Concussion

[eccc whippet]

i decided to check what is involved in going to see a head shrink...just in case my doc decides to send me to one or i decide as a second opinion to get checked out.

 

I have medical aid but thanks to a doctor who made a small oops on my wife foot op...she got a second opinion and had to have it fixed by someone else...the medical cover is finished for the year.

 

So because of my own stupidity...i decided not to go straight to the ER and get checked out...but rather just go visit the GP...a very expensive mistake...if i had gone straight to the ER and got booked into hospital for my injury which should be standard procedure for a head injury...especially if your helmet is broken or damaged...blurred vision concussion etc....had a scan and been monitored over night...and scan result checked and referred to a head shrink if required...i wouldnt be considering which bike to sell to cover a head shrink visit.

 

IF i decide to go see a head shrink now...the cost will be around R10 k before i wipe the crap out my eyes. 

 

i hope we all learn something from this experience...if you have medical aid...rather get an ambulance to collect you and make sure you get booked into hospital and all scans etc are done while you are booked in ...there is a good chance your medial aid will cover all expenses 100 % ...no matter how tough you think you are or how insignificant the fall. 

 

I am sure Myles or one of the more experienced brokers could correct me if i am wrong. 

Edited August 29, 2018 by eccc whippet

[V12man]

i decided to check what is involved in going to see a head shrink...just in case my doc decides to send me to one or i decide as a second opinion to get checked out.

 

I have medical aid but thanks to a doctor who made a small oops on my wife foot op...she got a second opinion and had to have it fixed by someone else...the medical cover is finished for the year.

 

So because of my own stupidity...i decided not to go straight to the ER and get checked out...but rather just go visit the GP...a very expensive mistake...if i had gone straight to the ER and got booked into hospital for my injury which should be standard procedure for a head injury...especially if your helmet is broken or damaged...blurred vision concussion etc....had a scan and been monitored over night...and scan result checked and referred to a head shrink if required...i wouldnt be considering which bike to sell to cover a head shrink visit.

 

IF i decide to go see a head shrink now...the cost will be around R10 k before i wipe the crap out my eyes. 

 

i hope we all learn something from this experience...if you have medical aid...rather get an ambulance to collect you and make sure you get booked into hospital and all scans etc are done while you are booked in ...there is a good chance your medial aid will cover all expenses 100 % ...no matter how tough you think you are or how insignificant the fall. 

 

I am sure Myles or one of the more experienced brokers could correct me if i am wrong. 

If you are still having issues and feel unwell - go to an ER, and tell them you have had a head injury  - nothing says you have to go back to the GP.

[Paul Ruinaard]

If you are still having issues and feel unwell - go to an ER, and tell them you have had a head injury  - nothing says you have to go back to the GP.

What the man said.

 

If you falke out a week later like i did you may end up in a lot worse a state.

[eccc whippet]

As it now stands for 2017:

 

Hollard Insurance Company

Medical assistance

Cycling SA has finalised a medical expenses benefit with Hollard Insurance Company for the 2017 membership cycle. Each member will receive a benefit of up to R25,000 accident cover or R25,000 accidental death cover for any cycling related accident that occurs at a Cycling SA sanctioned cycling event. This offer is only available to all Cycling SA members.

If in an accident a person must contact: Hollard Accident and Health - Claims Manager - Bill McIntosh - 011 351 5366

*There is a R500 excess payable,  and the claim will be settled subject to all correct documentation being in place.

 

 

This is something i never thought about...i am a paid up member and the accident happened while doing a race..(Illovo Eston mtb challenge) they did ask for my CSA membership at registration...so i would assume it is a "sanctioned event" 

 

hopefully it is still valid for 2018

[Bateleur1]

Can anyone remember when CSA fell into arrears with payment of the insurance?  I recall there was a thead about it here somewhere.

[eccc whippet]

1 week break ...done and dusted..went for my first club ride this morning...joined the C group for a morning out..took it easy and had a good ride...will start recovery rides next week and just take easy...see how it goes...take one day at a time.

