Your experiences of concussion...

[Elvis]

I thought it might be useful to have some different accounts of concussion, since it's something that might affect all of us in a fall, to different degrees. And potentially those who are looking for advice or experiences in future might stumble across this thread. I'm also a little frustrated that my own progress post fall seems to have plateaued, my post concussion remains the same and the pain in my hip pelvis and back seems to have in fact gotten a little worse, so starting this thread might help to gain some perspective. Apologies if this isn't written as eloquently as it could be, I've found that one of my lasting symptoms from concussion is an inability to express myself properly.

I'm 11 days post fall, I was diagnosed with bad concussion.

My fall involved no loss of consciousness, but I experienced a loss of memory and serious confusion. It took about 30 mins for the majority of my memory to return. Although I still can't remember the fall or how I made it from the arena to reception.

In the 2 days following the fall I had a low level headache and a spaced out feeling.

On the 3rd day I did too much and pushed myself. This resulted in a severe migraine for the following 2.5 days which didn't improve with pain killers, I was shipped back to A&E for a CT scan to rule out a slow bleed, which thankfully it did. I was diagnosed with post concussion syndrome.

My ongoing symptoms now are a low level headache which worsens if I do too much. General dizziness/spaced out feeling. Tiredness. Poor body temperature control, ie I shiver and my teeth chatter even when I'm not cold and I sweat even when I'm not hot. Poor sense of taste, often food has a bitter taste, although mostly it just doesn't taste 'normal'. Forgetfulness. Inability to concentrate. Mood changes, often frustration or sadness.

I've been told that I could be looking at months before I feel back to my old self, I know I'm lucky, and that things could have been worse, and reading the details of other people's falls I know that I have come off lightly.

So what are others experiences of concussion; severity, symptoms and recovery time?

 

[suffolkmare]

I think your symptoms seem quite severe for concussion and would suggest you see your GP about all these on-going problems as soon as you can (easier said than done, but A&E would probably turn you away). It sounds like you might benefit from MRI to make sure nothing has been missed/slow to show up. My only experience of concussion was much less severe, bad headache for 24 hours or so, duller reducing ache for next 24 hours, this was after falling while ice skating and whacking the back of my head. Hope you are soon back to your old self.

 

[EmmaB]

I second what suffolkmare says, that does sound quite bad to me!

I have only ever had mild concussion, I fell of in a jumping lesson, I remember coming up to the jump thinking this is going to go wrong...then vaguely remember being shoved back onto horse...then its blank and next thing I know I'm in the stable with an untacked horse wondering when the hell I untacked it.

Headache for a couple of days and that was it. I'd deffo get checked out again though because there seems some odd symptoms you're having! Hope you feel better soon.

 

[Exploding Chestnuts]

That sounds quite scary, I would make an appointment with GP, explain problem to receptionist, there may be a specialist in the practice.
Mine was minor, only reason I knew it was concussion was that I was surprised when someone told me I had fallen off, I had a slight headache. I think I drove myself to A&E , rather stupid when I think about it.

 

[Elvis]

I think your symptoms seem quite severe for concussion and would suggest you see your GP about all these on-going problems as soon as you can (easier said than done, but A&E would probably turn you away). It sounds like you might benefit from MRI to make sure nothing has been missed/slow to show up. My only experience of concussion was much less severe, bad headache for 24 hours or so, duller reducing ache for next 24 hours, this was after falling while ice skating and whacking the back of my head. Hope you are soon back to your old self.

Thank you, I have spoken with the neuro consultant at my local hospital and told him about all of my symptoms, he was the one who put me forward for a CT scan, which came back normal. He said all of my symptoms are common for someone suffering with post concussion syndrome. In fact I have every single one of the symptoms! Apparently there isn't much known about why some recover quickly and others experience post concussion syndrome, although it is likely to be affected by the severity of the initial trauma. But thank you for your concern, I'll certainly keep in contact with my doctor, but as far as I can gather from the information I've been given, I'm looking at weeks to months before most symptoms dissapear, as long as they are not getting worse, I should be on the right track!

