people tend to significantly improve within 1 year of the concussion as a result of proper rehabilitation efforts.

6. Emotional Disturbances

As a result of concussions, many people experience frequent mood swings, anxiety, and become depressed. This may be in part due to the fact that damage was incurred on the prefrontal region of the brain, an area that helps us control emotional responses and generate a positive outlook. Some people experience long-term changes in mood and develop psychiatric disorders like major depression and/or anxiety after their concussion.

  • Anger: A person may become more impulsive and have a more difficult time controlling their emotions. The anger may be a result of damage to a particular region of the brain and/or brain wave activity. If you find yourself lashing out at others and unable to escape perpetual anger, it could have stemmed from the concussion.
  • Anxiety: Others report severe anxiety after they’re concussed. The anxiety could be due to a shift in brain activity, but may also be a result of impaired cognition. If you could think clearly and were able to learn easily prior to your concussion, but now you have difficulty, it may lead to a significant amount of stress.
  • Depression: There are various reports of former-NFL players committing suicide as a result of the brain damage they incurred from concussions. This shows that not only can concussions impair cognition, they can lead to major long-term depression and suicidal thinking. Some people experience concussions and their outlook is never quite the same as it used to be.

7. Neurodegeneration

There is some evidence suggesting that concussions may be associated with development of neurodegenerative disorders like dementia. Although it cannot be stated for a fact that a concussion specifically causes dementia to develop, many scientists have a hunch that it does. Those that endure any form of a traumatic brain injury are at a 26% greater risk for development of dementia than those who don’t.

It is believed that “tau protein” may play a role in influencing the development of neurodegeneration. When a person is concussed, they may experience abnormally high levels of this protein – which leads to a poorer overall recovery. High levels of tau protein are also found among individuals with Alzheimer’s disease. Development of a neurodegenerative disorder is among the worst of long-term effects associated with concussions.

How long do the “long-term” effects of concussions last?

There’s no telling how long the effects of concussions will last for everyone; this answer cannot be generalized. For some individuals, the effects of their concussion will significantly lessen and/or heal within 1 year after the impact. For others, the effects may be permanent and may never improve for the rest of their lives. As was already mentioned, the duration and severity of the long-term effects is subject to significant individual variation.

Some studies have been able to confirm declines in brain performance nearly 6 years after a concussive episode. That said, the studies that noted these declines also mentioned that the differences between those who were concussed and a control group were very minimal. Based on behaviors and external observation, the concussed group was indistinguishable from others.

Does everyone experience long term effects from concussions?

Not everyone experiences long-term effects from concussions, especially if the concussion isn’t very severe and targeted rehabilitation efforts are made. A majority of people who endure multiple concussions will experience some long-term effects, but whether they are consciously aware of these effects is unknown. Although long-term effects may be inevitable in severe concussions, proper rehabilitation can minimize them to the point that they don’t pose major functional impairment.

Recommendations for dealing with long-term effects

If you are dealing with long-term effects of a concussion, it is best to seek professional help. You’ll likely want to continuously monitor the severity of brain damage you’ve endured from the concussion, as well as track any changes and/or improvements over time. Rehabilitation experts may recommend various supplements and/or medications to promote brain health and improve your cognitive function.  Some believe that since concussions likely kill brain cells, active efforts to promote neurogenesis (or growth of new brain cells) can provide benefit.

Have you experienced any (unwanted) long-term effects from concussions?

If you have experienced a concussion (or multiple), be sure to share the effects you’ve endured over the long-term, as well as their overall degree of severity. Give a little background on your personal situation and discuss how long it’s been since you’ve had a concussion. Mention when you first noticed long-term effects and whether they’ve improved since you first noticed them. If you’ve gone through a rehabilitation process, discuss whether it was noticeably helpful.

Related Posts:

MHD News (100% Free)

* indicates required

21 thoughts on “Long Term Effects of Concussions on the Brain”

  1. My friend suffered a severe concussion from a car accident. Doctors say it there are lifelong effects due to the concussion. I will be trying to tell him something and he will interrupt and it seems he hasn’t heard a word I said. He will start talking about a completely different subject, as if he didn’t care about what I said or even heard a word I was saying!

    It is definitely affecting our friendship as I feel like it’s ALWAYS about himself. Can it be that he can not help it? Or even know that he is interrupting me? He is a super sweet person and would do anything for anyone, but this seeming like he doesn’t care or even hear me is most definitely annoying!

    I just don’t want to not be his friend if it is something completely out of his control! Does anyone know if this is from the head injury? Or is he just rude?

