Concussions...

erikneufeld · Criminal Joined: 27 Aug 2010 Posts: 72

Alright so the other day i square up late and stall out a tantrum upside down, when i hit i guess i got knocked i dont know, from then on im relying on other peoples stories cuz i have like an hour gap in memory of the event because i got a pretty good concussion on the hit. Anyway, this is my second one, my first being less severe last summer with just partial vision loss for half the day.

This second one has me kinda bugged out now because i really have no recollection of anything and dont even remember wakeboarding that day. not to mention the re-occuring headaches. (the concussion was only 4 days ago)

My question is how many other people have racked up some falls like that and if anybody out there is fine after 3 or more? I read they are cummulative and it gets worse so im a lil gunshy but i if i wasnt out wakeboarding i dunno what to do with my spare time... lol.
obviously im not going out for another week at least. just wondering what other peoples experiences where.... Thanks.

hawkster0001 · Soul Rider Joined: 21 Jul 2010 Posts: 441 City: GR

thats crazy man, i ve had some hard oens , but never memry loss, how fast do you ride at and do you wear a helmet? if not you should if your gettin racked up like that, they help by absorbing alot of shock, but sometimes can do worse if not hte right fit. ive never had bad hits that give me headaches/ whiplash while wearing a helmet, but have had a least a dozen without one

erikneufeld · Criminal Joined: 27 Aug 2010 Posts: 72

we're running like 22mph. but no perfect pass so between 20 and 24 really.

And yeah i Bought a helmet after the first one. i usually wear it but apparently they said i hopped in the water before getting all geared up and they asked and my dumb*** said i didnt wanna cramp my style -.- i have no recollection of this but i also did some research earlier and found people are still taking bad concussions with helmets as well. (i plan to wear that short bus kid looking thing for 100% of my sets now though..)

fd2blk · Criminal Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 82

After attempting to bite my tongue off last week another member suggested a mouth piece and said an added benefit was it can significantly reduce concussions. after a bit of research I found they are correct and so I now ride with one but it sounds like you could use a helmet as well and may even want to check with your doc to see if you have done any real damage.

erikneufeld · Criminal Joined: 27 Aug 2010 Posts: 72

lol yeah i also made a few attempts at self tongue removal when i was learning backrolls =P
and interesting, ill have to look into that.

hawkster0001 · Soul Rider Joined: 21 Jul 2010 Posts: 441 City: GR

i always where one, doesnt give me the the short bus kid look though, idk really i dont see anyone else on my lake doing flips, except my frien i ride with of course. i wear a hyperlite step up (bern helmet with a hyperlite logo) it looks fine too me, covered in stickers of course

erikneufeld · Criminal Joined: 27 Aug 2010 Posts: 72

haha yeah its not too bad, mines a legit hyperlite brand as well but i get lazy and ditch it, not anymore -.- scary...

Tantrum10 · Outlaw Joined: 29 Jun 2004 Posts: 115 City: cobourg

ive had around to 10 concussions now, only 3 or 4 from wakeboarding. one was real bad. didn't remember anything happening from that day but i guess i was throwing up all over the place and cruisin around like i was wasted. the headaches lasted a little over a week but went away with takin it easy. that bad one was 2 years ago and ive worn a mouthguard since then and haven't had any. its annoying and looks pretty dumb but it seems to be working

Red57Bird · Soul Rider Joined: 09 Aug 2005 Posts: 316 City: Raleigh

A friend of mine forwarded this to me the other day. Although the dad mentions wake surfing in the video, his daughter was killed while wake boarding. Not a lot of details about what happened, but a bit of an eye-opener. My last time on a wake board gave me a concussion, which is why I don't ride any longer - I'm strictly a surfing guy now.

Regardless, be safe on the water.

http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=news/local&id=7695519

LFADAM · Posted: Oct 01, 2010 6:24 am Post subject:

Travis Pastrana has had over 20 concussions. That makes me feel better about my 2. I got both from wakeboarding. I feel like its inevitable, but as you get better (in my experience) you take less nasty edge catches, with the exception of trying new spins/mobes. If you are worried about getting concussions with new tricks, then you can prepare by slowing the boat down or wearing a helmet. Its the ones you dont expect that are the worst.

erikneufeld · Criminal Joined: 27 Aug 2010 Posts: 72

10?! woww

yeah that memory loss is what scared me... only bright side is i have no recollection of the pain.

^^^ depressing video.. but yeah i can understand how it happens..

JeffreyCH · Posted: Oct 01, 2010 10:17 am Post subject:

I've taken some hard slams where I was kind of dizzy getting out of the water and had a headache for a few days after. I just take it easy for a few days afterward. I still refuse to wear a helmet though, in wake or snow. I'll never wear one riding wake since I haven't really bumped my riding up in the last year. I might get one for snow though since I progressed to crazy levels last year. I'm actually considering quitting wake all together and focusing more on snow as it's a better fit for me. Let's face it though, neither one is a "safe" sport/hobby just be as careful as you can, and if you bash your mellon go to the doc and get checked.

GnarShredd · Posted: Oct 01, 2010 10:59 am Post subject:

hawkster0001 · Soul Rider Joined: 21 Jul 2010 Posts: 441 City: GR

i think helmets help on the water, but htey can do neck damage too, also i you wear a helmet and still get head injuries you can wear a mouth guard too, those help alot from what ive heard, id assume it would help with wakeboarding

LakeIolaLuke · Posted: Oct 01, 2010 2:07 pm Post subject:

Im working on about 5 now, all from wakeboarding. 3 with memory loss, 2 of which were while wearing a helmet. they don't help in preventing concussions on water.

erikneufeld · Criminal Joined: 27 Aug 2010 Posts: 72

lakeIolaLuke.
Thanks, thats the kinda imput i was waiting on. Im deff gonna keep running the helmet and stay off the water for a bit but i was waiting to know somebody has had some worse stuff out there and is still good to go =P

Chocoholic · Soul Rider Joined: 21 Feb 2009 Posts: 363 City: Dubai

You guys might want to read this:

http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/10/01/712962/death-puts-focus-on-wakeboarding.html

It doesn't take a massive blow to the head to cause a bleed in the brain. Remember Natasha Richardson who died recently following a 'mild' fall whilst skiing?

Jeffrey, to say you 'refuse' to wear a helmet is one of the most idiotic things I've ever heard someone say - you never know if that little knock is going to be your last - better to be safe than sorry.

Any blow to the head should be followed up by a trip to the doctors, as you enver know what's going on internally.

Blurred vission, headaches, stiffness etc are all ba side effects and should be looked at straight away. And yes they cumulative - er look at boxers with their constant blows to the head, who end up with slurred speech, slow thinking, motor problems etc - it's nothing to be taken lightly.

Most people I know wear helmets for doing big tricks, but I've noticed that people are wearing them in general these days - including myself.

hawkster0001 · Soul Rider Joined: 21 Jul 2010 Posts: 441 City: GR

yeah unless yo can figure out some way to stretch your brain, im gonna where my helmet

Chocoholic · Soul Rider Joined: 21 Feb 2009 Posts: 363 City: Dubai

ky1e · Wakeboarder.com Freak Joined: 31 Mar 2008 Posts: 2693