 

The pins and needles/numbness has cleared in my face...just the tingling feeling at the back of my eyes when i push my BP up.

 

this video shows a woman hitting a tree it could explain why i had a concussion.

 

Edited September 2, 2018 by eccc whippet

[eccc whippet]

Cycling SA has finalised a medical emergency evacuation or transport benefit with Hollard Insurance Company for the 2017 membership cycle. Each member will receive a death benefit of R25 000, and/or Emergency Medical Treatment at a Medical Treatment Facility and Emergency Traveling costs a benefit of up to R25,000 accident cover for any cycling related accident that occurs at a Cycling SA sanctioned cycling event. The injured cyclist MUST attend a medic on-site at the event where he/she is injured. This offer is only available to all Cycling SA members.

 

*Please note: If your new membership started/renewed from 1 November 2016 (until 31 October 2017), then the R25 000 cover applies. If your membership is still active from the previous cycle (i.e. purchased during the year before 1 November 2016), then the previous cycle's cover of R20 000 applies.

 

If in an accident or in an emergency a person must contact Africa Assist - 010 211 6950 - in order for the member to be identified and the expenses controlled.

 

 

Take note of this below...i didnt attend a medic on site at the event...i didnt go to hospital either because i didnt think it was that serious (and i wasnt all there i had banged my head pretty hard)...i only visited my GP the following day when i realised my eye sight wasnt right...so i have no claim. 

 

"The injured cyclist MUST attend a medic on-site at the event where he/she is injured. This offer is only available to all Cycling SA members."

 

 

[eccc whippet]

What have i learnt from this experience...

 

dont mess with trees they are a lot stronger than you think...coming to a dead stop after bumping  your head on a tree at 30 km/hr will require at least 6 weeks recovery.

 

best you see the medic on site if it is a CSA sanctioned race (you might get lucky and be able to claim a percentage of the medical bills if not covered by your medical aid).

 

Make sure you are booked into hospital and all tests...scans etc done while booked in...good chance your medical aid will cover all the costs 100 %.

 

dont listen to the fella on your left shoulder ...saying come on fattie you can do this...rather listen to the fella on your right shoulder...saying take it easy you not a spring chicken anymore...relax there is no need to rush it.

 

concussion is the most frustrating thing...the rest of your body heals and you feel ready to go balls to wall but even though your head feels ok...as soon as you start pushing yourself your head soon lets you know you are not ready...dont ignore it.

[Flemish Lion]

I agree with the above - get it checked out to make sure you're ok as you CANNOT make a judgement as your brain maybe damaged/injured and you don't know how bad it actually is (even a small / minor impact can do damage). If not for yourself get it checked for family and friends!

 

I hit a bakkie passenger window & roof at 60 km/h and it took me 3 weeks to realize what had actually happened - they had to tie me to the hospital bed as I thought the guys that 'bashed' me were coming back... Mine is an extreme case

 

My experience at the brain trauma rehab taught me that brain injured people cannot judge in how bad a state they are... so often a guy would say: "I don't know why I'm still here... I should be allowed to go home" and then an few moments later ask the exact same question!! So I knew why he was STILL there but he didn't have a clue!

 

It's been 6 months since my brain bleed at 4 places but luckily stopped quickly and swelling went down. I'm now finally able to control my emotions and temperament better... but still know I'm not 100 percent yet.

Edited September 4, 2018 by Flemish Lion

[Let's Ride]

Be careful and don't go out cycling.

 

Had a friend who got concust 3 times in a month and now can't drive over bumpy roads etc. Very scary.

 

He walks down his road as it's full of bumps and then gets into the car.

Edited September 4, 2018 by Let's Ride

[V12man]

1 week break ...done and dusted..went for my first club ride this morning...joined the C group for a morning out..took it easy and had a good ride...will start recovery rides next week and just take easy...see how it goes...take one day at a time.

 

The pins and needles/numbness has cleared in my face...just the tingling feeling at the back of my eyes when i push my BP up.

