Concussion Questions.

I'd take her to the ER. If you go and she's fine then ok, you've spent some money. But if you don't go and she's not ok........

If she was acting normal my answer would be different but more than 24hrs ans she's still acting strange? Take her in.

Take her in. Head injuries are not something to mess with. Would you rather take her in and have it not be a big deal or not take her in and have it be life altering? Don't mess around with head injuries.

I would insist on tests to see if she might have any bleeding .
And yes there is treatment.

I'm glad you are taking her in. Let us know what happens.

Definitely go. They can make sure it is indeed a concussion, and even though there is not much that can be dine, you van get guidelines for how long she should be on "brain rest", if it continues will she need restrictions or accommodations at school etc.

Did she have the impact testing before being allowed to start practicing? Our district has made it mandatory for all middle and high school athletes so that they have a baseline

Sadly, a lot of doctors aren't up on the latest research on concussions. A lot of the protocol has changed in just the past few years.

But her confusion and emotions are a huge factor to be seen in the ER. They should do a CT to make sure there isn't any bleeding in the brain.

DS had a severe concussion last spring and was out of school for 6 weeks. For at least 2 of those weeks, he laid in bed in a dark room without any amusement at all. No light, books, music, screen time, nothing. He slept a lot, which really is what the brain needs to heal itself. Sometimes kids seem fine early on. DS fell skiing (on a beginners slope with a helmet on.) he didn't tell any of the chaperones on the trip and just complained of a headache that night. When he came home the next day, he was crabby but didn't have a headache. It wasn't until that next day, 48 hours later, that the real problems started. The school nurse called me and they had the principal waiting for me at the doors to escort me through the building, cutting through rooms to get to the nurse's office quicker. We went straight to the ER from there.

DS saw a concussion specialist who put him on a specific kind of pain killer (Tylenol and Advil did nothing for the headaches.). He also had DS taking a drug for Parkinson's, which has been shown to speed healing. Some doctors like it, others do not. And he told DS to take fish oil and eat plenty of protein. Depending on your insurance, you may be sent to the pediatrician for follow ups. The ped can help if your DD needs any modifications with school. For example, DS wore sunglasses for a few weeks after returning to school and was excused from class 5 minutes early to avoid the crowded hallways. He could also come and go from school at will without a note from me to release him early (nice since otherwise I'd have to go in and sign him out, which is a PITA at that school.). I did have to write a note for him when he returned to school.

DS is perfectly fine now. He went back to school 2 weeks before the AP tests and still got 3s and 4s. It took him staying after school Every. Day. For 5 weeks and he never did catch up in all of his classes. Most teachers exempted him from all assignments other than tests and quizzes. It wasn't a fun spring, but he's back to normal and headed off to college in a few weeks. 

It's been a year and a half now, but I think that was only applicable the first week because of possible bleeding complications?  

I know DS took it that first night, before he knew he had the concussion. And he took it later on when he finally went back to school, per his Dr's advice. 

Dd was instructed to only use Tylenol for the headaches that persisted for number of weeks.

I'm very glad to read that you are taking her to the ER.

Seriously, head trauma is never anything to take lightly. I am completely flabbergasted that any person with even a hint of medical training whatsoever would advise you that there is nothing to do about it, so to not go to a doctor immediately.

I hope your daughter heals quickly.

TankTop - how is your daughter this morning?

Even if there is nothing to be done other than brain rest, going to an actual doctor will have this concussion on her record so it can be tracked if she has subsequent concussions. Honestly, I think the athletic trainer is negligent and needs to have further training. He should have suggested a trip to the doctor if not immediately then definitely after she woke up loopy. Quite honestly I wonder if they're trying to hide it and how many other kids are playing under dangerous conditions.

I'm very glad you took her to get checked out. As others have said (and you seem to know), concussion is something that needs to be taken very seriously. My DD has had two, both from soccer. (Not from doing headers, but from being slammed in the side of the head with the ball.) The first one, in fall 2013, wasn't that bad. The hit happened on Saturday, she woke up Monday with a bad headache, and was back at school by the end of the week. But the one she got fall 2014 was much worse. I don't think the hit was worse, but the symptoms and recovery time were awful. The headache didn't show up until a few days later, but she missed over a month of school, and for that whole month kept saying it hurt just to think. It was awful to see her suffer like that.

Take the advice you got seriously, and make sure she gets the rest, darkness, and quiet that is recommended. If the symptoms don't seem to improve over the next week, make sure she's seen again. It may be necessary to get an MRI to make sure there isn't more damage than was originally suspected.

I hope she has a speedy recovery. As I said when DD was going through hers last year, concussion sucks.