Sauna for concussion/TBI recovery?

[Mofro261]

Sorry to hear about the issues DTM. I would think the sauna and meditation would be beneficial, I know at least one kid with PCS who was able to alleviate some of his symptoms using sensory deprivation/ Float Tank therapy. May be something to try if it feels like you are not making progress.

[old goat]

Yeah, Jerry is definitely a concern. I should dust off my touring gear and try going for a walk. Up until quite recently even a mellow tour seemed like it might be a bit much but it would probably be OK now.



I definitely have previous experience with polytrauma and delayed diagnosis (once took a week to discover I had a scapula fx, due to also having a clavicle fx).

Neck was not xrayed, nor was the sternum. Doc diagnosed the sternal fx based on pain level and location. Palpation indicated no displacement, and since a "fracture" of the manubriosternal joint is actually torn cartilage he thought an xray would just look normal. Neck wasn't done because there was zero pain, discomfort or dysfunction. This far out I really doubt there's anything wrong with my neck.

Hopefully the doctor at least palpated your neck and checked range of motion. In any case, I agree with you--if you have no neck symptoms this far out you have nothing to worry about. Water under the bridge.
Had a teenager in a car wreck, some significant injuries, Initially neck films were normal but after a week or two she was complaining of neck pain, flexion and extension films showed no fracture but an unstable joint due to torn ligaments. Orthopedist went to fuse her vertebrae, fused the wrong level and left her quadriplegic. That was 40 years ago. We never forget our bad cases. Kaiser has much better spine surgery now.

[mcski]

Holy shit, that’s awful. Is she the girl w gold rims on her wheelchair now?

[Touring_Sedan]

Dude! Sorry to hear about your lingering issues. If you want to try something that is pretty low impact, heh, you're welcome to borrow one of my fat bikes. I'm still under a strict "don't fall" order from my doc but he's cool with the fatbiking. If nothing else, I'm sure it'll improve your mood.

[Dantheman]

The offer is greatly appreciated but you're so much taller than me I think fit would be a problem.

[Touring_Sedan]

The offer is greatly appreciated but you're so much taller than me I think fit would be a problem.

Good point. If you were to fall, it's a long way down. You'd certainly fuck up your noggin.

[Dantheman]

I'd probably look like an 8 y.o kid who just outgrew their 20" and the parents moved them straight to a 29er.

[Dantheman]

Bagged on the Vasa idea, turns out the membership that gets you into the sauna costs a lot more. I might buy one of the portable IR ones, they look super cheesy but reviews are surprisingly good.

Making an activity level adjustment for a little while. Trading dumbbells, pushups and pullups for an hour of soft pedaling the spin bike at a nose-breathing pace. Feeling pretty good after a couple days of that. Of course there's an epic storm happening.

[neufox47]

Make sure you are doing a good amount of neck work. Heal up Dan! https://athleticsi.com/neck-training...t-concussions/

[Dantheman]

Saw a PhD concussion specialist last week. I now have an official diagnosis of mild second-impact syndrome (insert joke about doctors being masters of the obvious here). She had little to offer treatment-wise other than a recommendation not to ski or mountain bike for at least a year #gutted

[reckless toboggan]

Saw a PhD concussion specialist last week. I now have an official diagnosis of mild second-impact syndrome (insert joke about doctors being masters of the obvious here). She had little to offer treatment-wise other than a recommendation not to ski or mountain bike for at least a year #gutted

Better to miss a year than acquire another brain (or other) injury and never be able to ski or ride or run again.

I know you already know this...but you did suffer a brain injury, so: Traumatic brain injuries can impact every single thing you will ever do, and every experience you will ever have.

It sucks. But it's necessary. You only get one brain. Take your time. Don't fuck it up.

Your loved ones will be glad you did, ... eventually .... after they get over the shit and abuse you put them through because you're a grumpy grump who can't get your shit out while skiing or riding or xc running,... for a year.

It sucks. Take care.


Edit to add: per your original post about saunas... I'd think that the raised blood pressure and heart rate (heart pounding in your head feeling, similar to that of exercise) that can come from being in a sauna wouldn't be great for a brain injury, but I'm no brain doctor.

[Dantheman]

Better to miss a year than acquire another brain (or other) injury and never be able to ski or ride or run again.

I know you already know this...but you did suffer a brain injury, so: Traumatic brain injuries can impact every single thing you will ever do, and every experience you will ever have.

It sucks. But it's necessary. You only get one brain. Take your time. Don't fuck it up.

Your loved ones will be glad you did, ... eventually .... after they get over the shit and abuse you put them through because you're a grumpy grump who can't get your shit out while skiing or riding or xc running,... for a year.

It sucks. Take care.