 

[ChwaraeTeg]

Hi Elvis, Thank Goodness the CT scan was OK. Even though you did not lose consciousness , it is still very early days in your recovery . A head injury of any type is a very serious matter indeed and effects different people in different ways.

I feel qualified to reply to your posting as I am a retired nurse who cared for people after they had head injury, then some years ago, a horse I was training fell on me resulting in my skull (and other bones) being fractured.

I keep a useful free downloadable link for a book about Traumatic Brain Injury on my profile page. It has been a help for not only me, but for family getting to understand some of my problems that I had difficulty coping with or explaining at the time.

HELP YOURSELF to the download. Hope you will find it useful too. (A little thing I learned the hard way, listen to what your body tells you, take PLENTY of REST if you can)
Wishing you a speedy recovery,

Teg

 

[Elvis]

Thank you everyone.

I think I've just been unlucky with the breadth of symptoms, and actually before I pushed myself, I only really had the low level headache, tiredness and spaced out feeling. So the symptoms I have now are very much of my own doing, and I'm lucky to have a mother who is a nurse and a doctor who knows me well and has kept in contact, so fingers crossed it will all keep improving. But I do appreciate everyone's concern, previous to this I'd also only experienced mild concussion with a bit of a headache after!

 

[NZJenny]

Here in NZ, we all saddened at the death of a 17 year old rugby player. He was knocked out earlier in the season and was stood down from playing for a month. He was playing his first game back on Saturday, took another knock to the head, and never regained consciousness.

It seems to be that concussion is not really understood by the experts and there is a lot to learn about the effects and consequences.

 

[Elvis]

Hi Elvis, Thank Goodness the CT scan was OK. Even though you did not lose consciousness , it is still very early days in your recovery . A head injury of any type is a very serious matter indeed and effects different people in different ways.

I feel qualified to reply to your posting as I am a retired nurse who cared for people after they had head injury, then some years ago, a horse I was training fell on me resulting in my skull (and other bones) being fractured.

I keep a useful free downloadable link for a book about Traumatic Brain Injury on my profile page. It has been a help for not only me, but for family getting to understand some of my problems that I had difficulty coping with or explaining at the time.

HELP YOURSELF to the download. Hope you will find it useful too. (A little thing I learned the hard way, listen to what your body tells you, take PLENTY of REST if you can)
Wishing you a speedy recovery,

Teg

Thank you for that, I'll certainly have a look once I'm on a proper computer, as my phone won't let me open the link!

And yes, I've found out the hard way that rest is very important and that just like any other injury, if you do too much too soon you'll hinder your progress.

 

[Elvis]

Here in NZ, we all saddened at the death of a 17 year old rugby player. He was knocked out earlier in the season and was stood down from playing for a month. He was playing his first game back on Saturday, took another knock to the head, and never regained consciousness.

It seems to be that concussion is not really understood by the experts and there is a lot to learn about the effects and consequences.

I agree there is a lot that is still unknown, even the neuro consultant I spoke with was very honest about how complex concussion is and how little we really know about why it happens and what long term effects it can have. I've been told not to ride (horse or bicycle) for another 6 weeks in case I fall and sustain another head injury, as there is evidence that a secondary head trauma, even if it is minor, can lead to a less favourable outcome.

 

[Exploding Chestnuts]

I don't know if or when you intend to ride again, but here is a helmet designed for jockeys, and If it were me, I would be getting the best air vest as well.
http://www.rideaway.co.uk/charles-owen-apm-jockey-helmet

 

[sasquatch]

I had a mild concussion once, had a fall and after landing felt winded/off.
I can't remember if I was unconscious. Might have been for a second.

I got back on the horse and finished what I was doing, thinking at first I'd just been winded. It was only once horse was in stable I realised I wasn't winded. Felt a bit dizzy, everything looked very bright and was a bit confused. Went to A&E 2 days later as I was having serious shoulder pains and the doctor said I had most likely had a mild concussion. I had no headache at all, but since then have become prone to migraines.

