TN Mama Posted March 18, 2010 Share Posted March 18, 2010 DD 9 fell during her ice skating lesson this week and hit her head on the ice. She bruised her head and cheek and it broke her glasses. I gave her some motrin for the pain after we got home, she ate supper and within an hour she was very dizzy. Sooo... took her to the ER. Doc said it was a mild concussion and that obviously we need to be careful with her head. She has her first skating competition on Saturday with a practice tonight. He recommended a helmet at least for practice tonight (I agree) and dd is so not feeling that. She doesn't want to wear a helmet for her competition either and I don't blame her,but it's her HEAD. :) Curious what you all would do? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amber in AUS Posted March 18, 2010 Share Posted March 18, 2010 Well, I think I would helmet for practice but not for the comp. In saying that i have never had a child with a serious head injury. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MeanestMomInMidwest Posted March 18, 2010 Share Posted March 18, 2010 I'd make her either wear the helmet or not skate practice, for the competition I'd probably let her skate w/o the helmet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JudoMom Posted March 18, 2010 Share Posted March 18, 2010 I'd make her wear a helmet for all practices, but not for competitions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abbeyej Posted March 18, 2010 Share Posted March 18, 2010 Hm... I'd probably have her wear the helmet for this practice, and perhaps for practices for the next week or so, as she heals. But head injuries in ice skating are pretty unusual. I'd consider this injury a freak thing -- I wouldn't make her wear it forever. Just for now though, while she's healing and while her balance may not be 100%, I'd have her wear it (not for competition though). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan in SC Posted March 18, 2010 Share Posted March 18, 2010 I don't know anything about ice skating, but I'd ask her instructor/coach. At this point, the newness of a helmet might throw off her balance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TN Mama Posted March 18, 2010 Author Share Posted March 18, 2010 Glad to read the responses. My plan was to definitely have her wear the helmet today, but not on Saturday. I started questioning myself, thinking perhaps how she looked for the competition was weighing more heavily than her safety. Of course, her safety is most important. She doesn't do jumps (more than a little hop) and usually when she falls it's her knees or elbows that pay. She has many bruises to show for her time on the ice. We'll see how today goes. I'm glad she feels confident enough to get back on the ice. Thanks y'all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngieC Posted March 18, 2010 Share Posted March 18, 2010 I would not let her practice without it, but I would let her do the copetition without it. Head injuries may not be common, but with her already recovering from one injury, I wouldn't want to take an unecessary chance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denisemomof4 Posted March 18, 2010 Share Posted March 18, 2010 your dd had a mild concussion, which makes her extremely susceptible to another. Unfortunately, I'm the head injury expert on this. I've had 5 concussions in the last few years. The last time I turned my head quickly or something, hit my head, can't remember it, do remember loud noises in the barn and seeing stars, but my point is, that a simple knock on my head affects me differently now because of all the concussions I've had. My last and worse, while ice skating, left me unable to read for 10 months. I could read the words but couldn't understand what a sentence meant, and could only read a couple sentences at a time and completely forget what I read. My son has had behavioral issues since his double concussion in October. I don't want to scare you and at first I wasn't going to post here. BUT, your daughter is very susceptible to a worse concussion now. Her brain hasn't had enough time to heal yet. If she hits her head again, it will be worse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jen500 Posted March 18, 2010 Share Posted March 18, 2010 Doc said it was a mild concussion and that obviously we need to be careful with her head. If it were my child, I would just take a break from skating for the week. I usually have a 'Better safe than sorry' attitude. Let's see......my kid's brain vs. beginner skating competition.....brain wins for me. What did the Dr. say specifically about skating? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TN Mama Posted March 18, 2010 Author Share Posted March 18, 2010 If it were my child, I would just take a break from skating for the week. I usually have a 'Better safe than sorry' attitude. Let's see......my kid's brain vs. beginner skating competition.....brain wins for me. What did the Dr. say specifically about skating? He said he would have her wear a helmet for practice this week and kind of shrugged about the competition. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hornblower Posted March 18, 2010 Share Posted March 18, 2010 If it were my child, I would just take a break from skating for the week. I usually have a 'Better safe than sorry' attitude. Let's see......my kid's brain vs. beginner skating competition.....brain wins for me. :iagree: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ali in OR Posted March 18, 2010 Share Posted March 18, 2010 I ice skated and competed as a kid in an age when no one wore helmets (for ice skating, for bike riding, for skiiing...). I'm not going to propose that "we all survived so no one should wear helmets", but it is a hard idea for me to get used to. One of the skills you learn is how to fall and I don't remember anyone ever hitting their head. And there is a lot of falling as you learn new jumps. Practice sessions are different than competitions. You are skating for a couple of hours and practicing skills that you have not mastered. The competition is a 2 minute routine of things you can do well. So I see the risk for the two activities differently. There is more known about concussions now than in the 70's, particularly the risk once you already have a head injury. So if it were my daughter today, I think I would go with the helmet for practice and also not practice anything other than the basics and the routine for the competition. I would go ahead and let her do the competition without a helmet (assuming she's really ready for that level and usually has no trouble staying on her feet. If her skills are so beginning that I could see it easily happening again, wait a year on competitions). Then after the competition I might have her sit out a few weeks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starr Posted March 18, 2010 Share Posted March 18, 2010 My dc skated for a few years. They didn't wear helmets but had some good falls. If she has signs of concussion I wouldn't have her skate at all. I wouldn't tell her that so I got the whole truth. :) If she's better enjoy the competition. I can't imagine my princess agreeing to a helmet for figure skating. