Cuncussion? Help

Well, did he hit his head?

Sorry, I missed the line where you said he is positive he didn't hit his head on anything.

This is an odd situation...difficult to prove the negative.  It would seem that you'd be entitled to some evidence that they tested him and found evidence of concussion.  Was some sort of report filed with the school?  If not, maybe a frank discussion with the trainer or AD about what what really occurred would clear this up.

Nobody is gonna take a chance when a player is concussed anymore. While the $300 could seem like a lot, it might make sense to get the scan just to be safe. 

Sure, I would talk to the trainer, AD or coach, in that order.  I'd leave coach out of it if possible.  You have a right to know what's going on with the health of your kid.  And if he's concussed there should be a protocol for return.  It's required by law here in CA but that's new so AD's and coaches are still getting up to speed.

As for the $300 visit, that sucks but if they think he's concussed I bet they won't let him  return until an MD has examined him.  Simple CYA on their part.  What I don't get his how they let him play at all if you don't have insurance.

So I'm confused on what exactly happened. But to look at a few different things (remember, this is what I do for a living)... It is reported to the Athletic Trainer that your son hit his head. Now he is complaining of a headache. That, by definition, is a concussion.

Now I'm not saying something is funny about the whole thing, because it seems like there's something not right. 

Also, the "baseline test" that you want re-tested... it's normally not done until the athlete is symptom-free. And in most states, if there is suspicion of a concussion then that athlete must be cleared by a physician. 

I would certainly talk to the AT and the coach. The whole thing seems weird..

Uh, I'm no guru but if my kid says he didn't hit his head I would be talking to the coach, not posting a question on a forum. However, based on the info you posted, I would be grilling the kid about what is the basis of the information you have been given. Player has a reason not to be totally forthcoming if he is being held out of games.  

Maybe its just me, but I don't see paying $300 to make sure my kid is not concussed an issue.

Around here if a school suspects a concussion he is not getting back into a game or practice without a Dr's note.  We do baseline at the beginning of the seasons, and will give the test if a concussion is suspected, but if you have one you still need Dr clearance even after you are able to pass the testing.

All, and please don't take this as an offense if you are a trainer, lets remember that trainers are not Dr's.  They have a lot of schooling to help them, and they are trained to deal with and recognize signs of major injuries such as concussions but you really need to get a Dr involved.  

Sorry Joe. I DO take offense to that? Why? Because I have watched doctors manage concussions. More than once, it has been WAY below the education that I possess with regards to concussions. Like when I had a girl land on her head, complaining of all sorts of concussion symptoms and neck symptoms. She was spine boarded and transported to trauma center. CT scans showed no structural injury. Doctor came in and said she "technically suffered a concussion." WHAT??

Now, with that said, I agree that a doctor needs to be involved. And personally, if my evaluation has me questioning whether a kid has suffered a concussion or not, then he/she is referred to one of our concussion specialists. 

My issue is that he does not actually have a concussion.  There was no concussion event -- he never hit his head on anything.  That is what he told the trainer and that is what he is telling me (and I grilled him hard).  According to him, there was no stoppage of play, no injury timeout, etc.  He was sent to the trainer based on a stupid comment by his teammate.  When he got there, he did tell her that he had a slight headache.  That's it - no other signs/symptoms.  I don't think the trainer talked to the coaches at all.  He goes in for clearance the next day and is told he is out for 5 days.   

My thought on the baseline test is to give it to him to see. Otherwise what good is it. 

My apologies.

Maybe he doesnt remember what happened?

Did anyone ask the player why he said that?

You seem to be angry, what you should be is grateful that they are being proactive. What if he really did hit his head?

I'm with TPM, be glad they're taking care of him.  But on another note, does your school not use the concussion website.  I can't remember what it's called, but our kids do a baseline in the fall and then it can be retaken to see if there's evidence of a concussion.  I know our football trainers wouldn't let them near a field until they at least cleared that.

At this point, it doesn't matter if the player hit his head or not.

The coach received a credible report that the player hit his head and was obliged to treat it seriously.

Ditto for the trainer.

Either one of them could lose his job by not taking this seriously.

Your son is now subject to the protocol for treating concussions.  No matter how sure he is that he didn't hit his head, the genie is not going back in the bottle.  The only way he is going to get back on the field is to complete the concussion protocol successfully.