 

this video shows a woman hitting a tree it could explain why i had a concussion.

 

Take another week off - your eye is actually a part of your brain.... it's telling you something.

[eccc whippet]

Take another week off - your eye is actually a part of your brain.... it's telling you something.

I agree 100%... I will take it easy this week.

 

I did ride on Saturday just to see how i felt...i kept my HR down...was riding right at the back chatting to one of the others riders...then did push it a bit to see how i felt...still felt ok...but did just take it easy for the rest of the ride.

 

this morning i went to cadence...did a long 20 min low endurance warm up....i then joined the group session for a set...felt ok.....i also did a 6 second sprint to see how i felt...i must say i felt a lot better today.

 

the 7 days complete rest has made a difference.

 

I have 10 pills (Difen sr) left to take...gona take it easy until the pills are finished then see how i feel and decide where to from there...i hope by then my eyes will be back to normal.

Edited September 4, 2018 by eccc whippet

[V12man]

I agree 100%... I will take it easy this week.

 

I did ride on Saturday just to see how i felt...i kept my HR down...was riding right at the back chatting to one of the others riders...then did push it a bit to see how i felt...still felt ok...but did just take it easy for the rest of the ride.

 

this morning i went to cadence...did a long 20 min low endurance warm up....i then joined the group session for a set...felt ok.....i also did a 6 second sprint to see how i felt...i must say i felt a lot better today.

 

the 7 days complete rest has made a difference.

 

I have 10 pills (Difen sr) left to take...gona take it easy until the pills are finished then see how i feel and decide where to from there...i hope by then my eyes will be back to normal.

Just aim at symptom free riding for at least a month - when you feel you are OK, you are not actually ok - just no longer sensitive enough to overt symptoms to notice - but you are not 100% yet - that will take at least a year - perhaps never - to be able to take another decent knock - discretion is by far the most appropriate thing here.

[shaper]

I fear he will not heed the advice given and then it will be too late.... everyone is telling him to stop, rest and recover.... but every other post after agreeing is I did a ride, I trained, I perceived I kept it low intensity.... even though he has no idea what it is still doing to his body and brain!!

 

Whilst it seems his head is soft... the skin seems to be thick !!

 

Whippet.... take the advice given by people with far more knowledge on these matters and rest and recover properly!!

[Robbie Stewart]

28 months post concussion, and this weekend I had a few bouts of vertigo again which started after my initial bump. On Saturday I was driving down Vissershok in my bakkie and felt severe vertigo, to the point of feeling like I want to pass out. It passed fast enough that I could keep control of my bakkie, but not so much my stress reaction. I properly sh @ t myself. That moment was touch and go.

I attribute these symptoms to my concussion (I hope, else something is seriously wrong), and cannot stress enough how important it is to not overdo it. 

 

RECOVERY FROM CONCUSSION CAN TAKE YEARS. Mine has at least, and I am still not quite "there" yet!!!

But Whippet seems hell-bent on proving that he is tough enough to handle it. I pray he does not eventually find out the hard way that how he handles himself now has permanent repercussions.

[eccc whippet]

Just aim at symptom free riding for at least a month - when you feel you are OK, you are not actually ok - just no longer sensitive enough to overt symptoms to notice - but you are not 100% yet - that will take at least a year - perhaps never - to be able to take another decent knock - discretion is by far the most appropriate thing here.

i wonder how many people know this...i have been chatting to quite a few people about this incident and hear some stories far worse than mine...nobody seems to tell us all this info...my GP certainly hasnt...his response was that i would be fine and could start training a week after the incident and since reading responses here...contacted him again and he still seems to feel i just need to keep taking my pills and take it easy at cadence until i feel ok.

 

what i understand you are saying ...i shouldnt ride a bicycle for at least a year...just in case i fall again.

 

i may come across that i dont care what i read here...one of the reasons i took 7 days off... havent gone balls to the wall back into training and havent ridden my mtb since the incident...was from your advice.