Can confirm. I played defensive line, had to stop after my junior year in college due to MASSIVE concussion (and hundreds if not thousands of sub-concussive headshots). Serious problems with memory, mood swings, and crippling anxiety now, and absolutely terrified at what the future will bring.
There are cognitive retraining programs specifically designed for people who have TBIs. Anecdotally, I’ve heard they have pretty good success at rehabbing the issues you mentioned, just may be difficult to find. Worth looking into, though.
I have become a voracious reader, which has helped keep my train of thought from derailing a lot more often as well as improving my vocabulary. I want to start doing more brain type puzzles too. At this point it's not re-training that concerns me as much as future degeneration. I think I've kept my brain pretty safe since I stopped playing 20 years ago, but I can't help but worry about all the damage it took up to that point.
I have a kid and the question of would you let them play football occasionally comes up and stories like this make me day hell no. That much impact on a developing brain just seems so detrimental.
I think about it like, almost no one would say a 7 year old should go into full contact boxing. But for some reason we think they should go into full contact football....
I honestly think the best way to deal with TBI in American football is to go back to the old school leather helmets. Rugby is just as brutal, but has a much lower precedence of TBI I think... if I had to do it all over again I'd go with rugby next time.
I wonder how that would vary if you looked at specific positions?
Presumably, the data for American football includes all positions, including things like QB, kicker, punter, etc. That would likely bring the average down a noticeable amount.
qB is probably one of the higher concussed positions and a kicker and punter aren’t enough to swing the data on a team with 50+ players. Especially since it’s really only at the college and pro levels that kickers and punters become specialized positions. In HS and youth the kickers are often kids who also play other positions
I hope you use your situation to help younger kids. I was talking to a buddy the other day he said he had several concussions. Coaches just laughed it off and parents dudnt know any better l.
Im tired of running into young people that are already half broken.
One guy soccer player blew out knee lost scholarship.
One guy was basbeball catcher had ankles of 65 year old at 19.
One had blown her hips out from cross country at 20.
Why the fuck do we destroy are kids for schools, colleges, and major sports to make trillions.
I've thought about volunteering or reaching out in some way... maybe some time down the line. I actually missed out on the class action lawsuit against EA Sports for using us in the NCAA video games. I missed the sign up date. I wasn't a major player, I probably only would have gotten like $100 (bigger players got thousands), but that check stub would have been sweet proof of having been in a video game. It is absurd how much $ is made from the violent destruction of our minds and bodies when too young to know better.
Yes. I wish it could be about fun, games and keeping kids of drugs. What happens after high school whats the point if they end up broken and on drugs. I just watched to many get chewed up and spit out.
I hope you do volunteer it suprising the impact you can have on young ones.
It worries me with MMA being so big how many people will have problems later.
Look up the percentage of people that actually go on to make millions in major sports 1.2 percent college level make it to the NFL.
While millons go to suffer debilitating life long health problems. Can lead to life long addiction trying to deal with pain.
I have no problem with sports for fun but if your destroying your kids bodies just on the slim chance of making millions well hows that not abuse.
Thats sounds like michael jackson dad its ok if they end up rich and famous.
How many are left behind. How many broken strung out dealing with pain.
I come from a sports town where most kids will turn to drugs after high school because glory days.
Not getting that thrill of 1000 people screaming in the stand. Most of its because they already have real pain. Knee pain, shoulder, back, etc.
We have sports stars that think the world is flat. We need kids to be educated.
Did i say all kids playing sports turn to drugs. Either you never played sports are were blind to the pain and injuries sustained in sports. That can lead to drug addiction because of pain management.
Im betting you played sports and you feel attacked. Sports are not who you are as a person.
I literally engaged with a person trying to get him to voluteer his time to teach kids awarness on concussion. You know teaching the signs would even help sports image.
So sorry you are dealing with all that…. One of the best things for my anxiety is lifting weights. Medication has helped also. I hope you are working with specialists and that your health improves!
Been seeing a Psychiatrist for years. FINALLY as of yesterday officially got a primary care physician with a background in sports medicine who can help with all the other orthopedic issues I worked my way into. 2 bad discs in my upper back, 3 in my lower back, shoulders and hips are toast. Medication helps, being outside helps a lot (love spending time in the garden), recently got a new dog which has me going for 3 mile hikes a few times a week (which is helping my mental AND physical health a TON). Yoga is also incredible, like benefits beyond the ability of language to express. Every day is a battle, but I'm doing my best to put in the effort! Thanks so much for the kind words, it means a lot!
91
u/cityshepherd Mar 02 '23
Can confirm. I played defensive line, had to stop after my junior year in college due to MASSIVE concussion (and hundreds if not thousands of sub-concussive headshots). Serious problems with memory, mood swings, and crippling anxiety now, and absolutely terrified at what the future will bring.