Returning to cycling after concussion

Triathlon Forum
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So, I’ve recently be diagnosed with arthritis in my right ankle - waiting to see the doctor to see just how bad it is. This is following tearing the ligaments in November trail running with my Husky, and torn ligaments years ago backpacking.

So, less running. Not doing a 100 miler this year :frowning: And I’m not sure really long distance running will be in my future, even if I can do it now, what will my ankle and function be like 10, 20, and 30 years down the road? I’m only 35. These are things I’m going to be talking to the doctor about.

Yesterday I was biking with my husband - and I have a concussion. We were on a rail trail, he on his Cervelo, me on my cyclocross bike - and there are gates you have to go through at roads. We’d gone through most of them at a decent clip, but this one he approached on an angle and braked suddenly - I was obviously following too closely, because I didn’t have time to react. Totally my fault, at least being on cyclocross tires and on a rail trail and approaching a gate we weren’t moving as fast as we would’ve been on road.

I may have momentarily lost consciousness, not sure - I was on the ground and had to be helped up by my husband, I couldn’t stand on my own. Thank god for helmets, mine was cracked in 3 or 4 places and has been tossed. I don’t fully remember the accident, just right before and afterwards.

So we finished the ride - we were 1.2k from the turnaround, so we went there and then back to the car. I knew you weren’t supposed to with a concussion, but hey. Gotta get that workout in (don’t yell at me :slight_smile: ).

I have the protocols for returning to activity, but it’s all ‘after 3 days of no symptoms, walk for 15 minutes’ - at what point, in anyone’s experience, can I return to proper workouts? Biking at the gym, swimming, nothing impactful, though I’d like in a few weekends to get back outside and ride. Once I get my new helmet!

Edit: If it matters, I used to play contact sports, and this is probably my 4th or 5th head injury, I have a tendency to post-concussion syndrome. I’m hoping since it’s been about 15-16 years since my last head injury though that this will be a quick recover.

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Have you seen a Dr??? One who specializes in concussion treatment (sometimes a neurologists, other times Physical Med & Rehab docs seem to be better informed)?? If not, that should be your first step!!! There have been a couple of threads recently on concussions - basically, no two are the same. Most resolve spontaneously in a couple of weeks, but others don’t. Be smart, a head injury isn’t anything to mess around with.

Diane

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Yup, we went to ER last night. They decided against a CT scan, gave me a tetanus shot. They were the ones who gave me the ‘3 days no symptoms, walk for 15 minutes’ advice. I was a bit groggy and didn’t ask about when I can return to proper activity though, which is why I’m asking here.

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I seriously would follow up with a doc who knows concussions. I had a couple of Drs completely miss mine, it was the PT I was seeing for my other injuries who picked up on it.

I’m not trying to be negative, but I’m almost a year into dealing with PCS and still not able to do a lot of things.

Take care,
Diane

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I’ve seen specialists before, and they just always say to ride out the PCS…frankly, doctors and concussions seem like a big waste of time to me unless you have bleeding. The longest I’ve had PCS is 6+ months, and that wasn’t from a real concussion. We weren’t even going to go the ER last night, because I know the drill, but I got shamed into it.

It would take so long to get a referral that I’d - if feeling okay - likely return to activity before I saw the doctor. I see my GP on the 13th and I’ll talk to her then - but I’m hoping to be back riding then if I’m feeling okay.

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I’m hoping since it’s been about 15-16 years since my last head injury though that this will be a quick recover.

The duration since your last head injury is most likely irrelevant. Whether it’s 6mos or 6yrs, most of the recent studies have suggested that it really doesn’t matter. Brain injuries are additive. Immediate succession is bad, i.e. multiple concussions over short periods, say within an interval measured in weeks, but after that healing process, you’re forever onward at risk.

That said, I’ve had literally dozens of documented concussions, spreading over a 20yr career. Relatively speaking, you’re way better off than I am.

The most important thing to keep in mind is to pay close attention to your sensory perception, as well as training-induced headaches, both during AND after your workouts. Both are INSTANT STOP calls, and you really need to see a doc immediately. I’ve had vision and auditory drift when I started training too hard too fast, as well as headache issues during and following workouts.

After severe concussions, I’ve needed 3-4wks before I could workout and be symptom free afterwards, a few instances, even longer. For lighter concussions, as in getting your bell rung or “walking KO’s” while kick-boxing, I was symptom free immediately after and was able to train again within 2wks.

It would be, however, a good idea to get checked out by a proper doc, now, and again in a few weeks. With your brain injury history, you’re a high risk case, so recognize that about yourself, and take preventative and monitoring measures to avoid complications.

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I think based on what you guys are saying I will talk to my GP when I see her to see if she’ll refer me.

I’m actually surprised how good I feel today - headache has gotten better over the course of the day, nausea not too too bad and getting better, a bit tired, but I also got woken up every 2 hours last night, so…I feel bright and alert though.

I will go back to work tomorrow, since I need to get my desk in order before we leave for a vacation Thursday (of course I do this before vacation, but it’s a relaxing one…taking Hubs to Montreal for his birthday for the F1).

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Had a recent concussion as a result of broadsiding a Mercedes that pulled away from the curb and u-turned in front of me. The driver was honest enough to say he saw me but misjudged my speed which still makes me seethe. Anyway, unconcious, ambulance ride, time in the ER. The doc’s recommendation on the way out was “avoid contact sports for awhile” (duh…turning 66 the next day!). Crash was on a Friday. I went back in the pool on Monday. Nursed a headache for the seven days that followed the accident but began to spool up activity–swim, trainer, easy running. Doing fine now, two and a half weeks later. My recommendation is use good judgement. You know your body better than anyone.

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There are return to activity protocol following a concussion. The “wait x amount of time without x symptoms” is a complete guesstimate.

Look up return to play criteria by Kevin Guskeiwicz , PhD, ATC, FASCM. Hi research is out of Chapel Hill and they’ve outlined some objective progressions for increasing athletic activity safely and appropriately.

Its not worth risking. Any length of time unconscious (1 second or minutes), loss of memory, continued sx etc etc are all factors relating to severity of the injury.

John

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I look that up, thanks. I definitely don’t want to do too much too early, but I don’t want to wait unnecessarily either.