At our school, this protocol is very clearly spelled out. All athletes and at least one parent of each athlete has to be trained on this every year. There are specific steps and requirements for returning to class, returning to physical activity, and returning to competition.

Your best move at this point is to learn the protocol your school's certified athletic trainer uses and help your son clear the necessary hurdles one at a time.

Best wishes,

Swampboy is right. Once you're in the system you are in, and there is only one way out.  My son was concussed exactly two weeks ago during a HS basketball game.  It's been an interesting couple of weeks.  Clearly schools are in transition on this stuff and various people have no clue what's going on.

• Son was examined by home team trainer after going down during game. Sat out the rest of the game.  Neither the coaches nor the trainer said squat to me after the game.  After much discussion on the way home, I decided not to take son to ER. He seems fine.  
• Next day kid said he was 100% and insisted on playing a club baseball game.  He played pretty crappy, and said he had a headache all day and admitted he felt out of it. Took him to doc. Diagnosed concussion.
• Next day I email school AD, who is also assistant coach on basketball team.  In a very inquisitive and non-confrontational manner, I asked so what's the concussion protocol?  And why didn't you guys reach out to us about this incident?  Just want to know what's gong on...
• Get an email from AD with about 3 pages of explanations of why he didn't reach out, and he explains son will go through protocol.
• First day back at school, son meets with school trainer, reports continuing headaches and "foggy" feeling; she administers baseline test and it doesn't look good.  She advises consultation wiht concussion specialist.  We email him, and he says come in if he's not better in a week.
• 4 days later he's finally feeling 100%, starts protocol with trainer, which basically consists of escalating physical activity and reporting back to her with results.  She also asks for 2nd exam with MD.   Fortunately MD is a mensch.  He issues clearance for activity after talking to kid on phone.
• Today he's done with protocol and passes baseline testing. She asks for another MD visit. Again, MD is a mensch -- we email and he sends clearance.  Son says, hey next time this happens let's just go see the doc and not even go through the school trainer.  I tell him, if you think that's gonna fly you're still messed up.
• Monday -- school holiday so we're not sure we can get trainer to sign off, but if so it's off to baseball practice.  (basketball is over today)

It ain't the old days when we'd go back in the football game a few minutes after getting knocked silly.  This is the new reality.   It's going to cause a lot of inconvenience and expense for  a lot of families. But it's also going to save some kids from permanent damage.  It is what it is.

ImPACT Testing is NOT to be utilized to determine if there was a concussion or not. That's not its role. Its role is to show us objectively what cognitive deficits exist (if any). ImPACT is very clear about this fact. 

The protocols for concussion management are ever-evolving. And they continue to get more stringent. Both on an athletic side, but also on the academic side of things. It is probably close to 30% of my job as an Athletic Trainer now. Working with the doctors, the school nurse, teachers, and administration to help kids through concussion recovery. That's just on the academic side of things. From there, normally, the athletic side of things is a piece of cake. But there's still steps to be followed. But I think of concussion recovery in three steps:

1) Health and Wellbeing

2) Academic Full Release

3) Athletics

Can't skip a step..

Not angry, but frustrated.  Getting several changing stories.  I talked to trainer who said the kid hit his head on the floor.  I asked if she talked with the coach because my kid said nothing happened.  Said she would and get back to me.  After she talks to coach, it turns out there was no incident (unlike JCG's post).  But the kid didn't feel/look "right," -- he said he had a small headache so they sent him to trainer.  Next thing you know he is in the concussion protocol and like swampboy said there is no way out.

I am all for protecting the kids and appreciate them looking after my kid.  But everything I have read is that you need some type of blow to the head/upper body to cause a concussion.  It seems like they just defaulted to concussion because his head "hurt."  And unlike JCG they didn't check the kid's baseline.  I'm reading about apps they have to do it right on the field. 

Step 2 is interesting and shows how ingrained  attitudes are.    After first meeting, trainer says to son,  I'm sending emails to all your teachers to tell them that you are impaired and should be given extra time to complete assignments as needed. Son has 2 particularly hard ass teachers.  History teacher jokes in front of class about his condition, English teacher opines in front of class that kids these days are being coddled when it comes to sports injuries.. 

You do not have to "hit your head" for a concussion. As soon as he mentioned a headache, that rings the bell, so to speak. 

I have been involved in youth sports for a long time, and I have seen the results of many concussions and NOT doing what should be done. Five days off is an incredibly reasonable time off - and whether he has symptoms or not, should be looked upon as a necessary break.