I spend usually about 10 months out of the year working with high school athletes as an Athletic Trainer. Usually sprains and strains. However often I deal with head injuries. These injuries are sustained in many different sports. To be honest it is one thing think interests me the most. This is probably due to working so closely with Dr. Mic Koester. He is one of the best in the country regarding young athletes with concussions. For years I have seen, treated, worked with and tested kids for concussions. I have seen a lot of them in 5 years. However I have never had one...until now.
I took a shot working a professional baseball game last Sunday. I was hit in the mask in the top of the 1st inning. After picking my mask off the ground, I continued to work but felt lethargic, dizzy and had difficulty concentrating on balls and strikes. I worked for one more inning until my partner and the home team's ATC pulled me out. Since then I have started to feel better. Still have a dull headache and some other mild symptoms.
If there is one thing I have learned it is empathy. I have tried to coach many kids through this process. The process from injury to rest to return. I am doing it with some help but a lot of my own knowledge. I now know how many of them feel. It is hard to remove yourself from the game. It is easy to deny your symptoms and you feel like you are letting others down. But I do know that if I do the right things I will get better and back on the field soon. I won't do it until I am ready and that is a promise. I would never let a kid do it and now it is time to practice what I preach. I will certainly use this experience as a tool in my future while working with young athletes who suffer from a concussion.
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