All-Star Concussions...

[cheergirl4444]

I hope your CP is doing okay! concussions are NO fun. i have had a few and they can be very scary!

 

[kickdblcj]

There are 3 days that I have no memory of thanks to a concussion I got this year.

 

[mishtm52]

I've had 3 documented concussions in my life, meaning I've probably had more but they were before the big push to educate the masses about them. They've been spaced out throughout my life, so I've never been diagnosed with SIS or PCS. But I know I haven't been right in the head since my last one... and my sense of smell is functioning at probably 50% (a blessing and a curse).

When in doubt, check it out. You can put pins and plates in arms and ankles, but mess up your brain and you're screwed.

 

[crazycheermom]

GREAT POST. My CP had a friend that fell off golf cart and hit head. These were smart girls in HS. The girl who fell off was sick at her stomach, etc. but thought it was a virus. The other girl went on to tumble class, leaving the injured girl home becuaes she was "sick" The girl's mother found her nearly unconscious at home. Girl actually had skull fracture. MY POINT IS THAT KIDS NEED TO KNOW SYMPTOMS. My cp is very book smart but didnt' know symptoms of head injury. Girl is fine now.

 

[kem1129]

concussions really are no joke. i've had 5 so far and i had to give up cheering because of it. i got my last one in october and i can't resume full activity until next month and if i get another its going to be even worse. i still get horrible headaches at least once a week and loud noises and bright lights still aggravate my head. its honestly horrible and i had to give up the thing i love most because of it. i cant stress enough how important it is not to go back to cheer until you have been absolutely symptom free for at least a week, preferably two. i'm sure everyone would rather sit out a week or two instead of 6 months. i had to give up what would have been my first nca college nationals and cheering as a whole so seriously go to a doctor if you think you have a concussion. it'll be worth it.

 

[Seeker30]

oh my :O
im so glad she is okay now. concussions are scary! D:

 

[AllstarObsession]

i had one over the summer, i smacked my head on a dining room chair bending over to pick something up while i was babysitting. I was instantly dizzy and my head hurt for about a week before my parents took me to the doctor, and i failed that test harder than ive ever failed anything.

my parents like to make sure im not faking something before they take me in (they did the same thing with my broken elbow, broken sternum, broken sesamoid bones, broken back, the list goes on) they just want to make sure im not faking it or excessively whining.

The "second impact" thing scared the bejeezus out of me. Every time someone gets hit in the head at the gym, i use my handy dandy first aid skills to make sure they arent seriously hurt, because its very scary and very serious.

I dont care how bad my body will hurt in 20 years or that im already waking up with back pain, but I do care about my brain and I won't push through something like that.

 

[MissBee]

All Star programs should really look into the ImPACT Testing. My sons play contact sports at their high school and they are tested using this every year. Looks like for 300 kids it's $500. As a parent, I'd be happy to pay the extra $2 per kid for this system.
You administer a baseline test before the season starts. They are tested on memory and matching type exercises and their score is saved. Then, when they have a concussive event, they are retested and the scores are compared. It's not a tool to diagnose, or to determine readiness to return-on it's own. It's one piece to be used along with a physicians exam.

ImPACT-Testing & Computerized Neurocognitive Assessment Tools

 

[MomOf2ThatsMe]

i had one over the summer, i smacked my head on a dining room chair bending over to pick something up while i was babysitting. I was instantly dizzy and my head hurt for about a week before my parents took me to the doctor, and i failed that test harder than ive ever failed anything.

my parents like to make sure im not faking something before they take me in (they did the same thing with my broken elbow, broken sternum, broken sesamoid bones, broken back, the list goes on) they just want to make sure im not faking it or excessively whining.

The "second impact" thing scared the bejeezus out of me. Every time someone gets hit in the head at the gym, i use my handy dandy first aid skills to make sure they arent seriously hurt, because its very scary and very serious.

I dont care how bad my body will hurt in 20 years or that im already waking up with back pain, but I do care about my brain and I won't push through something like that.

This is exactly why I called 911. Knowing that the initial blow happened on Wednesday (we didn't know it was as bad as it was), and then she went to tumbling on Thursday and her symptoms worsened quickly.... yeah. Scared is an understatement. One of the local high schools (J.H. Rose) here had a football player die from that a few years ago, and they were featured on CNN recently a story on SIS. We hear about it all the time, so it's was definately on my mind.

 

[njallday]

NJ recently passed a concussion law for schools. it requires a training program for all school nurses, coaches, and athletic trainers. Parents and athletes have to read and sign written information about concussions and symptoms. It also requires written policies on treatment plans for all schools, removing the student from practices/games until there is written clearance form a physician, and continuing education programs specifically about head injuries for all athletic trainers (they will not renew their license without a certain number of credits)

While I think this law has great merit and will do great things, in NJ cheerleading is not a sport.. so the coaches do not fall under the required trainings and the athletes usually do not visit with the trainers. (and allstars and club sports do not fit into this law either)

The trainer will see you if you are injured on campus though. I was backspotting a double down gone wrong (elbow to the eye) in high school and was immediately sent to the trainer, as I blacked out, was bleeding, and my eye almost instantly swelled shut. (no concussion - I actually ended up breaking my right orbital and had one heck of a black eye) I got lucky that my injury happened on the one day we practiced on campus. Normally, our practices took place at a district elementary school and had I gotten hurt there, there would have been no trainer to check me for symptoms of a concussion and damage to my eye.

So the law is a step in the right direction, but it definitely doesn't cover everything. Great reminder MomOf2ThatsMe . I hope everyone remembers this thread if they see their child/a friend hit their head or they themselves get hurt. Safety first :)

 

[SparkleSpankies]

All Star programs should really look into the ImPACT Testing. My sons play contact sports at their high school and they are tested using this every year. Looks like for 300 kids it's $500. As a parent, I'd be happy to pay the extra $2 per kid for this system.
You administer a baseline test before the season starts. They are tested on memory and matching type exercises and their score is saved. Then, when they have a concussive event, they are retested and the scores are compared. It's not a tool to diagnose, or to determine readiness to return-on it's own. It's one piece to be used along with a physicians exam.

ImPACT-Testing & Computerized Neurocognitive Assessment Tools

In our area most high schools in all sports get this done! It is a great thing.

 

[fiercerando88]

In our area most high schools in all sports get this done! It is a great thing.

Same! It's really great, even though the kids think it's a pain when they 'feel' fine but can't play for a week. They haven't mastered the 'better safe than sorry' thought yet..

 

[cheerstalker2]

My daughter sustained a concussion this year. She was out of cheer for several weeks and she still has severe headaches and is sensitive to light. She also has nausea on and off. She thought she was over it when she went to knottsberry farm and went on a small spinny ride and her symptoms came right back. Her doctor says she needs at least 6 months to heal. She is coaching instead of cheering this year so I hope she heals her brain and all her joints.