    Reply
    • Betsy, did you read the article? It mentions several times an inability to focus. Use some logic, you said he was normally sweet and now after the concussion is acting differently. What does that tell you? His brain was injured, the part that affects how we think and act, and now he’s thinking and acting differently.

      In case you’re also suffering brain damage – YES his behavior is because of the concussion and he needs you now more than ever. Take notes of your observations of how he’s changed and mentally take note if he’s improving. He is NOT aware of how he’s acting.

      This information will be helpful for his healthcare provider, because he may be going to his appointments saying he’s fine because he’s unaware. It took me weeks after a grade 3 to start getting proper care because of this.

      My Mom showed up at my appointment telling the doctor how I don’t make sense when I speak, get easily confused, repeat same things, don’t remember convos even a few min later, easily tired, keep bumping into stuff because unable to judge distance, etc.

      I was really really bad off, but bc it was my brain, I was not aware. So the doctor did some tests and quickly realized I was beyond her care and not “fine” like I said every week (shame on her for shuffling patients through so quickly).

      I was then placed under the care of a neurologist and unable to drive for 3 months, THANKFUL for an amazing friend who drove me to doctor appointments and had notes to share of my behaviors and progress. I went to physical therapy 3 times a week for 3 months for motor skills, vertigo and visual processing.

      It was 6 months until cleared for work full time and am told it will take up to a year before I return to normal. I am mostly ok in the morning, but decline as they day goes on. Brain fatigue. if I push myself too much, motor skills and speech revert.

      It’s very frustrating, because it’s my brain people forget I’m not ok, versus like if I had a limp from a broken leg. So please, don’t give up on your friend, help him to find who he was, with proper care he can. ♡

      Reply
  2. I was 18 when I was involved in a biking accident. I do not remember the accident or how it happened. I only have flashes of images and sounds as memories of that day. I was with my brother and we were traveling downhill at speed on our mountain bikes. There was a hatchback car stopped at the traffic lights at the bottom of the hill.

    My brother says he was ahead of me already stationary at the traffic lights next to the car. He suddenly heard a loud crashing noise of metal and glass. I had not stopped and hit the car from behind. My head broke the rear windscreen and again hit the front seat of the car and inertia carried me out again. He says I was not conscious and dragged me to the side of the road while the lady whose car it was frantically called for help.

    He says it was a good couple of minutes before I came to. But I was in a complete confusion. He said I was trying to speak but it sounded like I was speaking backwards. After I was taken to the hospital I do not know if I stayed over night or went home. I remember screaming and wailing every time my family came near me as I had no idea who they were.

    I also kept asking them what happened to my leg (the rear windscreen wiper blade had punctured my thigh quite badly) as it was in a lot of pain and the skin around it was dark black and purple. Each time I would notice it I would cry out and ask frantically what happened. This lasted a week and a bit. I eventually started remembering my family members and what had caused my leg injury.

    This happened 18 years ago. To date I have no memory of the day of the accident other than a few images and sounds. I have had a string of problems. I cannot remember much of my childhood prior to the accident. My memory in general is pretty bad. Short term memory is terrible. I struggle to remember people and names and what I did yesterday.

    Anger and mood is a constant battle. I do not feel anger. I feel rage that goes far beyond whatever mundane thing caused it. The fatigue is really really bad. It is sporadic though. I have had good days where I can get things done. Today I fought my brain to stay awake while I drove to work. I got to work and again battled to keep awake.

    No matter how much sleep I have had, I feel no rest. Physically I shake and feel feeble from fatigue. I have had countless tests done all to no avail. Other symptoms include:

    -Sudden jerking of my arms and legs, especially when I try relax.
    -Brain fog and head aches. Best described as ice pick headaches. Again, sporadic and random.
    -Severe depressive episodes that led to cutting, eating disorders and body dysmorphia.

    After much assistance from the Church, the depression and other self destructive behaviors have disappeared. But I am still chronically exhausted for most of my days. This only started around 3 years ago. Prior to that I had loads of energy. So I have no idea what could be causing this tiredness. It is inexplicable. I have no answers.

    Reply
  3. My son has experienced many of the symptoms that were in the article. He’s only 17, was a D1 recruit, but suddenly out of nowhere in Feb of 2016 he changed drastically. He has almost the exact same symptoms that Arielle said she has. He has had 3 concussions that we know of, one a year until the 2015 season.

    He still broke a helmet that season and is now saying he’s sure he had a concussion, but didn’t say a thing for fear of sitting out of some games again. Out of nowhere, his friends changed, values changed, he started having self-esteem and social issues. His temper and moods were swinging badly. He said he had trouble concentrating on school, and he’s now had 2 seizures.