Here in NZ, we all saddened at the death of a 17 year old rugby player. He was knocked out earlier in the season and was stood down from playing for a month. He was playing his first game back on Saturday, took another knock to the head, and never regained consciousness.

It seems to be that concussion is not really understood by the experts and there is a lot to learn about the effects and consequences.

There was a story like that here, too. 3 years ago a 14 year old boy was killed playing an inter-schools match. He came off after being knocked unconscious early in the game but coaches then sent him back on after he appeared fine. He later collapsed and died after being involved in some heavy tackles in what was later called 'second knock syndrome'

It just shows how careful we should be when it comes to head injuries.

having an uncle who also suffered a horrific brain injury, it's lead me to be a lot more cautious and get a second opinion on some more painful knocks.

 

[Baydame]

Hi,

I fell with my horse at a full gallop. We were on wetter grass than I realized and took the corner way to sharp.

I had no clue who, what, where etc for a good half hour. Went to the hospital and lots of things done I don't really remember. I do remember the morphine having no effect on my migraine, ( which had been starting earlier in the day), and throwing up on the way home.

I think I lived on the couch for almost 2 weeks. When I started back to work on the 3 rd week it was for 4 hrs at a time, every other day. This was slowly built up over 2 weeks.

I was lucky as heck. I wasn't wearing a helmet that day. The speed I was going at.....haven't got on a horse without a helmet since.

Take your time and rest . It may take a month before you're 100% again. Hope your feeling better soon. x

 

[Plaine1956]

Sorry to hear about your concussion. I've had two, and they say once you have one, you are often more liable to get another one from even a light knock to the head. I think pushing yourself (don't know how you did it really after such a strong blow) right after might be why you have some long lingering effects. If they continue, I would find another doctor to see who mat be able to give you something to help the headaches and other pains. And resting is so important.

My first concussion was back in the day of not wearing seat belts. I had been out on a date and we were dropping someone off at work do he could get his car. My date was not familiar with the unlit roads and instead of taking a sharp curve to the right, he kept going straight. I had fallen asleep and woke up when the person in the back was screaming steer right over and over. We then missed a telephone pole and hit the thick metal wiring that holds up the telephone poles. I remember hitting my head against the front window of the car, hearing it crack open, and hearing the car smash up from the wire. And thinking, wow, the car is crumbling just as easy as crushing up a piece of tinfoil. And then I was out. Next thing zi remembered was being pulled out of the car by my date.

We went to the hospital, I didn't know where I was or what day it was. They wanted to keep me overnight but agreed to let me go as long as my date agreed to wake me up every two hours so that I did not go into a coma. Needless to say my date took a flight home and I was out if work for the rest if the week. All I wanted to do was sleep and I did have a whooper of a headache. It took me a while to get back to "normal" but the resting is what helped the most. Other than some bruising and losing a hunk of hair that was still hanging from the totalled car, I think I got away easy. Someone above was looking after me that night.

The second time was a far less knock on the head, was wearing a helmet and heading to a jump when the horse did a dirty stop on me and I went flying into the jump. I stood up, was seeing stars and then collapsed on the arena floor. Another rider got off his horse and helped me up and out of the arena. I had a whooping headache and the bad shakes, it brought the first accident all back. That was the start of my never ending confidence problems with jumping. I bounced back much quicker from this concussion but again doctor said rest for as long as you can.

We (or at least me anyway) sometimes don't realize how fragile we really are and how head injuries can haunt you for a long time.

I hope you feel better soon, hope you rest and hope you won't have any confidence issues that I developed. That (lack of confidence) is a whole other issue that I would wonder how people got over it. I tried everything and nothing worked.

Cheers

 

[Serephin]

It took me over a month to get over my concussion. Everything would spin like I was drunk. My brain had swollen a little and it was effecting my balance. It was a horrible feeling and I found the best place for me was in bed.

Wishing you a fast recovery, take care of yourself.

