Does my teen need to quit sports after three concussions?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One issue with concussions is that we don't truly recuperate from them for many reasons. We can have "concussive events," such as the loss of a loved one, that negatively affect our brain. When we don't adequately rest or nourish our body, then these concussions or concussive events can pile on one another and cause issues down the line.

Getting POTS after a concussion is just one of many possible negative scenarios:
https://coloradointegrativeneurology.com/neurological-health/have-you-suffered-since-a-concussion-you-might-have-pots/

If the doctor said to stop, I'd stop. Why would you not listen to the doctor about this?

It's terrible that they don't wear helmets in lacrosse to prevent this, and that should be changed to protect people's lives. Because people don't die, they don't do enough. However, having a life-long illness like POTS or other is serious.

Men’s lacrosse wears helmets. There are plenty of concussions in sports with helmets.

[Anonymous]

If you do not trust your doctor’s advice enough to follow it, you need to consider whether the issue is that you don’t trust the doctor or you can’t set limits for your kid’s health.

I would not play around with multiple concussions and risk another, more severe and disabling one.

[Anonymous]

Agree your son needs to quit lax but I would talk to him about what he likes about it and see if you can find those aspects of a sport with a lower risk. I am not sure why everyone here is suggesting swimming -- that sport seems like the opposite of lax in so many ways. if your kid likes team sports and already is in good shape, crew might be a good option -- people tend to start crew later anyway.

[Anonymous]

Yes, he absolutely needs to quit lacrosse. How is this even a question?

[Anonymous]

He needs to quit the sport that is causing his concussions! Honestly, are you trying to have his have permanent brain damage?
Tennis is a good sport with little potential for brain injury.

[Anonymous]

How strongly do you feel about him avoiding CTE?

[Anonymous]

I can't believe a parent is asking if they should continue letting their kid get brain damage.

Some people should need a license to have kids. This poor child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How strongly do you feel about him avoiding CTE?

This is it isn’t? If three concussions are not enough, what is your threshold to stop risking brain injury?

[Anonymous]

Take up tennis, track, something else. Plenty of other things. Baseball maybe? Op, no lacrosse. Obviously no soccer or football either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How strongly do you feel about him avoiding CTE?

This is it isn’t? If three concussions are not enough, what is your threshold to stop risking brain injury?

Honestly, I don’t get it at all. I put a lot of work into creating my kid’s brain. I’m not interested much in him predictably injuring it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe not quit sports, but quit lacrosse.

Exactly. He can join the track, swim, tennis team, etc. He doesn’t have to give up sports — but it’s idiotic to continue with a high school sport that causes concussions.

Be a parent.

Do you think your son is going to be a millionaire lacrosse player? No? So, he’s going to need to use his brain to support himself in adulthood. Why handicap him? Be an adult.

[Anonymous]

My DS had 3 concussions by 6th grade - 2 from soccer and 1 from general kid stuff. after his second concussion in soccer, I made him stop playing soccer (explaining about the brain connection). He wasn't upset about it at the time and moved on to explore other sports.

In HS, he went to a school where he knew some people but didn't have any close friends. In 9th grade, he wanted to play football but I told him I would never sign a permission form for him to do so. It sounds harsh but I care about his long term future and even if he had professional level football talent, I still would have refused.

He was angry for a while but found another sport and made a new group of friends. In college, he admitted that I had made the right choice even though he didn't like it at the time.

I have a second kid whom I also pulled after a 3rd concussion in soccer. She was not happy bit I encouraged her to try and look at the glass half full - I would support her seeing friends from soccer, but not playing, and I was open to her trying any new sport(s) she wanted. She found a new sport and new friends and ultimately was fine.

The brain risk for concussion is serious - after the second your chances go up that you might not recover as easily even as a child or teen - missing school, having chronic headaches, mood disorder and cognitive struggles. The long term risk is also serious - early dementia, serious problems with emotional control, mood, memory and diminished cognitive ability.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son is playing rugby and we have a 1 severe or 2 mild then out agreement.

Get him out now.

[Anonymous]

DCUM is very risk averse.

I have participated in a risky sport (equestrian) since I was 8. I love it and it is a huge part of my life.

I have had many concussions, including two fairly severe TBIs.

For an unrelated reason, I have had several MRIs in the last year. My brain still looks good in every respect except the benign, asymptomatic brain tumor I have that is completely unrelated to concussions.

During this time I talked with several top neurologists and neurosurgeons about my concussion history, and they said that CTE is not so much likely when you have a few large concussive events as when you have repeated smaller impacts, often not even diagnosable. The cited football and headers in soccer as strong risks, and my 4-5 bad accidents as a much lesser risk.

These people claiming they stop at one are misled.

Dont come to DCUM for risk advice. I rode my horse this morning!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DCUM is very risk averse.

I have participated in a risky sport (equestrian) since I was 8. I love it and it is a huge part of my life.

I have had many concussions, including two fairly severe TBIs.

For an unrelated reason, I have had several MRIs in the last year. My brain still looks good in every respect except the benign, asymptomatic brain tumor I have that is completely unrelated to concussions.

During this time I talked with several top neurologists and neurosurgeons about my concussion history, and they said that CTE is not so much likely when you have a few large concussive events as when you have repeated smaller impacts, often not even diagnosable. The cited football and headers in soccer as strong risks, and my 4-5 bad accidents as a much lesser risk.

These people claiming they stop at one are misled.

Dont come to DCUM for risk advice. I rode my horse this morning!

You are literally making everyones point. He has multiple diagnosed ones, how many undiagnosed? Probably a fair few unfortunately. Putting him at extremely high risk.