If your child has had a mild concussion...

[Anonymous]

OP, ask your doctor about fish oil supplements. My child's concussion specialist recommended this-- said there has been research supporting giving fish oil after concussions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Am glad to hear Children's is now taking concussions seriously. My child had a bad one five years ago--was unconscious for ten minutes--and went to Children's. After ascertaining there was no bleeding in the brain, they sent us on our way, with absolutely no advice or warnings. Children's could not have treated it more lightly--perhaps because it was not a sports related incident or perhaps because they simply weren't taking such injuries seriously then.

Child slept for 17 hours a night for several days, stayed home for a week (spring break). Midweek I took her to PCP who determined she was post-concussive. We then went through months of extremely erratic behavior that in retrospect was probably triggered by the concussion.

Did she recover completely?

[Anonymous]

6 weeks. Go to the children's clinic and take this seriously. Google what can happen if you don't - a life sentence of chronic intense headache pain for your child, among other things.

[Anonymous]

We've been through this twice now in the past 18 months. How old is your child? Do they have baseline concussion testing? This is so helpful because you can see exactly when they're back to 'normal.' For my DD, the first concussion seemed more severe - she had to be in a dark room for a week, and then it took a few more weeks for her to get back to baseline. This past winter it seemed like a more 'mild' concussion, but the headaches lasted quite a while. We went to Children's - it's helpful because they give you many pointers for dealing with school and do the testing to see how cognitive functioning is going. You will not see medical doctors. Children's concussion clinic is staffed with neuropsychologists who are very knowledgeable. Good luck - it can be a long, frustrating haul.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:After a concussion the child is not suppose to engage their brain (I know, not good for school!!) The brain needs to heal and should not be stimulated. OP, I hope you were told that.

I second this!

I was very dismissive of my friend's decision to fake home-school her son for 6 months one year until he returned to normal. Then I got a concussion myself (fell on the treadmill at gym!) It took about 6 months before I stopped feeling like I ws trying to swim through vasoline. I couldn't learn anything new. Got lost driving my normal commute route. Left the oven on more often than not.

[Anonymous]

How are you kids getting these concussions?

Now I have a new thing to worry about. I had no idea!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How are you kids getting these concussions?

Now I have a new thing to worry about. I had no idea!

My thought exactly. I have a competitive gymnast and I've only heard of three concussions in the past several years...and only one of those was from gymnastics.

[Anonymous]

Lots of ways. You aren't getting a random sample of parents here.

My kid got his in soccer. He got headed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How are you kids getting these concussions?

Now I have a new thing to worry about. I had no idea!

Same here!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Am glad to hear Children's is now taking concussions seriously. My child had a bad one five years ago--was unconscious for ten minutes--and went to Children's. After ascertaining there was no bleeding in the brain, they sent us on our way, with absolutely no advice or warnings. Children's could not have treated it more lightly--perhaps because it was not a sports related incident or perhaps because they simply weren't taking such injuries seriously then.

Child slept for 17 hours a night for several days, stayed home for a week (spring break). Midweek I took her to PCP who determined she was post-concussive. We then went through months of extremely erratic behavior that in retrospect was probably triggered by the concussion.

Did she recover completely?

Hard question. She has seizure disorder and concussion was incurred from a seizure in the driveway where she fell straight back. I'd say it took a year to get back to normal. The worst part were the sudden behavior changes--suddenly staying out very late numerous times. We didn't even have a curfew before that because there wasn't a reason to have one. Sudden outbursts where next to nothing set her off in completely incomprehensible rage attacks or crying jags. Nothing in her previous behavior prepared us for this. Weird things like dying her hair five times in a month and chopping most of it off with scissors.

Unfortunately, concussions are a big, ever present risk with a seizure disorder, particularly where there is not 100 percent compliance with medication or where you are in the process of finding a medication that works.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:After a concussion the child is not suppose to engage their brain (I know, not good for school!!) The brain needs to heal and should not be stimulated. OP, I hope you were told that.

I second this!

I was very dismissive of my friend's decision to fake home-school her son for 6 months one year until he returned to normal. Then I got a concussion myself (fell on the treadmill at gym!) It took about 6 months before I stopped feeling like I ws trying to swim through vasoline. I couldn't learn anything new. Got lost driving my normal commute route. Left the oven on more often than not.

Sidetracking… but if you do something like this, how does it work exactly? After the period of "homeschool" does the child just go back to school normally or does the child repeat the school year?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A year? DS got concussion on Wed. Still has headache and can't seem to focus at all on homework. When did you decide to send kids back to school?

If he has a concussion and it is still bothering him he should NOT be doing HW, texting, video games, etc. Call the doctor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:After a concussion the child is not suppose to engage their brain (I know, not good for school!!) The brain needs to heal and should not be stimulated. OP, I hope you were told that.

I second this!

I was very dismissive of my friend's decision to fake home-school her son for 6 months one year until he returned to normal. Then I got a concussion myself (fell on the treadmill at gym!) It took about 6 months before I stopped feeling like I ws trying to swim through vasoline. I couldn't learn anything new. Got lost driving my normal commute route. Left the oven on more often than not.

Sidetracking… but if you do something like this, how does it work exactly? After the period of "homeschool" does the child just go back to school normally or does the child repeat the school year?

It depends on each child. If they took most of a year off, then they would really be repeating. It happens, it isn't the end of the world to give a child the gift of time.

[Anonymous]

It took about 3 months, this was a year ago. We had to have the neurologist battle with the school to get her home work and her classes adjusted.

It really depends on every child. Was your child baseline tested? You do know about SCORE?

http://www.childrensnational.org/score/Parents.aspx
All concussions are serious
Most concussions occur without loss of consciousness
Recognition and proper response to concussions when they first occur can help prevent further injury
When in doubt, sit them out

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lots of ways. You aren't getting a random sample of parents here.

My kid got his in soccer. He got headed.

My kid got hers from ice hockey during a collision with another player.