    He played part of the 2016 season but quit because he said he felt like he wasn’t part of the team anymore. We (doctors included) didn’t put it all together until recently when he had another seizure. Then we thought the first seizure was brought on by pre-workout drinks and high caffeine drinks mixed together. And also some normal teen changes and maybe burnout of football.

    But since he had a second seizure, things have been looked at very differently. Some of his impulsive decisions, lack of concentration and sleep, depression, some drug use, the mood swings, etc all could be indications of residual effects of concussions. He has an appointment with a neurologist in a week, the 2nd seizure just happened a few days ago.

    He was released from the hospital and has been under the family doctors care until the neurologist takes over. It’s a very sad thing to watch your child decline like this, but it appears to be more common than I thought. I’ve had my share of concussions, I played football in high school, college, and semi-pro until my late 30’s. I have to wonder if I have any signs of concussions as time goes on.

    Reply
    • My son, 19, has a very similar story to your son. Can you tell me how he is doing now and what you have discovered since this comment was made in 2017? We are seeing our second neurologist. Candace

      Reply
  4. I was 10 (30 years ago) when I suffered my concussion. It was a fall to the back of my head from close to a 10′ fall. My friends said I stumbled and vomited before finally laying in the grass before the Ambulance took me away. I stayed over night in the hospital.

    My parents said the care I received was minimal. Once home my parents said I had a non stop headache for weeks. I don’t remember anything from moments before falling till weeks after. Too this day I have daily headaches and about 15 migraines a month.

    Recently I have been more worried about memory loss. I can’t remember things that everyone else in the family can remember doing, and these are special moments that I should be able to remember. I can’t remember names and dates. I would love to learn more about the effects of my concussion.

    Reply
  5. At the age of 12 my parents allowed me to drive a full size adult quad away from our campsite in the mountains. I don’t remember any of this day, but my family didn’t know where I was and all went out searching. They found me standing in the middle of a gravel road looking around, and the quad up against a tree (roof to tree). I didn’t know my name, who they where, where I was… you get the point.

    The first thing I remember is waking up in the hospital a day later. The doctor told me I’d had the worst degree concussion, and a cracked jaw. He said there was no way I was playing contact sports again. I didn’t listen. I quit football, but I continued playing high-level hockey, and to top it off I was one of the leagues biggest grinders. I was ruthless with my brain, I was getting concussions often, like it was normal.

    Hell, I’d put another player on his ass, and give myself a concussion from it, go shake it off on the bench, and go right back on the ice. At one point, I’m pretty sure I got a concussion from shaking my hair dry after a shower. Needless to say I suffered from PCS. And it was bad. I was diagnosed with having “no working memory” meaning I couldn’t remember any of the little things, like where I left my keys, or why I came into a certain room.

    I would completely forget what I’d be talking about in the middle of a conversation. I don’t remember much of school during these days, but I know I was a pretty weird kid who did weird things. I ended up quitting hockey after 2 more years of this. I went to 3 neurologists, and about 15 other doctors that I forget how to spell.

    One thing that is important here is I had a part time job as an Expediter in a busy restaurant, meaning I needed to be quick, memorize all recipes, all servers names (so I could ask them to run their food) and work in a stressful environment. I personally believe that this was almost therapeutic for my brain. Almost like a workout for my brain.

    Within two years, I had done another memory test, and I got 100%. And I got “insanely good” results on my grip test. My hearing is still very lacking, but my vision came completely back. I now remember where I leave my keys, and well as much as anyone else. The things I still deal with today are: Anxiety, Insomnia (I have to smoke cannabis to sleep), Bad hearing.

    Feel free to ask any questions. I’m 21 but already have more experience than most with this stuff.

    Reply
  6. 5 months ago I was in a bad car accident out of the country and had very bad head trauma. I blacked out for maybe 45 minutes though I was later told I would at times talk or cry then ‘pass out’ again. Most of my symptoms have decreased drastically though some linger.

    Some dizziness, confusion, my words come out all jumbled. I do not feel like I’ve had anger issues, the opposite actually. My energy is very low though. It is all I can do some days to work. Mentally and physically I am exhausted. If I am tired, thinking of anything becomes so complicated.

    I would love info on things I can do to improve my brain health. I had the trauma to the right side of my head. Thank you so much!

    Reply
  7. I sustained two major concussions about a year ago, the last one being the worst which put me in the hospital and out of school for weeks. Both injuries were within 2 months of each other, from cheerleading stunting. The first was a hit to the front of my head, and I was in a gym full of people so I shook it off to avoid too much attention.

