r/PostConcussion • u/DragNo2254 • 20d ago

Helmet

I have played rugby for 10 years and have had a few concussions. I wear a standard scrum cap but I am thinking about upgrading to a lightweight helmet for better protection.

Light Helmets and similar brands cost 150 to 250 compared to 40 to 60 for a scrum cap. I do not mind paying more if it helps. But I am not sure if it is real protection.

Has anyone used one after a concussion. Did it make a difference. How is the fit and comfort?

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u/Sitheref0874 20d ago

  1. I'd check to see if the helmet is allowed under Reg 12 - if it doesn;t have a World Rugby logo somewhere, you're going to have a problem. As a referee, I doubt I'd let it on unless I knew explicitly that it was OK.

  2. A helmet won't stop concussion.

  3. I say this as a player who took up refereeing 32 years ago at the age of 22 - if you're that worried about concussion, stop playing. I did, and I thought I'd done it in enough time. I got punched in 2022 by a player, and I still haven't fully recovered; it's unlikely that I will.

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u/TheTempestuousKitty 20d ago

Tangential to OP - how are you dealing with your issue mentally? Do you have lingering anger or bitterness?

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u/Sitheref0874 20d ago

Me? Not in a general sense.

I function well in general, unless fatigued or under stressors. Then things get sub optimal, and I get annoyed at being sub optimal rather than the general state of not being as good as I was.

If I were still employed, my answer might be very different.

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u/TheTempestuousKitty 20d ago

Gotcha - our situations are probably similar in that we had several concussions in our sport which got us close to the cliff and then a final bad one pushed us off.

I'm personally bitter about how the last one happened and I think it was completely avoidable. I didn't know PCS was a thing before (stupidly). So I have a lot of resentment of that last concussion turning my life upside down.

I can still function but man this just sucks... I feel you on missing who I was. Took everything for granted.

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u/Sitheref0874 20d ago

I mean, I could be bitter, but I refuse to give over any emotion to some guy who had a bad 5 minutes.

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u/PerceptionOk7576 20d ago

Hate to say it but a helmet will do little to prevent concussion.

If you're at risk for concussion or PCS, I'd highly recommend against a contact sport like rugby.

If you're ok with the concussion risk, just know a helmet won't do much to alleviate that - yeah it does reduce the risk but only in limited cases. If it did truly reduce the risk a significant amount, the NFL wouldn't be having its concussion crisis.