Minor Concussions: The Truth About Risk and Recovery Time in Young Athletes

“If you get a concussion, they’ve got to take you out of the game. So if you can hide it and conceal it as much as possible, you pay for it the next day, but you’ll be able to … stay in the game.”—Washington Redskins Fullback, Mike Sellers

“I would not hide that. That’s not something you hide. That puts you in a terrible position, as well as the team. I think that would be the worst thing you could do in a situation like that. So if I ever got a concussion, I would definitely tell. I don’t know how you could hide a concussion.”—New England Patriots Defensive Lineman, Mike Wright

“If you get a little headache or something, you’re not going to say anything. This is football, and everyone gets their heads rattled a little bit.”—Indianapolis Colts Safety, Jamie Silva

“A lot of people think we’re gladiators, but we’re human beings. We get injured and we’ve got the rest of our lives to worry about. Playing football is like a vapor—it’s here and it’s gone—and you still have the rest of your life to live.”—New York Jets Offensive Lineman, Damien Woody

“If you’re worried about concussions, you’re in the wrong business.”—Carolina Panthers Fullback, Brad Hoover

“I want every person who leaves this to be as healthy as possible when they leave. We all give up stiffness in knees, backs, joint pain stuff. You don’t want to give you your brain.”—Indianapolis Colts Center, Jeff Saturday

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Whether it’s professional football or youth football, there is no questioning that this heavy-hitting American-Canadian pastime is indeed a violent sport. And as such, if anyone plays the game long enough, they are very likely to sustain a minor-to-potentially serious head injury at some point throughout their playing career.

The term “concussion” has often been used for centuries, and is still commonly used in modern sports medicine, while Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (MTBI) is a technical term more commonly used in general medical contexts. Frequently defined as a head injury with a temporary loss of brain function, concussions can cause a variety of physical, cognitive, and emotional symptoms.

Which brings me to my story…

After spending the past few years coaching my son’s youth football team and having had the privilege of watching him dominate the football field with his incredible speed and fearless aggression, I decided to follow the Zen-like advice of a good friend of mine, who had also coached youth sports for many years, and who’s own son recently won the MVP Award in the Ontario Baseball Championships.

Jay Lucyk and his son Vaughn

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His advice was to stop coaching this season and to just be a “dad.”

“Sit back and enjoy the games,” he told me, “without having to worry about anything else except cheering and supporting your son. He’s a great athlete. Just enjoy yourself.”

Needless to say, my friend’s advice was like a brick wall to the face. He was absolutely right!

At 14-years old, my son Jacob was definitely turning into a monster player, and I had to agree that it was time for me to step back from coaching (for the time being at least) and support my son in any and every way possible as he continues to make his mark as a young, rising star athlete.

To be honest, it wasn’t really that hard of a decision for me to make. After all, I coach to support my son as a player—my son doesn’t play sports in order to support my dream of coaching. I love coaching, but I love my son even more.

After coming off of his own Defensive MVP performance last season with the Niagara Storm (he predominantly played the MLB position, but also played regularly at RB and Kick Return), the plan this year was for my son to join the Niagara Spears (Bantam), who currently compete in the most well-respected travel youth football league in Ontario—the OVFL.

Jacob posing with his Defensive MVP Trophy and broken hand
(which he sustained and played with throughout the entire final
game of last year’s season)

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I knew that if Jacob played anywhere close to the way that he had in previous years (although realistically, he is significantly stronger and faster this year), he could have had his best season yet. And apparently, so did the Niagara Spears, who welcomed Jacob with open arms, and immediately assigned him with the responsibility of Team Captain. No doubt, this was going to be a great year for Jacob!

Until…

One week before the season opener, Jacob sustained a minor concussion at the Regional Track & Field Meet. He was competing in the high jump and the landing pad was—according to my son, “smaller and out of position.”

Jacob sailed up and over the bar (and the pad), and landed head first straight onto the unforgiving running track.

And what really made it worse, was that none of the teachers or event organizers paid any attention to him after he sustained his injury. No one called his mother or I to go and pick him up. There were no available first-aid attendants to look after or care for my son. And to top it all off, one of his teacher’s (AFTER learning of Jacob’s concussion) continued pressuring my son to compete in the relay event (don’t worry…Jacob said “no”).

WTF?

So then, instead of getting medical treatment or rest, my son was forced to sit outside all day under the hot sun (without any ice) until it was finally time to get back on the bus and return back to the school.

Again…WTF?

[In case you can’t tell, I’m really upset with how the school handled this entire situation.]