 

[Goldenstar]

It's years since I had a concussion .
I was riding in advanced event jumping two corners four strides apart I am not sure what happened but think I got there on the four and was too close I remember being on the ground talking to the fence judge , I got back on ( you where allowed to then ) and rode the rest of the course I then remember sitting on the ground at the finish.
I was examined by a doctor who sent me home with instructions about not being allowed to sleep too long and to go straight to A and E if any strange happened .
We where staying the night after the event with family nearby and apart from a headache and being sore I felt ok .
The next day I did feel strange a bit like being mildly drunk my OH drove home and the next day my balance was defiantly off .
The following day was sunny and I was hanging up a white sheet on the line I looked at the blindingly white sheet and fainted .
I was then vomiting and very unwell went straight to A and E I was sent home to rest out of bright light I turned the horses out and took a month off riding it took fully than long to feel fully normal.

 

[Casey76]

I was really naughty.

I was on holiday doing one of those beach rides (if there is one thing in my like I could change it would be going on this ride), when my horse bolted after being scared by some dogs. I fell off at speed, onto concrete, and I wasn't wearing a hat. I was unconscious for an unknown amount of time until the rest of the group I had been riding with caught up with me. I had to get back on a horse and ride for 30 minutes back to the stables at which point I played everything down to my parents (I was 16 at the time) and I never even saw a doctor! I felt sick, dizzy and sleepy for 24 hours after, but I hid it from my parents.

Since then (and it has been 20 years), I've developed migraines and have very frequent headaches, I have very poor proprioception (I will list to one side, even fall over if I'm not hanging on to something if I close my eyes), very poor balance and vertigo. My thermal regulation isn't great - I feel cold very easily, but I also overheat very easily. I also have tinnitus. And it is all getting worse as I get older.

Stupid things you do as a kid, and have no incling of how they could effect the rest of your life :/

 

[skint1]

OP I hope that you'll soon be back to 100%, head injury can be a funny old beast sometimes.
My daughter had a fall last Spring, she wasn't unconscious and she was wearing a helmet, her horse accidentally brushed her head with his hoof. At the time she got back on rode, and said she didn't feel like wasting 6 hours in A&E only to be told to go home and take some paracetomol (she is over 18 and we have done this a few times in her riding life)

Over the next week she began to get severe headaches and became light sensitive, lots of trips to GP and hospital resulted in a clear CT scan (thank God) but honestly over the next 3 months she continued to experience headaches, light and sound sensitivity, felt unbalanced, was very emotional and tired. The GP concluded she had some post-concussion symptoms and that they would pass but it was quite frightening.

 

[MotherOfChickens]

I've been concussed several times-I have a big head, its heavy, and it always hits the ground first (was even concussed as a 6yo doing country dancing-don't ask! plus knocked out in hockey at age 12-but that was someones hockey stick).I always wear a hat when riding!

First time-9yo, fell off my pony at the canter on a hack. Was wearing one of those 70s riding hats. Unconscious for a few minutes, nauseous and headachey for next few days. Checked out by doc very quickly-obviously parents were with me at time of fall.

Second time-15 yo. pony fell with me on slippy grass after jumping a ditch we had jumped many times before-we were hacking. Pony fine and I got straight back on. No lack of consciousness but did have memory loss of that particular day (could remember name etc). Took months before I could recall the preceding events and the actual fall. Was checked out at docs but rode home first. Felt fine the next day but the memory loss was a bit perturbing.

Last time-horse dumped me-no lack of consciousness as I actually legged it after him but then collapsed in vomiting heap. A&E for 6 hours, sent home, told to rest. Felt very bad for the next week-wobbly, headachey, nauseous etc. Was freelancing at the time so only took two days off work but it was over a week before I drove again.

I hope you feel better soon, its a horrible feeling but go back to your GP (or even A&E) if you dont get better or get worse.

 

[Sussexbythesea]

Fortunately no personal experience however two women on my yard both had similar falls - bucked off horses in our sand/ rubber arena and both landed either on head or chin with whiplash effect. Both were wearing approved hats.

The first no one witnessed she was found confused hanging on the gate. She felt better after a few days but then went downhill - her main symptom was constant dizziness. She couldn't drive or ride or do much of anything for about 4 months in fact she wasn't well enough to come up the stables at all for about 3 months even if someone drove her. She often had to cling to the bed because it felt like she was falling and would have to be very careful how she moved around as it would bring on a vertigo attack. I would say it took another 6 months after that for her to feel completely normal.