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cera Posted March 18, 2010 Share Posted March 18, 2010 I wouldn't allow her to skate at all. Concussions are quite a bit more dangerous than most people realize and can have serious, life long effects. As someone who had a few in high school/college I wouldn't take the chance of a repeat head injury. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
farmmom4him Posted March 18, 2010 Share Posted March 18, 2010 My four year old had a concussion back the first week of January. Still now, if someone bumps her head, she screams for 15-20 mins in pain and tends to fall to the floor because it hurts so bad. I guess after the type of injury she had--fell from a child's table to concrete, it is somewhat normal. this is the first week we have allowed her to ride her bike at all. She has had cat scans, mri's and x-rays. It can take another 6 mos to a year for her to tolerate a slight bump on the head--as in a gentle pat when walking by. You know what I mean there right? Just like you do to someone's should--a pat like that on her head sends her into hysterics. This is the girl that broke her arm and only took one dose of motrin. She is not a wimp. ;o) ;) I say no skating the rest of the month. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paz Posted March 18, 2010 Share Posted March 18, 2010 We are a competitive sports family and I am all about toughing it out with minor injuries for practice/competition. I think with a mild concussion, though I'd be more cautious. I would probably have her take a bit of time off for healing. I am sure the coach will understand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perry Posted March 19, 2010 Share Posted March 19, 2010 If it were my child, I would just take a break from skating for the week. I usually have a 'Better safe than sorry' attitude. Let's see......my kid's brain vs. beginner skating competition.....brain wins for me. What did the Dr. say specifically about skating? :iagree: This is what we would do too. There will be plenty more competitions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurie4b Posted March 19, 2010 Share Posted March 19, 2010 DD 9 fell during her ice skating lesson this week and hit her head on the ice. She bruised her head and cheek and it broke her glasses. I gave her some motrin for the pain after we got home, she ate supper and within an hour she was very dizzy. Sooo... took her to the ER. Doc said it was a mild concussion and that obviously we need to be careful with her head. She has her first skating competition on Saturday with a practice tonight. He recommended a helmet at least for practice tonight (I agree) and dd is so not feeling that. She doesn't want to wear a helmet for her competition either and I don't blame her,but it's her HEAD. :) Curious what you all would do? I"m not sure I'd let her skate at all for a while. If you read up on the effect of a second head injury once there is a concussion, it will really give you pause. Research it and talk it over with your doctor. Better yet, see if you can find a specialist (neurologist maybe?) to talk to about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missmoe Posted March 19, 2010 Share Posted March 19, 2010 I've recently been hearing about the long term consequences of repeated concussions. Even depressions in adults has been linked to repeated "mild" head injuries. I would have her wait to get back on the ice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asta Posted March 19, 2010 Share Posted March 19, 2010 I've recently been hearing about the long term consequences of repeated concussions. Even depressions in adults has been linked to repeated "mild" head injuries. I would have her wait to get back on the ice. I have had one concussion in my life. Granted, it was a doozy (I fell almost 20 feet). I was "off" (just little things) up until 30 when I had a spontaneous event that landed me in the hospital. A couple years later, I started having what everyone could "see" were seizures in earnest. Now, I probably had something going on from birth (most people who end up with yuck from a mild TBI have an idiopathic problem that has stayed under wraps), but it certainly had never reared its ugly head until that accident. Why am I telling you this? Because, had anyone taken my mild TBI seriously at the time it happened (instead of pooh-poohing me and it) it more than likely would have healed to a greater degree than it ever was given a chance to. And every doc agrees that it started out as a mild TBI. You're the adult, she's the child. She's going to whine and act like it's the end of the world. She's going to get all moody about it. Ignore it. It comes with the territory. All brain bumps cause mood changes for a bit. Keep her off the ice and let her dance around the living room for awhile. And ask some of the moms of older kids about the blase attitude of the coach - that just doesn't even pass the common sense test. a Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crewmom Posted March 19, 2010 Share Posted March 19, 2010 I'm with the others that said it is time for a break from the ice. Better to have her sit out this competition than one later. I had a concussion when I was in K. I fell from a 10 ft slide. Three weeks later I was playing soccer with my dad and sister when he accidentally hit me in the head with his knee. I suffered a relapse for something that otherwise would have been no big deal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted March 19, 2010 Share Posted March 19, 2010 Let's see......my kid's brain vs. beginner skating competition.....brain wins for me. Laura Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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