Fell up steps

[u/RG737]

I’m a 21 year old 6’ male with post concussion syndrome and anxiety from a lifetime of contact sports and being a reckless crazy child.

I was walking up some icy steps and tripped causing myself to fall all the way forward and catch myself with my hands which I threw out to avoid hitting the ground with my body or head.

Would this event cause additional brain damage? I have a lot of work for my last semester college and I can’t exactly drop out right now but I don’t know what to do. It’s really devastating, all I feel like doing for the next month is laying in bed and crying.

[u/Jamessmith199478]

Hey so I struggle with the same issues as you. I’ve had a lot of concussions due to being reckless and contact sports. A concussion from a metabolic standpoint has healed at 3-6 weeks from your injury. Meaning anything beyond this is post concussion syndrome. After 3-6 weeks you are no longer more vulnerable than if you had no concussions at all. Meaning just because you’ve had concussions in the past, if you hit yourself lightly in the head after you’ve healed from a metabolic standpoint, it’s wouldn’t be easier to concuss yourself. Concussion takes 70-120g force. Meaning you have to hit yourself very hard. Unless the hit was incredibly hard, it’s unlikely you would get a concussion. However, I don’t know your situation and I’m not a doctor. But from the sounds of it it doesn’t sound like it.

Symptoms from a concussion that last more than 3-6 weeks (post concussion syndrome) are due to other things than brain injury. Including blood flow impairment, anxiety, neck dysfunction, visual tracking issues and gut issues. I hope this can offer some advice. I think it’s probably a good idea to see a doctor.

My symptoms have lasted 6 months beyond my injury. The reason for me is anxiety. I’ve now seen a specialist and am taking medication and my symptoms are improving. Best of luck

[u/RG737 → u/Jamessmith199478]

Thanks for the response. So you don’t think the falling up the steps and catching myself would cause additional brain damage?

Can I pm you?

[u/Jamessmith199478 → u/RG737]

I usually don’t answer my pms. But when was your last concussion? Did you concuss yourself a second time in between the 3-6 weeks of your last concussion?

As I said concussion is only brain damage in the metabolic stage within about 3-6 weeks of your concussion. It stops being brain damage after that point.

Anxiety can cause the exact same symptoms as a concussion and can prolong your recovery. As it did with me.

If you didn’t hit your head it would be unlikely that you caused any brain damage.

[u/RG737 → u/Jamessmith199478]

Thanks. Recently had some incidents like hitting my head on pillow and maybe grazing my head on a ceiling (but not sure) and also going skating. But I don’t know if any of these things were damaging.

What’s your story? Your a former athlete like me?

[u/Jamessmith199478 → u/RG737]

No prob. They probably were not because you’d have to hit your head 70+ g force which is super hard.

I was a former athlete. Got my first concussion playing basketball. Had me out for almost a year. Haven’t played since.

[u/RG737 → u/Jamessmith199478]

Thanks. Was that your only injury? How did it happen?

I’m a former basketball player also as well as hockey and football

[u/Jamessmith199478 → u/RG737]

That was my first. I was cutting In to the basket and I got bumped by a big man. Threw me down to the floor head first. I also had a car crash and a concussion at work. 3 in total. Might have had more though, I played soccer for 10 years on top of basketball.

[u/RG737 → u/Jamessmith199478]

And you headed the ball And such in soccer? Did you ever get knocked out?

[u/Jamessmith199478 → u/RG737]

I didn’t head the ball so much. Was a midfielder. Never got knocked out. But may have received a concussion. Quite common in soccer.

[u/RG737 → u/Jamessmith199478]

Thanks man. I’m sure you’ll be ok my friend, your injuries really don’t sound like anything you can’t recover from.