The second was much more severe and she was eventually diagnosed with post-concussion syndrome. Again after the initial fall she didn't seem too bad. However the concussion seemed to turn off her ability to sleep and she became very ill and had to be on quite lot of drugs to try to get her to sleep. She then got a bit better but then went downhill again being sick and dizzy and she was taken by ambulance as she was so ill to hospital for CT scans etc. they found nothing of consequence. She was off work for at least 9 months and I'd say it took her a year to be able to ride and be normal again. She had a really bad time I'm sorry to say but she is OK now.

I hope yours doesn't last as long but at least you know that although the symptoms are really horrible it can just mean that your brain is taking a long time to recover not that there is anything worse wrong with it and that doctors have missed something. Also both women are absolutely fine and riding normally again now. Wishing you a speedy recovery

 

[suestowford]

Two weekends ago I fell off onto my head. He spooked while we were standing still so not a 'fast' accident but I was knocked out for a while. My hat has visible damage. I am not riding for a while as I still don't feel right and have been going to bed awfully early as I keep falling asleep in front of the telly.
The leaflet they gave me at A&E advises that these symptoms can go on for a while so I am not too worried about it going on and on.
Hope you are feeling better soon OP, and don't do too much again!

 

[Stroppy Mare]

When I was 16 my horse reared and fell over, crushing me and knocking me unconscious. When I attempt to remember back what happened, I couldn't tell you. I know he went over as I was told from others what happened and vaguely remember waking up on the floor but it's all abit fluffy. I pushed myself to go to school the day after and only stayed a couple of hours, I was sent home as I'd been sick and was confused and had a headache that made me crawl into a dark room for 24hrs.

It deleted my memory of the whole weekend, and 10 years later I still suffer with severe headaches for which I'm on pregabalin (a strong painkiller!) for. Do not let your symptoms go unnoticed, they may settle quicker with proper treatment asap.

I've also had other episodes of concussion, but not as severe as that one - just a little achy, nauseous and disorientated for 24hrs after and no lasting problems.

 

[Tern]

I never went back to hospital - This was only like 10 days ago..
- bright flashing lights
- dizzy
- sweaty
- hot
- heavy breathing
- weak
- head rolling back - no real clue what my body was doing..
- ears ringing and going deaf, not really aware of what people were saying around me.

 

[CIJ]

Reading all the replies it makes mine feel quite minor although I thought it was bad at the time!
Last year I fell off while having a jumping lesson, horse took a stride out at a spread and couldn't make back pole, we both came crashing down, face down for me. I had a brand new hat on but it made no difference as it was my face that got the full force of fall.
I was knocked out for about 5 minutes, have no memory of falling , only the odd thing until about 4 hours later when I was in the hospital with my mum and husband . I had already had x-rays/scans as they thought my jaw was broken because it was so swollen. They kept me in over night and it took me a week before my head felt 'normal' again and my head and neck stopped aching. I was also very tired and emotional and my short term memory was terrible for about a week as well. My left eye was also sore with any movement for about 2 weeks after, which was the result of me bruising the muscle behind my eye (my eye had been very swollen when I fell but had gone down before I got to hospital). The only lasting effect it has had on me is, when I landed I managed to rip my lower lip away from my jaw and had severed the nerve to my chin. Most of the feeling has come back but there's still an area with no feeling, but I was lucky not to break my jaw or teeth.
It has not affected my love of jumping as I have no memory of it but my mare def remembers it, as she has lost confidence in jumping big spreads.
I hope you feel better soon

 

[frostyfingers]