    And about 5 min later performed in front of the entire school doing an entire stunt sequence (the same stunts that lead me to fall face first). I also cheered that night at the football game for 3 hours. I don’t explicitly remember finishing the pep rally. The second blow was during practice in which I had bases that were about 5’8 and had their arms fully extended into the air holding me (and I’m only 5’2 so I had a long fall) and initially fell back and the part where my neck meets my skull impacted the backspots bent knee and my head managed to bounce off and then hit the ground.

    Lost consciousness for a few seconds and couldn’t hear during that time, then I came too and again tried to avoid too much attention as the entire football team saw me fall and ran over (including my boyfriend which freaked me out) and I panicked and shook it off with a raging headache and uncontrollable emotions overtook me. Only to be put into the hospital for two days of monitoring, I was only allowed to sleep in 3 hour time periods to ensure I had not fallen into a coma, and no school for two weeks and when I was allowed to return I could only attend for a max of 3-4 hours for two weeks. I’m 100% positive these injuries have caused long term effects.

    Before August 2015 I never had problems with depression, lack of motivation, social setbacks, severe anxiety, and most of all I have lost my love of cheerleading which has been my love since the 3rd grade. I can’t really find any other possible explanation as to these problems I’ve run into, especially only being 18. So it’s kind of a relief to finally find some information that does a little explaining, and from this point on I’m definitely going to do a little more digging.

    Reply
  8. I was in the in the 4 or 5 grade when I got my concussion. My grades went down and my memory from school and still today I am very forgetful. Forget what I did and do and say. I’ve put my purse in the fridge after coming home from Walmart and put my medication in the freezer.

    I don’t know if I had help after my concussion. But I’ve been noticing the memory loss is getting worse. It’s time to seek help. And ask my parents what they did when I got in the accident.

    Reply
  9. I suffered a grade 3A concussion when I was 16. A girl from school literally body slammed me and I fell backwards and hit my head against the cement. I’m 5’8″ tall so it was quite a ways. I remember losing consciousness for just a few seconds (I think) and being quite confused when I came to. I was very dizzy, I called my friend by the wrong name, and couldn’t remember what her actual name was, blurry vision, and I ended up vomiting a few times from the problems with dizziness.

    I stayed dizzy for a few weeks after that, I believe 2 or 3 to be a little more precise. I have noticed a huge change in personality and cognitive function. Around that time I started noticing an inability to concentrate, I lost interest in things I used to love, I became much more angry, and was quick to have mood swings or become completely overwhelmed. I felt like any intelligence I had managed to gather at 16 years old just went down the drain, and any ability I had to regain it went with it.

    Here I am at 24 years old, and still to this day struggling with normal things. I have severe social anxiety, have been diagnosed with migraines, and ended up dropping out of school and getting my GED. I’m a mother now and still struggling with the mood swings and being overwhelmed and I just don’t know what to do. I have never really been taken seriously by doctors, so I gave up.

    I was afraid to sound like a hypochondriac so I stopped complaining about things that weren’t already known about by them. I don’t know what to do anymore, but it is affecting every aspect of my life at this point. :( Sorry if this seems like it’s disorganized and sloppy.

    Reply
  10. I have had several serious concussions over the course of my 51 years of life. I am now extremely depressed from them as well as the years of alcohol and crack abuse that I self medicated with. I have no interest in life anymore and just sit around my dad’s care home and hang out with my eyes shut ruminating about my healthy days which wrapped up back at the end of Jan 2011.

    Total nervous breakdown with psychotic episodes followed along with jail, psych hospitals, 302’d to psych hospital, etc. Just a complete nightmare up to present with therapist, shrink, psych meds and various attempts to figure out why I am barely functioning. I really hope neuropsychological testing can make some determination and perhaps find a new angle to approach my treatment. Good luck to all suffering, Frank R

    Reply
    • O Dear Frank. I am truly sorry to hear this ?. Please know that you are now in my prayers. I pray you full healing and the blessing of a new life in Christ. Amen.

      Reply
  11. I too, suffered a major Concussion from a motor vehicle accident almost 7 years ago. I was 39 when it happened. Unfortunately, I was from a small town and all I had done was a head x-ray after the accident, which shows nothing, so the opportunity for treatment was missed for me to be treated. To date, I have severe constant and almost daily headaches, severe neck pain from whiplash, major dizzy spells, memory loss and cognitive & motor skill impairments, major depression and suicidal ideations.

    I have read every single thing I can find on this subject to just try to help myself, but just keep seeing scary words like ‘Dementia’ in everything I find on brain injuries. There has to be something to help out people who have had this happen? Why do doctors not send patients immediately for P.E.T. scans to check for traces of the Tau Protein that they know can cause Dementia, after a prolonged period of time?