As a result of his concussion, my son has been experiencing headaches and dizziness on a daily basis for the past six weeks (I’m sure baking in the hot sun all day didn’t help him), and as a precaution, he has yet to play in a single game all season long with the Niagara Spears.

With so much pressure on Jacob to return before the end of the season, we have taken him to see his Doctor on multiple occasions and his CT Scan results came back normal (thank God). The symptoms however, have yet to subside.

In my own personal struggle to gather accurate and consistent facts about minor concussions, I decided that the best person to speak with would be Dr. Johnny Benjamin MD (Chairman of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery in Vero Beach , Florida) who also happens to sit on the Association of Boxing Commission MMA Medical Advisory Panel. I figured that if anyone knew about head injuries related to athletic competition, it would be him.

And I was correct:

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James Ryan:

Hey Doc, I was wondering if you could help me out regarding the issue of concussions?

When I was younger, it seemed like everyone was getting hit in the head without much concern (if any) for the ongoing after-effects of mild brain trauma. We would just hop back on our bikes or skateboards or whatever, and carry on as per usual. Now it seems like when someone suffers one or two bumps to the head, the recommendations are to stop all activity completely for anywhere from three months to a full year.

My 14-year old son recently hit his head at a Track & Field event while doing the high jump (he sailed over and missed the landing pad). He was later diagnosed with a minor concussion, but he’s still been having slight headaches and dizziness for well over a month now. He plays Middle Linebacker on his football team, but hasn’t been able to play in a game all season.

With the season now winding down, is it crazy and irresponsible of us as parents if we allow him to play? Should we be more concerned about major concussions, as opposed to minor ones? Or does that not make a difference if the symptoms are continuous?

We’ve already brought him for a CT Scan and the results came back normal. Someone else suggested that it could be neck or back related, so we are setting up an appointment for that as well this week.

Anyway, I know you are very busy, but I have always respected your articles and opinions, and I’m just sitting here watching boxing on TV thinking…man, those guys must suffer a LOT of minor concussions throughout their careers. Are they really as bad as we are now being lead to believe? Thanks Doc.

Dr. Johnny Benjamin MD:

James, your question renews my faith! This is my primary motivation for writing these articles…educate readers so that they may make more informed decisions!

Please do not let your son participate in ANY contact activities until ALL symptoms have been completely resolved for one month. I know it seems like a long time and possibly over cautious, but there is a situation called “Second Impact Syndrome” that is devastating. Google it if you want, but I must warn you, it is very real and it is not pretty.

Your son is healthy and young. Let’s keep him that way. So keep him out until he’s been asymptomatic for a solid month and then you can rest easy at night.

Moments like these are why fathers are so important! I respect your commitment. Keep up the good work!

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Second Impact Syndrome (SIS) is a condition in which the brain swells rapidly and catastrophically after a person suffers a second concussion before symptoms from an earlier one have subsided. This deadly second blow may occur days, weeks or minutes after an initial concussion, and even the mildest grade of concussion can lead to SIS.

The condition is often fatal, and almost everyone who is not killed is severely disabled. The cause of SIS is uncertain, but it is thought that the brain’s arterioles lose their ability to regulate their diameter, and therefore lose control over cerebral blood flow, causing massive cerebral edema.

Most cases of SIS have occurred in young people, who are thought to be particularly vulnerable. Young athletes are most at risk. In order to prevent SIS, guidelines have been established to prohibit athletes from returning to a game prematurely. For example, professionals recommend that athletes not return to play before symptoms of an initial head injury have resolved.

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Special thanks to Dr. Johnny Benjamin MD for his help. After reading about SIS, I now have a newfound appreciation for why it is so important for young athletes to rest after a concussion for as long as they have to before returning to athletic competition. Needless to say, we won’t be taking any unnecessary risks with Jacob’s health this season.

The good news is that my son still gets to be a part of the team, only now it’s in the form of a leadership role from the player’s bench, which will no doubt be a great learning experience that he can carry forward with him in the upcoming years.

And as for me…well…there’s always next season, and I’m always gonna be his dad and proud of him no matter what anyway. At this stage in his life, the priority is always going to be my son’s health.

Me and my son Jacob a few years ago

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If you have a son or daughter who regularly competes in sports, it is my hope that you will feel the same way as I do if you are ever faced with a similar situation.

Final Verdict: It’s just not worth the risk.

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If you have any questions, please contact me at james@mrjamesryan.com

www.mrjamesryan.com