Yeah, I know all that, and knew what she was going to say before she said it. Doesn't make it any easier. A year (or more...) is a long time to not ski or ride with my kid, who is still young enough to actually like me but won't be for long.

At this point I'd be happy just to not have to scrape myself out of bed every morning like shit off a shoe, or not hate the cold. Baby steps. Currently debating whether it's worth the risk to go back to bike commuting. Sweet christ I hate driving to work.

Edit to add: per your original post about saunas... I'd think that the raised blood pressure and heart rate (heart pounding in your head feeling, similar to that of exercise) that can come from being in a sauna wouldn't be great for a brain injury, but I'm no brain doctor.

I asked her about it specifically. I'm the only person who as ever asked her that question and she had nothing, though she thought it seemed unlikely to make anything worse. Every TBI is different but the answer to whether or not you should do X is always the same, "If it doesn't flare up your symptoms it's OK. If it does, don't."

[Danno]

Damn, Dan, so sorry to read this. I got nothing medical/experiential to offer, but I hope that recovery goes well and faster than you expect.

[Dantheman]

Thanks, Danno. Maybe it will go faster, maybe it won't. With two re-injury events I'm not planning on it.

[criscam]

Damn. sorry to hear as well Dan. I know Sam has a solid biking/skiing crew but if he's ever jonesin to get out be sure to hit us up.

[old goat]

Glad to hear you got better advice than a TGR consult. Between breaking my back in February and having heart surgery in October I have an idea of what you're going through being unable to do the things you love. Hope your symptoms at least get better soon.

A thread drift--Washington Post did a take down of Bennet Omalu--the guy who got the world to pay attention to CTE. So what if the guy didn't actually discover CTE--until he came along only academics knew or cared about it. Lot of professional jealousy IMO. The guy was working as a poorly paid (for a doctor) medical examiner; now he's making speeches and testifying in law suits. Not my favorite way for a doc to make a living but hard to begrudge him after the shit the NFL put him through. His publications may not be as scientifically rigorous as those from an academic pathologist but you wouldn't expect them to be. This is an evolving field and what the experts say is true today may not be true tomorrow. Also, the history of science is full of the credit going to the popularizers, not the discoverers. See Jenner and small pox vaccination. I would argue that Dr. Omalu's talent for self-promotion is what dragged the subject of CTE out of the lab and into the newspapers. He saved brains and lives, something his detractors can't say.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/graph...-bennet-omalu/

[MakersTeleMark]

DTM, I feel ya.

I got rolled by a cummins late at night on my bike. It took me well over a year to even feel close to normal. From random stabbing pain, loss of vision, all kinds of noises and throbbing, and general really bad malaise. Lost my quick thinking, couldn't read, and when I would really focus on something technical, physical or mental, it really hurt. Really hurt, in both ways.

Take the time, challenge the next gen to beat you when you come back 100%. You only get one brain. I guarantee you will find out things about yourself in that year plus that you wouldn't have otherwise, which is obvious, but still surprising.

Heal up.

[Dantheman]

Damn. sorry to hear as well Dan. I know Sam has a solid biking/skiing crew but if he's ever jonesin to get out be sure to hit us up.

Thanks. I'd been thinking about reaching out to you and James.

Glad to hear you got better advice than a TGR consult. Between breaking my back in February and having heart surgery in October I have an idea of what you're going through being unable to do the things you love. Hope your symptoms at least get better soon.

Thanks. Thankfully I'm young enough that relative inactivity doesn't result in near-immediate atrophy and loss of fitness. That's got to be worrying at your age.

I would argue that Dr. Omalu's talent for self-promotion is what dragged the subject of CTE out of the lab and into the newspapers. He saved brains and lives, something his detractors can't say.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/graph...-bennet-omalu/

I haven't read the article but I agree with your conclusion 100%. Omalu is almost single-handedly responsible for head injuries getting the respect they deserve (well, at least one very high-profile dipshit in America still thinks they're not serious injuries, but I digress).

DTM, I feel ya.

I got rolled by a cummins late at night on my bike. It took me well over a year to even feel close to normal. From random stabbing pain, loss of vision, all kinds of noises and throbbing, and general really bad malaise. Lost my quick thinking, couldn't read, and when I would really focus on something technical, physical or mental, it really hurt. Really hurt, in both ways.

Take the time, challenge the next gen to beat you when you come back 100%. You only get one brain. I guarantee you will find out things about yourself in that year plus that you wouldn't have otherwise, which is obvious, but still surprising.

Heal up.

Damn dude, that looks and sounds awful. Despite my whining I am incredibly thankful that I've been spared from the worst symptoms of PCS. I've also decided not to ride my commuter until after AC is solidly recovered from her TKR (today is day 7). Can't risk having us both laid up.