I have “bumped my head” and had “my bell rung” many times throughout my life. Recounting at least 5 times and being diagnosed with a concussion only following the final episode. My earliest memory of really striking my head was slipping off a rail in kindergarten. I saw stars, became disoriented and nauseous. I, being a kindergarten student, was more afraid of punishment for slipping off a rail than any long term brain injury. Other bangs to the head followed whether playing back yard football or slipping on ice. Most recently I slammed my head into a CD holder which swings down from the ceiling of my car.

The most recent episode also occurred when Impact testing was being implemented where I was working. I didn’t think much of the “bonk” as I rushed to work absent mindedly jumping into my car. My co-workers noticed that I was becoming irritable and just before lunch I developed a significant headache, both of which were uncharacteristic for me. I walked across the hall and took the IMPACT test and scored miserably. I did not rest or even leave work, but things slowly cleared up.

For a long while I had a hard time reading words that scrolled across a screen, or concentrating very long. Maybe others thought I was still irritable and were too polite to say. I was lucky that the symptoms eventually cleared, but some people are not, and mine may have resolved more quickly with the proper rest and treatment. Since then I have treated many patients with headaches, balance disturbance, difficulty walking, difficulty reading, concentrating and sleeping not to mention irritability and change in temper.

As a healthcare community and society in general we are becoming more aware of concussions and the effects of concussion long term. We would not put our star quarterback or point guard back in the game with a torn ACL so why do we push our students and athletes back to school/sport with a bruised brain, the very control center of our body.

In years past denying water breaks were used to “toughen up” athletes. The sentiments of “rub some dirt in it, take a lap, and walk it off” were shared by many coaches. Now we know more about proper hydration/nutrition and performance, we know about allowing injuries to heal properly, and we know that injured athletes do not perform well. Just as we use x-ray’s, MRI’s and on the field tests to evaluate sprains and strains, protocols are in place to evaluate athletes with concussions and head injuries. We, as a society need to be more aware of concussion diagnosis, treatment and return to sport/work/academic protocols.

I hope that by working with IMPACTED Inc. I can help to educate parents, youth, and coaches on the effects of and proper steps towards recognizing and treating concussions. After all everyone “bumps their head” from time to time.

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