A horse I was "test" riding out hunting had a disagreement over whether to jump the nice hunt jump or the horrid 5 bar gate - he sort of one and whacked it so hard I was catapulted off the side. I was knocked out for a few seconds, jumped back on and carried on for about 20 minutes. A first aider asked me time/date/day etc and I had no idea at which point I was escorted back. I couldn't hold my whip properly and apparently talked rubbish all the wa home! I had a stonking headache but drove 100 miles the next day and felt awful. The following day (Monday) I had an interview then took myself to A&E (no, I didn't tell the company I had concussion, and funnily enough didn't get the job!). Mild concussion was diagnosed, and I was told to take myself to bed for 48 hours and take it easy for 3-4 days after that. The headache was awful and combined with the whiplash I felt pretty stiff and sore - I would say it took around a fortnight before I felt right again. My husband kept saying how much rubbish I was talking for the first few days even though I thought I was perfectly lucid! It was only mild, and the first time I've done anything like it but it still felt horrible, so I'm not surprised that you are still feeling grim - sometimes the doctors are right and you have to do what they say (not go to Hickstead....!) Be gentle with yourself, and don't push it too soon.

 

[MyBoyChe]

I fell off 3 weekends ago, no idea what happened, last thing I remember was leaning over to open a gate, next thing I do remember was my YO meeting me at a road junction about a 20 minute walk away. Apparently I phoned her to say I had fallen off and didn't know where I was, fortunately they know my hacking routes!! YO insisted on calling an ambulance to her home and I was taken to A&E, they did ECG tests and stuff as I had, and still have, no idea what happened. I assume I fell off because he spooked or tripped but hospital asked if I fainted. Well, I simply don't know Im afraid. I had a cracking headache for about 3 days, took 2 days off my part time office job and didn't ride for 2 weeks as I didn't get my new hat until my neck and shoulders stopped hurting. Generally felt a bit achey and sorry for myself for about a week, but touch wood, OK now. OP. that does sound like quite a bang you took, the leaflet I was given from A&E said it can take several months to feel completely well again so I think I got off quite lightly.

 

[Cocorules]

1st time as a child came too having been put back on the pony. Never did remember coming off but no real after effects.

2nd time was the worst and I ended up spending several days in hospital but no obvious after effects.

I then fell off a lot over a 2 year period and knocked myself out frequently but none were severe and I could remember coming off each time. I cannot remember how many times but got into double figures.

I then had a long gap before being hitting my head coming off. That resulted in short term blurred vision.

I think it varies a lot.

 

[Landcruiser]

I was bonked on the top of the head by my horse bringing his fat head down on top of it like a jack hammer. Dropped me to my knees but didn't knock me out. After the initial pain subsided I was left totally spaced out, with a low grade headache. It wasn't an unpleasant feeling, a bit like being a bit drunk, and lasted a few days, gradually improving. I think it was a mild concussion - I didn't go to the doctors.

 

[pennyturner]

I have fallen on my head and suffered no ill effects more often than I should (where there's no sense, there's no feelin', as mum would say).

Twice it's been more serious:
Pony trekking on my day off years ago as a complete novice, the horse took off into canter and I came out the side door, hitting the only rock in a flat field I must have been unconscious for a while, as they'd all pulled up and caught my horse when I sat up. I was as dizzy as hell for 5 days, but wouldn't tell anyone through embarassment, which seems so stupid now.
More recently horse spooked at nothing in walk, shot forward so quickly I was sitting on his bum, which triggered the ejector mechanism and he flicked me up and backwards. I landed heavily on my back behind him. The whiplash gave me a different type of concussion, which sounds like that of OP. Perhaps a brain-stem injury as problems with temperature and balance. Symptoms were quite bad for a couple of weeks afterwards, but no long term effects, thankfully.

Get well soon OP. I remember it frightened me quite a bit at the time.

 

[buddylove]

Have been concussed twice, once as a teenager jumping in the fields at home. Have no recollection to this day of what happened, but apparently I managed to catch the horse, walk back up to the yard, and spoke to my dad who sent me into the house. The next thing I remember was being hysterical in the kitchen because I didn't know what happened.
Most recently I was ejected from my youngster in the school last year. He spooked as I was getting on, I ended up behind the saddle and he launched me through the air. Again I lost memory immediately afterwards, I was winded and suffered whiplash. I have been very lucky to suffer no lasting ill effects, other than a big dent in my confidence which is only just recovering!