    If you have a CT scan, they will see nothing, and only a ‘special MRI scan’ will pick up how severe your brain was rattled – makes zero sense to me why other tests are not administered. Since so many people are subjected to the possibility of getting a concussion in life (especially if you play sports) and we all are learning very quickly the prolonged permanent effects of just having a ‘bad’ one (never mind several).

    You’d think more research would be done and more Doctors getting actively involved in finding a possible cure or something to slow down the damaging effects? Seems logical to me, but then again, I don’t think so ‘logically’ anymore these days, so who am I. I just hope I’m alive still and still have my wits about me if they find something to help out victims. Stay Strong Everyone! YOU ARE NOT ALONE IN THIS FIGHT.

    Reply
  12. I have had over 5 grade 3A concussions in the past 8 years. I am noticing lasting effects. Is there any advice that may be helpful to me? I am kind of scared. Thanks.

    Reply
  13. So, the article says that neurofeedback may help, but is not a panacea. Is there anything that can correct low beta waves? I’ve had two concussions (most recent about six months ago).

    In a very recent qEEG (brain mapping) session, the results indicated that I had very high delta waves (too high) and very low beta waves. I’d like to know if there is a way to correct this if neurofeedback won’t cure it. (I’m unemployed and cannot afford the neurofeedback therapy). :(

    Reply
  14. At age 19, I suffered (my 2nd) a severe blow to my right cheekbone during hockey game. After my face hit the ice I had total memory loss. Actually played two more shifts, but told my teammates that my name was Rene (but my real name is Brian). it was at that point they knew something was wrong. I had total memory loss for the next 6 hours through the night.

    Then the fun started: I lost my car in parking lots 3 times in two years, l lost car keys, I confidently went to the wrong classes with the right books (once ended up in a secretary wing with my chemistry lab books), I am now a chronic procrastinator, I am less structured and more “sloppy/disorganized, This trend (disorganized/procrastination) has lasted my whole life, now 57 years old.

    I did go back to school and get an MBA at 43 years old. That’s the funny thing, I can still think & learn well but other things are foggy or less focused when it comes to intent (the why). I also loose focus easily, and have short term memory loss. I too would be interested in research.

    Reply
    • I played hockey too and had suffered at least 5 concussions, the last one was the most severe one. I played to shifts which I did not remember either and I thought I was playing baseball when I “woke up”. I immediately got depressed after that game and withdrew from my friends socially.

      I am extremely organised, always misplace my keys, wallet, and phone. I have lost several jobs because I’m so damn forgetful. I have constant butterflies in my stomach and constant depression. It’s been 6 years since the most fatal concussion. I literally have suicidal thoughts because I know I will never be the same… I really hope they come out with a drug that can regenerate the brain.

      Reply
    • Brian, Did anyone ever respond to you? I, too, was able to get a degree (nursing) later in life, but also have the poor focus, concentration and short term memory. Are you doing anything that is improving these symptoms?

      Reply
      • Kim, Ed, and Brian, I know this is almost a year after but if you are still experiencing these problems new studies are showing that methylphenidate which is the name for Ritalin helps a lot of people with post-concussive symptoms such as short term memory as well as concentration. With those improvements, it also tends to aid with depression as well as suicidal ideation!

        If these are still concerns to you, you should talk to your doctor about it. Hope you are all well as I am a 19-year-old nursing student going through these problems as we speak. The medication has for sure made a difference with my motivation in school as well as how well I retain information. Concussions suck and having multiple sucks even more, but at least there are slowly more and more options available to aid us.

        Reply
  15. I had a concussion as an 8 yr. old, almost 60 (!) years ago. The only thing the doctor told my parents then was: “if she lives through the night we’ll be able to tell a little better what’s going on”. I was unconscious from about 3 PM until the next morning. I was sent home the same day I regained consciousness. Nothing else was ever done. I have suspected many issues in my life go back to this accident but have no such definitive information.

    Is there any place in the Midwest doing studies on long term effects of concussions? I would love to offer myself up as a subject for study. I have suffered from severe chronic depression almost all of my adult life and depersonalization is not unfamiliar to me. Nor is suicidal thinking. And cognitive therapy. But I still cycle back through issues and I have less energy to deal with them these days.

    Yet I would be fascinated to find out what areas of my brain have been affected (if any) and what I may be able to do to make changes. I am so glad I came across this information. Just as that young football player said who recently committed suicide “my head’s all messed up”‘ I’ve thought that a long time about mine. So far nothing seems to have satisfactorily ‘fixed it’ nor really explained how it all came about. I would appreciate any suggestions you may have. Sincerely, E. Beale

    Reply

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.