When to Go to the Hospital...

Discussion in 'Rider Down' started by freefallman, Aug 23, 2009.

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  1. freefallman

    freefallman New Member

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    So Friday I went down hard trying bunny hop a log and slammed my head into a tree cracking my helmet. When I got back up I had decent balance, no nausea, but was jittery with a massive headache that would not go away. After finishing the ride I went back and forth and finally decided to air on the side of caution and went to the hospital. I was just wondering what criteria people use when they have a blow to the head about whether they should go to the hospital?
     
    freefallman, Aug 23, 2009
    #1
  2. Congo Kid

    Congo Kid Middle Aged Wannabe MTB'r

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    Any question at all regarding a head injury, go to the emergency room and get checked for a concussion. Better safe than sorry. At least for now, you can get in and get a consultation and X ray within hours; in Canada it'd take a day or so to be seen and many weeks to get an X ray. (Don't get me started about this socialistic healthcare business...)

    If you split your helmet, it did its job, but if you're dealing with "massive headaches", get checked out by the hospital.

    Thanks,
     
    Congo Kid, Aug 23, 2009
    #2
  3. MohammedInABearSuit

    MohammedInABearSuit Sticks and Stones...

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    Cracked helmet = drs visit...
     
    MohammedInABearSuit, Aug 23, 2009
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  4. KJR

    KJR Cook Bros Veteran

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    even if there's no head trauma, there could be spinal issues or nerve issues due to the spinal trauma.

    Headaches= a definite issue!

    don't take any chances. You could end up with serious long term ailments.
     
    KJR, Aug 23, 2009
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  5. Innes

    Innes Member

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    Innes, Aug 23, 2009
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  6. Shu

    Shu Active Member

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    Go ASAP....w/ any injury to head/neck/spine....
     
    Shu, Aug 23, 2009
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  7. freefallman

    freefallman New Member

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    Just to allay any concern I did go to the hospital. I was just wondering whether I over reacted considering I never lost consciousness and was not strong signs of injury other than the headache.
     
    freefallman, Aug 23, 2009
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  8. zee zee

    zee zee Member

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    call the doc tell him why happened and tell him and just do what he says
     
    zee zee, Aug 23, 2009
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  9. freefallman

    freefallman New Member

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    Oh, and I also bought a new helmet today.
     
    freefallman, Aug 23, 2009
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  10. Shu

    Shu Active Member

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    I've seen too many people get hit in the head and not do anything only to have sever problems a day or 2 later b/c they felt "I'm ok"...I had a buddy who was hit in the head w/ a softball at homeplate by a throw from the outfield....didn't hit him hard(he didn't get knocked over or knocked out) but enough to give him a headache....we said "Dude go to the hospital to just to get checked out"..he said "No I'm fine" then an hour later he couldn't talk(was getting stuck on words)....we rushed him and got him there just in time...he spent 4 days in ICU w/ swelling on the brain....on day 3....20 mins before they going to drill a hole in his head to relieve pressure the swelling started to subside....that was 5 yrs ago..to this day I still notice him get stuck on words or he'll slur one(not drinking)
     
    Shu, Aug 23, 2009
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  11. jeff^d

    jeff^d Active Member

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    You definitely did not overreact. Have your headaches gone away? What did the docs say?
     
    jeff^d, Aug 23, 2009
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  12. PAIN

    PAIN New Member

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    If I hit my head hard enough to crack my helmet, Id go to the ER. Any other body part, as long as I can still move it, Im good.:)
     
    PAIN, Aug 23, 2009
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  13. Diamondback

    Diamondback Banned

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    that's f'ed up
     
    Diamondback, Aug 23, 2009
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  14. Pho'dUp

    Pho'dUp Spam Musubi MasherSS

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    Pho'dUp, Aug 23, 2009
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  15. 92se-r

    92se-r Active Member

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    After whacking my head hard enough to crack my helmet, I know firsthand how important it is to go get checked out. You can't feel brain swelling, and when Liam Neeson's wife died a week after I had my accident, I felt extremely lucky.

    Any head injury where you wonder if you should go or not, you should always err on the side of caution.
     
    92se-r, Aug 23, 2009
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  16. bwolmarans

    bwolmarans The perfect look.

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    That's a joke about Canadian health care, right?
    If not, then you've never been to the whistler er.
     
    bwolmarans, Aug 23, 2009
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  17. 92se-r

    92se-r Active Member

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    Actually, I just posted about this. Whistler is just NOW starting to build the building to house their FIRST CAT scan machine.

     
    92se-r, Aug 23, 2009
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  18. bwolmarans

    bwolmarans The perfect look.

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    And what about the bullshit about how you have to wait weeks for an xray?

     
    bwolmarans, Aug 23, 2009
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  19. Lefty Kev

    Lefty Kev Exiled Brit

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    In light of the Natasha Richardson tragedy, you should always go the ER following head trauma, even if you didn't lose consciousness. Any swelling to the brain will cause pressure to build up and could lead to serious consequences. like you rightly said, better to err on the side of caution.
     
    Lefty Kev, Aug 23, 2009
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  20. 92se-r

    92se-r Active Member

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    I don't honestly believe if you go to the ER like the guy I know with a bunch of fractured bones and ribs, that you'd have to wait weeks. Unfortunately, the hospital was ill equipped for his injuries.

     
    92se-r, Aug 23, 2009
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